Starwood’s Element Dallas Fort Worth Airport hotel has launched a pilot project in collaboration with Sistine Solar Inc to produce a unique garden canopy made of solar panels for guests to sit under and power their devices al fresco.
According to a press release: “By using techniques from a wide range of disciplines – including mosaic art, solar photovoltaics, and optics – Sistine has developed SolarSkin, a patent-pending technology to create high-efficiency solar panels of any design, pattern or colour.”
Designed in partnership with Brooklyn-based architect Ajmal Aqtash, the off-grid Solar Canopy also has built-in LEDs that come on at night.
Ido Salama, co-founder of Sistine Solar, said: “We strongly believe in the transformative power of design. In working with a forward-thinking and powerful brand like Element, we see a tremendous opportunity to radically change people’s perceptions of renewable energy.
“Instead of hiding panels where no one will see them, as is often the case, we design our panels to be admired from up-close and from afar. In this way, we hope people will begin to see sustainability in a new light, accelerating the adoption of clean power.”
As Starwood’s eco-innovation lab, Element is the first major hotel brand to mandate that all properties pursue the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for high-performance buildings.
If successful, the Solar Canopy will be extended to all 20 Element hotels around the world.