Herkimer Diamond KOA Campground Solar Power Lodge Complex
By: Rachel Polansky
Updated: August 23, 2012
Solar power is on the rise. Governor Cuomo recently signed a series of
bills as part of the New York- Sun initiative making solar energy more
affordable for homeowners and businesses. Eyewitness News reporter
Rachel Polansky spoke with workers and campers at the Herkimer Diamond
KOA Campground - a business that's well ahead of the trend. She joins us
live in the studio, Rachel, what's so special about this campground?
KOA has 3 solar lodges that run completely independent of outside energy sources. In fact, the solar complex is the first of it's kind in North America. The campground operator says the lodges give people the camping experience, while teaching them all about the importance of green technology.
"To experience camping in a sustainable effort and at the same time, learning about energy conservation and how they can improve their own carbon footprint," says Renee Scialdo Shevat, Herkimer Diamond KOA campground operator.
Shevat says the eco-friendly site uses power generated from a photovoltaic system that tracks the amount of power used by campers.
"And they've got there iPod, or there flushing a toilet, or they're turning on a light - what we're looking at right now is how to further educate the consumer on how much energy they're actually using" says Shevat.
And workers say this is something people may want to know about.
"Making the necessary adjustments to lower your energy costs is definitely an itnerst to many people," says Clifford Lemoine, Herkimer Diamond KOA manager.
One family came all the way from Virginia to vacation at the one-of-a-kind solar complex.
"We try to do our best at home to recycle and things like that and we thought it was a really interesting concept," says Diane Wood, KOA camper.
"Cause it helps cut down the uses of fossil fuels, and it helps protect our planet and so far, its been a complete blast," says Curtis Wood, KOA camper.
Despite the luxury and comfort of the lodge, all of the materials are green and the entire facility is solar powered but workers say you wouldn't even know the difference.
"It's a lot of fun to hold this up to the customers and say everything that you're using is sustainable," says Shevat.
Workers agree the best part is teaching campers the importance of saving the planet.
"And no matter what we do, whether we build a solar lodge or just recycle, I think it's part of everyone's responsibility to take that step," says Shevat.
"And for future generations to come, you can relay that information to them so we can leave less of a footprint on the earth," says Lemoine.
Now the KOA campground has 3 solar lodges that makes up their "Solar Kolony." But the campground owner says there are possibilities of adding more lodging in the near future.
KOA has 3 solar lodges that run completely independent of outside energy sources. In fact, the solar complex is the first of it's kind in North America. The campground operator says the lodges give people the camping experience, while teaching them all about the importance of green technology.
"To experience camping in a sustainable effort and at the same time, learning about energy conservation and how they can improve their own carbon footprint," says Renee Scialdo Shevat, Herkimer Diamond KOA campground operator.
Shevat says the eco-friendly site uses power generated from a photovoltaic system that tracks the amount of power used by campers.
"And they've got there iPod, or there flushing a toilet, or they're turning on a light - what we're looking at right now is how to further educate the consumer on how much energy they're actually using" says Shevat.
And workers say this is something people may want to know about.
"Making the necessary adjustments to lower your energy costs is definitely an itnerst to many people," says Clifford Lemoine, Herkimer Diamond KOA manager.
One family came all the way from Virginia to vacation at the one-of-a-kind solar complex.
"We try to do our best at home to recycle and things like that and we thought it was a really interesting concept," says Diane Wood, KOA camper.
"Cause it helps cut down the uses of fossil fuels, and it helps protect our planet and so far, its been a complete blast," says Curtis Wood, KOA camper.
Despite the luxury and comfort of the lodge, all of the materials are green and the entire facility is solar powered but workers say you wouldn't even know the difference.
"It's a lot of fun to hold this up to the customers and say everything that you're using is sustainable," says Shevat.
Workers agree the best part is teaching campers the importance of saving the planet.
"And no matter what we do, whether we build a solar lodge or just recycle, I think it's part of everyone's responsibility to take that step," says Shevat.
"And for future generations to come, you can relay that information to them so we can leave less of a footprint on the earth," says Lemoine.
Now the KOA campground has 3 solar lodges that makes up their "Solar Kolony." But the campground owner says there are possibilities of adding more lodging in the near future.
