How We Should Have Done It: SOL VISTA origin story featured on BE Lean entrepreneurship blog
July 18, 2019 - BE Lean's Brad Eisenberg recently sat down with SOL VISTA co-founders Shannon Sentman and Zack Moore to discuss the origins of SOL VISTA and its path to success.
"I recently got to know Zack and Shannon in their office around the block from me in the Silver Spring Innovation Center (SSIC). As they told me their story, I was struck by how uncannily similar it was to greeNEWit's."
"Both companies started with the same vision of unlocking the potential trapped inside of buildings in the form of energy costs. Both raised capital to develop software products. Both faced similar setbacks and market challenges."
Yet ten years later, Sol Vista is a market leader with a bright future while greeNEWit closed its doors days shy of its ninth year in business.
Read the whole story on BE Lean's website.
SOL VISTA's Zack Moore speaks at Montgomery County Energy Summit
April 3, 2019 - SOL VISTA SVP of Customer Solutions and Co-Founder Zack Moore was a featured speaker at the 2019 Montgomery County Energy Summit on April 3. The Silver Spring, MD event, organized by Montgomery County's Department of Environmental Protection and the USGBC National Capital Region, focused on strategies to improve efficiency in existing buildings.
Zack Moore presented with GHT Limited's Jeffrey Salay and EPA's Brendan Hall as part of an educational session on "Deciphering the Data: Using Your Building's Story to Make Sustainability Gains." The session provided insight into the recent ENERGY STAR® scoring updates and ways to leverage utility data to add value through efficiency efforts.
For more information on how SOL VISTA can reduce utility costs at your building, contact us today.
Skywalk® subscriber featured for energy efficiency innovation
April 27, 2018 - Skywalk subscriber DoubleTree by Hilton Bethesda - Washington DC was highlighted for its energy efficiency innovation in an article by the Montgomery County, Maryland Department of Environmental Protection blog.
The hotel's sustainability success is a result of a smart sustainability plan, with assistance from SOL VISTA including an energy audit, cheaper natural gas rates, and ongoing utility monitoring.
Read the full article here.
SOL VISTA customers highlighted for energy efficiency successes with Skywalk® platform
February 10, 2018 - SOL VISTA's Skywalk energy management software platform was recently featured in the My Green Montgomery blog as a tool to help building owners and operators take their efficiency efforts to the next level.
SOL VISTA customers The Parkview at Spring Street (office building) and the Bethesda Court Hotel, both located in Montgomery County, Mayland, were also highlighted for their energy efficiency successes.
"We're not just an analytics company," said SOL VISTA SVP of Customer Solutions and Co-founder Zack Moore. "We're a building performance company."
Read more about Skywalk, benchmarking compliance, and steps to take to improve your building's energy efficiency here.
SOL VISTA Skywalk® customer earns EPA ENERGY STAR
November 28, 2016 – SOL VISTA customer Capitol Hill Tower Housing Co-op has earned the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) ENERGY STAR for 2016. In addition, SOL VISTA worked with the building's lender to secure HUD's energy efficient MIP rate of 0.25%, saving the property >$100k/yr in loan payments.
Capitol Hill Tower Housing Co-op has been enrolled in Skywalk since 2013, and is one of several multifamily housing units taking advantage of SOL VISTA's utility insight platform.
According to the EPA, the ENERGY STAR Certification is awarded to buildings that "consume 35% less energy and contribute 35% fewer greenhouse gas emissions" than similar buildings across the nation.
Skywalk, SOL VISTA's proprietary SaaS platform, empowers commercial building owners and managers to improve the performance and profitability of their buildings. Contact us to learn how Skywalk can benefit your building.
SOL VISTA client toured at 2016 Better Buildings Summit
May 9, 2016 - SOL VISTA's work at the Hotel Monaco in Washington, DC was recently featured in a Showcase Building Tour at the 2016 Better Buildings Summit, held May 9 - 11 in Washington, DC. SOL VISTA Co-founder Zack Moore was one of the tour leaders.
SOL VISTA has parterned with the Hotel Monaco since 2010, helping the hotel to achieve annual energy savings of 28%, water savings of 41%, and cost savings of nearly $500,000 - all while complying with GSA, NAFTA, and historic preservation regulations.
Want the full Hotel Monaco DC story? Download the case study here to learn more.
SOL VISTA to sponsor third annual Montgomery County Energy Summit; Co-founder Zack Moore selected as featured speaker
March 14, 2016 - Continuing its involvement with local energy efficiency policy development and enforcement, SOL VISTA will sponsor the 3rd Annual Montgomery County Energy Summit, which will take place on April 5th in Silver Spring, MD. SOL VISTA currently performs benchmarking at several properties located in Montgomery County. Co-founder Zack Moore has been invited to speak at the event. He will be featured on a panel that covers energy audits, specific considerations in the hospitality sector, and how auditing your building can lead to significant energy use and cost savings.
Click here to learn more about SOL VISTA's solutions.
SOL VISTA publishes case study on The Westin Gaslamp Quarter's enrollment and success with Skywalk® platform
February 1, 2016 - After undergoing large-scale energy improvements in 2011, The Westin Gaslamp Quarter, located in San Diego, CA, subscribed to SOL VISTA's Skywalk platform to proactively track and maintain its electricity, gas, and water use and costs. Since then, Skywalk has helped the property immensely. Among other benefits, the platform identified an HVAC issue which helped the property avoid paying $39k/yr in ongoing utility expenses.
Read the full case study here.
SOL VISTA's Skywalk™ utility insight platform selected by DiamondRock Hospitality Company
January 12, 2016 - SOL VISTA's Skywalk SaaS platform was recently selected by DiamondRock Hospitality Company for its portfolio of 29 premium hotels and resorts. Skywalk will provide DiamondRock with transparency into energy and water consumption and costs across their portfolio, empowering them to proactively manage their assets while making informed, data-driven capital-planning decisions.
"Skywalk's hotel-focused analytics will be a valuable resource for our asset managers," said DiamondRock COO Rob Tanenbaum.
Check out the full press release here!
Co-founder Zack Moore shares energy saving strategies with LODGING Magazine
January 5, 2016 - SOL VISTA Co-founder and SVP Client Solutions Zack Moore was recently featured in LODGING Magazine's article, "Monitoring Energy Use Through Data Analysis." The article describes how strategic data analysis can lead to building and portfolio-level cost savings.
“You’re able to really cross-cut the data from benchmark properties against each other and say, ‘Here’s where the most opportunity is for dollar savings, not just use savings'", explains Zack.
SOL VISTA's Skywalk platform transforms energy and water data into results that significantly reduce utility consumption and supply costs.
SOL VISTA client Hotel Monaco DC featured at Greenbuild 2015
November 23, 2015 - As part of the Greenbuild tour series, SOL VISTA Co-founder Zack Moore gave a tour of the Hotel Monaco DC, showcasing the various energy-efficiency projects that have been implemented at the property. Greenbuild, held this year in Washington, DC, is the world's largest conference and expo dedicated to green building.
SOL VISTA has worked with the Hotel Monaco DC since 2010. As a result of major energy efficiency improvements, the Monaco saw a reduction in utility costs of 43% and energy use by 22%. Today, the hotel uses SOL VISTA's Skywalk program to monitor monthly electric, gas and water bills. Hotel staff use the data to investigate energy use anomalies, analyze costs, and file for LEED certifications.
To learn about all of Monaco DC's energy efficiency improvements, check out our case study here.
SOL VISTA insights featured in Green Lodging News
September 1, 2015 - SOL VISTA Co-founder Zack Moore offered his energy insights in an article that was recently featured in Green Lodging News. The article, titled Conducting a Successful Energy Audit details the energy audit process and explains why audits are critical for the environmental and financial success of hotels and resorts.
"Many people see a doctor at least once a year, but how good are we about tracking the health of our buildings? If your hotel or resort hasn't had an energy audit or retrocommissioning in the past two to three years, you've likely accumulated tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars in added utility costs per year."
Read the full article here.
Co-founder Zack Moore featured in LODGING Magazine
July 24, 2015 - SOL VISTA Co-founder Zack Moore authored an article that was recently featured in LODGING Magazine. The article, titled Conducting a Successful Energy Audit describes why energy audits are important for hotels, the audit process itself - from the site walk-through to delivery of the final audit report, and how to maximize the ROI of an energy audit.
Read the full article here.
SOL VISTA featured in Leisure & Hospitality International Magazine
June 9, 2015 - SOL VISTA was recently featured in Leisure & Hospitality International magazine's Summer 2015 issue. The article, titled "Energy Expertise" details SOL VISTA's efforts to improve energy efficiency with on-site consulting work and their performance data analytics platform, Skywalk.
"By definition, SOL VISTA is a software and services firm. But what it really provides to the hospitality market is the opportunity to quickly and continuously reduce utility costs through onsite services and performance software."
The article also highlights one of SOL VISTA's signature projects, the Hotel Monaco DC; the hotel and its Pebblebrook ownership group sought out SOL VISTA to improve energy efficiency and reduce costs.
Read the full article here.
SOL VISTA Featured at Fifth Annual TEDCO ICE Awards
May 26, 2015 - SOL VISTA was selected as a featured portfolio company and asked to exhibit at the fifth annual Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) ICE Awards, held May 21st in Columbia, MD. In March 2014, SOL VISTA was approved for $100k in funding from TEDCO's Technology Commercialization Fund.
The ICE awards honored portfolio companies that demonstrated success in three categories: innovation, corporate excellence, and entrepreneurship. The awards also featured some of TEDCO's "coolest" portfolio companies and provided attendees with the chance to meet and network with more than 20 innovative startups that represent the best and brightest in the Maryland tech community.
The full event summary can be found here.
SOL VISTA Accepted to Maryland Green Registry
April 29, 2015 - SOL VISTA was recently accepted to the Maryland Green Registry, a network of Maryland-based businesses and organizations that work to promote sustainable environmental practices in the state of Maryland. The registry enables members to share environmental best practices, promote environmental events and learning opportunities, and discuss recent environmental successes and challenges with fellow members.
SOL VISTA is committed to providing energy efficiency solutions to its home state of Maryland and currently works with 14 different properties in the state. At the Doubletree Bethesda for example, SOL VISTA cut energy use by 10%, raised the hotel’s ENERGY STAR score by 10 points, and secured $100,000 for the hotel in energy incentives.
SOL VISTA's full online profile on the Maryland Green Registry can be found here.
SOL VISTA Sponsors 2nd Annual Montgomery County Energy Summit
February 19, 2015 - SOL VISTA, the hotel energy experts, recently sponsored the 2nd Annual Montgomery County Energy Summit which took place on February 18th in Rockville, MD. The summit brought together leaders in energy efficiency, government, and property management to discuss the recent Montgomery County energy benchmarking legislation that mandates energy benchmarking for certain buildings in the county. SOL VISTA, based out of Montgomery County and a Montgomery County certified green business, has performed energy benchmarking on a number of properties in the county. These include the Doubletree Bethesda and the Bethesda Court Hotel.
Click here to read a recap of the event.
Click here to learn more about SOL VISTA's solutions.
SOL VISTA to Sponsor Cornell Hotel Society Event
October 1, 2014 – SOL VISTA will be a featured sponsor at the Cornell Hotel Society "Hotel Real Estate Forum 2014" that takes place on October 9th in Bethesda, MD. This conference, which runs from 8:00am to 10:30am at the Doubletree Hotel, will examine some of the current economic and political factors impacting the operations of the U.S. hotel industry, from minimum wage battles to rising energy costs to immigration laws to the impact of the upcoming mid-term elections on hotel business. SOL VISTA co-founder Zack Moore will deliver a brief overview on how hotel owners and operators can take charge of their energy and utility costs in ways not previously possible to realize savings without compromising guest comfort and services.
Click here for more information or to register.
Co-Founder Zack Moore Presents Hotel Energy Management Strategies at AHLA Webinar
September 18, 2014 – SOL VISTA co-founder Zack Moore discussed utility cost reduction strategies in the hospitality world in a recent webinar sponsored by the American Hotel & Lodging Association's Technology and E-Business committee.
In the webinar titled "Energy Management for your hotel: What's available and what should you look for?" Mr. Moore spoke to the strategies behind SOL VISTA's energy management successes in the hospitality industry. Mr. Moore described four key actions that hotel owners can take to drive efficiency: portfolio triage, onsite efforts, offsite efforts, and ongoing monitoring. The Hotel Monaco in Washington, DC, one of SOL VISTA's most successful properties to date, was used to illustrate this process. Mr. Moore wrapped up the webinar by emphasizing the importance of data in verifying successes and identifying opportunities for energy savings.
A full recording of the webinar can be found here.
SOL VISTA Co-Founder Zack Moore featured on Hotel Management's Green Technology Webinar Series
July 23, 2014 – SOL VISTA Co-Founder Zack Moore was a featured panelist on Hotel Management's most recent webinar in their green technology series, titled "How Green Technology Boosts Operational Efficiency and the Guest Experience."
Mr. Moore spoke about SOL VISTA's strategic hotel-focused approach to building performance and reduction of utility spend. He showcased the Hotel Monaco in Washington, DC for its recent successes and recognition from the green technology community as a result of various improvements including central plant, back-of-house, and guest-facing upgrades. Mr. Moore concluded the webinar by offering tips and advice to listeners on engaging not only hotel owners, but also vendors, local utilities, and energy suppliers and brokers.
A full recording of the webinar can be found here.
SOL VISTA Featured in Tech Cocktail DC
June 30, 2014 – SOL VISTA was featured in Tech Cocktail DC, the Washington, D.C. edition of a news source aimed at amplifying local tech communities and informing startups and entrepreneurs.
The article highlights SOL VISTA's client successes and describes how SOL VISTA utilizes technology to perform assessments and implement sustainability initiatives for commercial real estate owners throughout the United States.
Skywalk, SOL VISTA's unique proprietary software, is also showcased in the article. SOL VISTA uses Skywalk not only as a hub for building performance data, but also as an analytics platform to identify opportunities for building performance and provide intelligence on reducing utility expenses.
Read the full article here.
SOL VISTA Wins Maryland Incubator Company of the Year
Washington, D.C., June 10, 2014 – In a ceremony held at the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore, SOL VISTA was named Maryland Incubator Company of the Year in the Energy/Environment category. The awards, chosen by a selection committee of Maryland business and economic development leaders, recognized the achievements of current and graduate companies from within Maryland's 28 business incubators.
"The Maryland Incubator Company of the Year Awards recognizes ultimate achievement within our State's business incubator network," said DBED Secretary Dominick Murray. "In the fourteenth year of this awards program, companies are continuing to develop groundbreaking technologies, services and products that are not only changing the way we think in Maryland, but the world. We congratulate this year's winners and look forward to watching them grow in the mainstream marketplace."
"As a startup founder, these awards offer external validation of our efforts to build something from nothing," said SOL VISTA CEO & Co-founder Shannon Sentman. "The recognition certainly encourages our team to continue to push hard to make the company even better. It will also go a long way toward helping us to secure the external investment we need to continue our growth."
Winning companies were selected based on their goals and success in achieving their objectives. Judges considered factors such as technology or product development, intellectual property, increase in employee numbers, growth in revenue or earnings, engagement of significant customers and strategic partners, receipt of awards or grants, attraction of outside investors, innovation, self-sufficiency, impact on the region and usage of the incubator's services.
For more information about the Maryland Incubator Company of the Year Awards visit: www.mdincubatoraward.com
Montgomery County is the First US County to Pass Energy Benchmarking Law
May 7, 2014—SOL VISTA's home base of Montgomery County, Md. has become the first county in the nation to pass an energy benchmarking law, requiring owners of large nonresidential buildings to track and report their properties' energy use.
The county follows nine major U.S. cities--Austin, Boston, Chicago, the District of Columbia, Minneapolis, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle--that have enacted similar laws to cut energy waste, lower utility bills, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. SOL VISTA has managed benchmarking compliance for properties in eight of those nine cities. An EPA analysis showed that buildings that were benchmarked over three years had 7 percent average energy savings over that period.
"This new law will help Montgomery County building owners take a closer look at how their buildings operate," said Shannon D. Sentman, CEO of SOL VISTA, which is based in Montgomery County's Silver Spring. "Inefficiency is bad for both the environment and owners' checkbooks. In our experience working with clients in other jurisdictions with similar laws, benchmarking typically leads to efficiency measures that reduce their utility expenses and increase the value of their buildings."
For information about SOL VISTA's benchmarking services, contact us at bpm@solvista.com. For more information about the legislation, please see the Institute for Market Transformation's press release or you can read the enacted legislation for full details.
SOL VISTA Honored for Third Year as Finalist for MD Incubator Company of the Year Awards
April 17, 2014—For a third year, SOL VISTA is among a select group of finalists in contention for the 2014 Maryland Incubator Company of the Year (MICOY) Awards. Founded by partners Shannon Sentman and Zack Moore in 2010, SOL VISTA makes commercial building efficiency simple and profitable.
Nomination for the award follows on a number of exciting milestones for the company and its clients. Most recently:
- In December, SOL VISTA was tapped to join the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) Technology and eBusiness Committee to bring our integrated energy and technology expertise to the AH&LA membership body.
- At the end of March, SOL VISTA was approved for $100k in funding from TEDCO's Technology Commercialization Fund to help pay for development of Skywalk, our subscription-based web platform that aggregates and analyzes ongoing commercial building performance data to help subscribers continually reduce utility spend.
SOL VISTA's subscription-based building performance monitoring service continues to grow rapidly. Among its subscribers, SOL VISTA counts many well-known hotels, including: W Hotel Boston and Los Angeles, Mondrian Los Angeles, InterContinental Buckhead, Viceroy Miami, Hotel Monaco Seattle and DC, and Hotel Palomar San Francisco and DC.
For more information about the awards visit: www.mdincubatoraward.com..
SOL VISTA Receives $100K in Funding from TEDCO
April 4, 2014— On Friday, March 28, SOL VISTA was approved for $100k in funding from TEDCO's Technology Commercialization Fund.
The Technology Commercialization Fund (TCF) provides up to $100,000 to support projects that advance a technology toward commercialization. TCF enables companies to achieve early technical milestones that are critical to move technologies further along the commercialization pathway and lead to follow-on investments.
The funds will help pay for development of Skywalk, our subscription-based web platform that aggregates and analyzes ongoing commercial building performance data to help subscribers continually reduce utility spend. The platform actively diagnoses problems with utility billing, meters, on-site equipment, and operations.
Viceroy Hotel Wins Water Efficiency and Conservation Award
January 3, 2014—The Greater Miami & The Beaches Hotel Association honored SOL VISTA client Viceroy Hotel of Miami, FL with the Water Efficiency and Conservation Award. The inaugural annual Sustainable Hospitality Awards brought attention to greater Miami area hotels and allied businesses that are leading the region in the adoption of sustainable hospitality practices.
Read the full article here.
SOL VISTA Tapped to Join AH&LA Technology and eBusiness Committee
December 5, 2013—SOL VISTA is now on the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) Technology and eBusiness Committee.
Members are selected for demonstrating a commitment to the strategic usage of information technology, a desire to help advance technology understanding and adoption within the hospitality industry, and a dedication to assisting and guiding the hospitality industry with respect to conducting business efficiently in the electronic age.
In discussing this development, Co-Founder Zack Moore said, "We are honored to join the AH&LA Technology and E-Business Committee. SOL VISTA's involvement will bring integrated energy and technology expertise to the AH&LA membership body, while helping to shape the future of technology within hospitality."
For more information on the AH&LA, click here.
SOL VISTA Named as a Montgomery County Certified Green Business
October 3, 2013—SOL VISTA has been approved as a Montgomery County Certified Green Business by the Department of Environmental Protection and Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce.
Maryland's Green Business Certification Program is designed to recognize businesses and other entities that have taken voluntary steps to protect, preserve, and improve the environment. Certified Green Businesses operate in a manner that demonstrates a commitment to environmental stewardship.
SOL VISTA's certification demonstrates the company's deep commitment to sustainability even beyond client services.
Find more information about the Green Business Certification Program here.
SOL VISTA Client Work Featured in Green Lodging News
September 24, 2013—SOL VISTA client Hotel Monaco DC was recently featured for its leadership in energy efficiency and sustainability on Green Lodging News, the lodging industry's leading environmental news source.
Not long after Pebblebrook purchased the hotel in 2010, SOL VISTA began identifying projects for the REIT to invest in that would have a payback from three to five years.
These high-impact projects have resulted in a drop of 48 percent in utility costs, 24 percent reduction in energy use, 31 percent reduction in energy rates, and 32 percent drop in water consumption. The hotel was presented with the Technology Innovation, Medium Property award this summer by the American Hotel & Lodging Association, which followed last year's Mayor's Sustainability Award.
Read the full article here.
SOL VISTA Client Showcased in Better Buildings Challenge
August 27, 2013—SOL VISTA's work at Hotel Monaco in Washington, DC was recently featured as a Showcase Project in the US DOE Better Buildings Challenge.
The Better Buildings Challenge recognizes commercial and industrial building owners for their proven solutions to energy efficiency.
Hotel Monaco was chosen as a showcase property due to the tremendous impact of efficiency projects and energy procurement strategies implemented at the site by SOL VISTA, which reduced utility spend by nearly 50%.
See the interactive feature here.
SOL VISTA Featured in UberStories
August 1, 2013—SOL VISTA was featured in UberStories, a new online publication spotlighting DC Tech Startups. Co-founder Zack Moore discussed what sets SOL VISTA apart, the company's plans for growth, and the team's successes to date.
"We essentially took 24 million kilowatt hours off the grid last year (that is equivalent to about 1,000 homes), saved 21 million gallons of water, and took 17,000 tons of CO2 out of the air. And, this is a small impact compared to what we can do."
Read the full article here.
Hotel Monaco DC Wins National Award
June 27, 2013—SOL VISTA client Hotel Monaco, Washington, D.C., was among a select group of U.S. hotels receiving an American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) Achievement Award at last week's annual Stars of the Industry Awards. Hotel Monaco was awarded the Technology Innovation Award for its use of technology to create a better guest experience and reduce the hotel's energy and water use, thus reducing their carbon footprint.
This is the second major award received by Hotel Monaco in the last year for its sustainability efforts. Like the Mayor's Sustainability Award, this award recognizes the collaboration between Hotel Monaco's team and SOL VISTA that resulted in a 42% reduction in utility costs from 2010 to 2012.
This award further recognizes the efforts of all of those involved, including the SOL VISTA team, hotel staff, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, and the hotel's owner, Pebblebrook Hotel Trust, for their industry leadership in sustainable business practices.
For more information about the awards, click here.
SOL VISTA Featured in Elevation DC
June 13, 2013—SOL VISTA was tapped to be one of the first featured companies in Elevation DC, a weekly online magazine focused on forward-thinking businesses and developments in the DC area.
The article highlights SOL VISTA's unique data-driven approach to energy management as well as recent awards and plans for growth.
Read the full article here.
SOL VISTA Wins Montgomery County Incubator Company of the Year Award
May 24, 2013—SOL VISTA was one of eight businesses honored by Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett and Steve Silverman, the director for the county's economic department, at the 2013 Montgomery County Small Business Awards. Over 300 companies gathered for the inaugural event, which recognized the best of the 33,000 small businesses operated in the county.
"Supporting small businesses is one of the top priorities of our government. We recognize your importance, we want you, we recognize the importance of your businesses. We want to do whatever we can to assist you," Leggett said.
SOL VISTA was selected over 150 other companies operating from the county's six incubator buildings. A tenant in the Silver Spring Innovation Center, SOL VISTA provides building performance services and technology to commercial building owners. Launched in 2010, the company has found a successful niche serving high-end hotels throughout the U.S. Their notable clients include brands such as W Hotels, InterContinental, and Sofitel.
"The award is quite a surprise given the heavy focus on biotech throughout the county," said SOL VISTA co-founder Shannon Sentman. "Considering we were selected over the long list of biotech companies, we are certainly pleased with the validation the award provides to Montgomery County start-ups in other sectors and, of course, to SOL VISTA specifically."
Joining SOL VISTA in receiving an award was their neighbor in the Silver Spring Innovation Center, Zane Networks. Zane was awarded Small Business of the Year (11-50 employees).
For more information about the 2013 Montgomery County Small Business Awards visit: www.mymcmedia.org.
SOL VISTA Honored for Second Year as Finalist for MD Incubator Company of the Year Awards
April 24, 2013—For a second year, SOL VISTA is among a select group of finalists in contention for the 2013 Maryland Incubator Company of the Year (MICOY) Awards. Founded by partners Shannon Sentman and Zack Moore in 2010, SOL VISTA brings simple, high-return efficiency solutions to commercial building owners.
SOL VISTA's subscription-based building performance monitoring service continues to grow rapidly with a 95% increase in only the first quarter of 2013. Among its subscribers, SOL VISTA counts many well-known hotels, including: W Hotel Boston and Los Angeles, Mondrian Los Angeles, InterContinental Buckhead, Viceroy Miami, Hotel Monaco Seattle and DC, and Hotel Palomar San Francisco and DC.
In 2012, SOL VISTA’s services reduced client utility costs by $1.25M while reducing their Greenhouse Gas emissions by 16,770 metric tons (equivalent to 3,494 passenger cars).
For more information about the awards visit: www.mdincubatoraward.com.
SOL VISTA Webinar for US Army Corps of Engineers
April 2, 2013—The US Army Corps of Engineers asked SOL VISTA to present a webinar to affiliates and subscribers of their Sustainability & Energy program. Listen to Zack Moore and Mark Foster discuss proven approaches to identifying, justifying, and verifying energy conservation measures for commercial buildings:
Hotel Monaco DC Wins 2012 Mayor's Sustainability Award
June 15, 2012—In a June 2012 ceremony at the House of Sweden, DC Mayor Vincent Gray awarded Hotel Monaco DC with the 2012 Mayor's Sustainability Award. This award was the culmination of several years of collaboration between Hotel Monaco's team and SOL VISTA that resulted in a 42% reduction in utility costs from 2010 to 2012.
With an eye toward improving the hotel's bottom-line, SOL VISTA worked with the hotel to identify building inefficiencies, implement projects, procure lower energy rates, and pursue utility incentive dollars.
To implement the efficiency measures, the hotel incorporated numerous non-intrusive, bottom-line friendly, sustainable business practices using a phased approach to protect the integrity of the guest experience. Efficiency projects at the GSA-owned National Historic Landmark Building have included:
- Building Management System-integrated automated guestroom HVAC controls
- Conversion from district steam to natural gas-fired boilers
- Installation of high-efficiency LED and CFL lamps throughout the hotel
- Replacement of the central chiller with magnetic bearing chillers that consume 60% less energy
This award further recognizes the building ownership group, Pebblebrook Hotel Trust, and the management group, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, for their industry leadership in sustainable business practices.
SOL VISTA Honored as Finalist for MD Incubator Company of the Year Awards
April 11, 2012—SOL VISTA is among a select group of finalists in contention for the 2012 Maryland Incubator Company of the Year (MICOY) Awards. Sponsored by The Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO), McGladrey, Maryland Department of Business & Economic Development, and Saul Ewing LLP, the annual awards publicly recognize achievements by current clients and graduates of Maryland incubators.
SOL VISTA, an incubator company in the Montgomery County Business Innovation Network, receives this honor on the heels of a rapid growth spurt that ended 2011. The company, founded by partners Shannon Sentman and Zack Moore in May 2010, aligns the seemingly incompatible considerations of environment and capitalism by increasing commercial building owner returns through efficiency and other cost reduction measures.
SOL VISTA now serves office and hotel assets throughout the U.S. comprising over 7,000,000 square feet and 6,000 guest rooms, with a particular niche for high-end hotels. This niche has benefited the company with iconic clients such as Mondrian Hotel Los Angeles, Viceroy Miami, Hotel Monaco DC, The Benjamin New York City, and The Grand Hotel Minneapolis.
For more information about the awards visit: www.mdincubatoraward.com.
SOL VISTA Joins Pepco as Trade Ally
February 11, 2013—SOL VISTA is now a Commercial & Industrial Energy Savings Program Trade Ally and Retro Commissioning Trade Ally with Pepco, the electricity service provider for Montgomery and Prince George's County, Maryland.
Pepco can now direct customers to SOL VISTA for assistance with navigating the Pepco incentive process. As in other jurisdictions, SOL VISTA helps utility customers navigate the sometimes convoluted pathway through custom and prescriptive incentives for energy efficiency projects.
The Pepco program includes expanded and increased incentives for existing and new customers to cover the costs of energy efficiency projects performed by Pepco business customers.
For more information about the program visit: https://cienergyefficiency.pepco.com/FindAllyList.aspx.
SOL VISTA Celebrates Successful 2011 at Green Tie Affair
December 9, 2011—SOL VISTA team members gathered to attend USGBC- National Capital Region's 11th Annual Green Tie Affair. The annual holiday event corralled hundreds of green building, real estate, and other professionals to network while raising over $10,000 for the Unique Learning Center, a mentoring-based center providing an enrichment program to meet the ongoing needs of inner city youth in Washington, DC.
Photographed above from left to right are SOL VISTA team members Zack Moore, Mark Foster, Katharine Pelzer, Jonathan Lee, and Shannon Sentman (who also serves as Chair of USGBC-NCR's Board of Director).
Top 35-Under-35 Honor Bestowed on SOL VISTA Co-Founder Shannon Sentman
October 27, 2011—In a seeming PR blitz, SOL VISTA co-founder Shannon Sentman receives his second honor in only a week. This one came from BISNOW, the largest commercial real estate publication in the US, who named him one of the top "35 Under 35" leaders of the real estate profession.
Although BISNOW has featured Mr. Sentman's image frequently since its founding, this honor came as a surprise to him. "These honors are typically given to individuals at big companies with sizable marketing budgets, not people like me who left the fray to start their own company," said Mr. Sentman.
By leaving the fray, Mr. Sentman is referring to his 2009 transition from a thriving legal practice at the international law firm Holland & Knight to the world of a start-up company when he co-founded SOL VISTA. His new company's focus aligns the seemingly incompatible considerations of environment and capitalism by increasing commercial building owner returns through efficiency and other cost reduction measures.
In discussing his choice to leave the big money of big law, Mr. Sentman said "I had all of 2010 to dwell on leaving those big paychecks behind, but this honor is clear validation of my choice. Although I wouldn't have minded it if a check came along with being named among the '35 Under 35'."
SOL VISTA Co-Founder Shannon Sentman Named to "The List"
October 20, 2011—Capitol File magazine, a Washington area luxury lifestyle magazine, names SOL VISTA co-founder Shannon Sentman to "The List". For most, inclusion on The List is elusive to say the least.
For those not in-the-know, The List is a regular feature of Capitol File magazine that highlights the names of 51 individuals. While the magazine is mum as to their methodology in choosing The List, it is clearly nice to be "One of The Chosen Few", as publisher Sarah Schaffer explained in her Letter from the Publisher in the October/November 2011 issue.
For himself, Mr. Sentman promises that his "inclusion on The List was just as big a mystery to me."
A WaterShed Moment at the 2011 Solar Decathlon
September 26, 2011—by: Shannon D. Sentman, Co-Founder & Principal, SOL VISTA | Of the 19 entries in the 2011 Solar Decathlon, there are plenty to gawk at. There is one shaped like a turtle, another that would steal every scene in a 'Miami Vice' reboot, and another that looks astonishingly like a giant, white, puffy ski parka with a couple of windows carved out.
Like I said - amazing to stare at - but there was only one home in the temporary village that sprung up in this little corner of the National Mall that our tour group wanted to move into - immediately - 'WaterShed;' designed and built by a team from the University of Maryland.
From the very first step of our tour, team members were touting the home's 'wet core.' Now, to most homeowners, a 'wet core' sounds like something to avoid like the plague - conjuring up thoughts of flooded basements, sump pumps, and mold. But, water is at the heart of this home. WaterShed's design was inspired by the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem and includes technologies to save water as well as energy.
WaterShed collects, filters, recycles, and reuses water. With a roof that looks like two inverted butterfly wings, the design highlights the path of a water drop. Storm water collected from a sloped, modular, green roof is directed down a central axis to the 'wet core' of the home, where it intersects with grey water used inside. To regulate humidity, the living space also features two indoor 'waterfalls; - a UMD invention by the way.
With 42 photovoltaic panels and a solar water heating system, WaterShed's power system is designed to harvest 100% of its electrical energy needs from the sun. And, there is no need to keep one finger on the thermostat in this home. WaterShed's central controller is linked to sensors throughout the house in order to monitor and adjust temperature, humidity, and light levels.
Quite frankly, it is a gorgeous one-bedroom home: A whole lot of purpose built into an aesthetically pleasing package. The layman among us (a self-professed fan of 'small spaces') was enthralled by an innovative layout that made a very small house feel very spacious and comfortable. Each piece of furniture is designed for double (even triple) duty: the bed transforms into a conference table; the kitchen counter can morph into a kitchen island or a kitchen table. The interior is also remarkably bright thanks to translucent panels that let in light while transferring less heat than a traditional window.
Admittedly, my role as an adjunct lecturer at University of Maryland may tarnish my objectivity, but I am supported by the current standings for the contest, which show WaterShed as the lead. You can decide if it is the best entry for yourself by stopping by the Solar Decathlon. The contest is open through October 2nd at West Potomac Park, and is free and open to the public.
Story originally posted at http://www.usgbcncr.org.
EPA Approves SOL VISTA as ENERGY STAR Automated Benchmarking System Provider
Silver Spring, MD, November 24, 2010—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approves SOL VISTA's online building performance management platform, myVista™, for web-based integration with ENERGY STAR via the EPA's Automated Benchmarking System (ABS). SOL VISTA is only the 32nd company to receive approval as an ABS provider from the EPA.
ABS enables the real-time integration of data between myVista and ENERGY STAR's Portfolio Manager. This integration benefits SOL VISTA's clients by streamlining energy performance and benchmarking data, which enables energy managers to reduce energy usage, cost and related greenhouse gas emissions.
About ENERGY STAR®: ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping people and companies save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices. EPA's rating system gives organizations an easy and standardized way to understand and compare their building energy use. The rating system has been used to evaluate tens of thousands of buildings. Today, thousands of buildings have earned the ENERGY STAR. For more information, visit http://www.energystar.gov.
About Automated Benchmarking System (ABS): ABS is a framework for exchanging data between ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager and third-party Energy Service Provider (ESP) systems. EPA created ABS to exchange data with variety of ESPs, including energy software and bill payment companies, regional efficiency programs, utilities, operations management software providers, and large multi-site organizations. EPA has found that ESPs that understand the ENERGY STAR program and ABS before integration have a more positive experience.
SOL VISTA to Collaborate with USGBC
November 17, 2010—The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announces collaboration with SOL VISTA and several other leading building technology providers for Phase 2 of its Building Performance Partnership (BPP). BPP is a program engaging LEED certified building owners and managers to optimize the performance of buildings through data collection, analysis, and action.
"Ultimately, the environmental benefits of green building need to be continuously verified," explains Scot Horst, Senior Vice President, LEED, USGBC. Phase 1 of the BPP will focus on energy and water data collection based on ENERGY STAR's Portfolio Manager for LEED certified commercial projects, eventually resulting in a comprehensive green building database, enabling the standardization of reporting metrics and analytics and establishing new performance benchmarks.
The collaboration will include real-time integration of data between myVista (SOL VISTA's web-based building performance management platform) and BPP's online database. This collaboration benefits SOL VISTA's property and facility management clients by further streamlining utility consumption, benchmarking, and LEED certification data, which enables building managers to reduce energy and water usage, cost and related greenhouse gas emissions.
LEED Passes Major Milestone—Over One Billion Square Feet Certified in U.S.
September 4, 2010—by: Shannon D. Sentman, SOL VISTA | According to the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) public directory of LEED projects, the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System has now certified over one billion square feet of space in the U.S. This major milestone comes only a decade after USGBC certified its first green building, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation's Phillip Merrill Environmental Center, in 2000.
Since its inception, the LEED Green Building Rating System has continually grown in popularity, quickly becoming the most widely-recognized and accepted system for rating the environmental friendliness of buildings in the U.S. With over 340,000,000 square feet certified in 2010 alone, LEED's popularity has continued to grow despite the impact of the economic downturn.
LEED's popularity results from a convergence of several factors, including the growing public awareness of the impact buildings have on the environment. In the U.S., buildings account for nearly 40% of carbon dioxide emissions, more than both the industrial and transportation sectors.
Beyond the environment, the real estate industry has also found economic reasons for building greener. A primary driver is the reduction in operating costs resulting from higher-efficiency buildings using less energy. This is a major consideration given the volatility of energy prices in many U.S. markets.
Looking beyond 2010, the factors that have led to LEED's popularity will likely become even more pressing, which bodes well for its continued exponential growth in the U.S. and beyond.
SOL VISTA Announces Partnership with ENERGY STAR®
August 2, 2010—SOL VISTA today announced its partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR Program. SOL VISTA, through its voluntary partnership, will continue to work on behalf of its clients to improve energy efficiency and fight global warming. SOL VISTA believes that the partnership with ENERGY STAR allows us to provide our clients with more tools for implementation of strategic, corporate energy management programs that will further help us to enhance their financial health and aid in preserving the environment for future generations.
"This partnership further solidifies our ongoing relationship with ENERGY STAR, and will allow us to better serve our clients and continue to grow our business," said SOL VISTA Principal Shannon D. Sentman. "Our clients are really the beneficiaries; they'll now have even more tools and resources at their disposal."
"This is especially true for our clients in the Washington, DC area,” added SOL VISTA Principal Zack Moore. “DC's Clean and Affordable Energy Act, which mandates Energy Star benchmarking and disclosure for many commercial buildings, is being phased in over the next few years, and SOL VISTA is prepared to assist our clients in complying with these new regulations."
In partnership with ENERGY STAR, SOL VISTA will:
- Measure and track the energy performance of our clients’ facilities where possible by using tools such as those offered through ENERGY STAR;
- Develop and implement plans consistent with the ENERGY STAR Energy Management Guidelines to achieve energy savings;
- Support the ENERGY STAR Challenge, a national call-to-action to help improve the energy efficiency of America’s commercial and industrial buildings by 10 percent or more;
- Highlight our achievements with recognition offered through ENERGY STAR.
"Environmental responsibility is everyone's responsibility - and today I'm pleased SOL VISTA is taking this motto to heart," said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. "By making smart energy choices, SOL VISTA is helping improve our nation's energy and environmental outlook."
For more information about ENERGY STAR, visit www.energystar.gov.
SOL VISTA Selected to Join Maryland Business Innovation Network as Incubator Company
June 21, 2010—SOL VISTA, a building optimization technology and services firm, today accepted an invitation to join Montgomery County, Maryland’s prestigious Business Innovation Network. SOL VISTA will move into the network’s Silver Spring Innovation Center, which is one of five campuses that house many of the region’s most innovative technology companies.
In learning of SOL VISTA’s selection, co-founder Zack Moore commented “our focus on introducing new building optimization technology to the real estate industry is an attractive proposition, even in a tough commercial real estate market. We’re happy that the Business Innovation Network recognizes SOL VISTA’s rapid growth potential.”
Agreeing with Mr. Moore, SOL VISTA principal Shannon Sentman stated “our focus on improving building efficiency to increase asset value is responsive to both the tough market conditions facing real estate owners and to the increasing pressure for greener buildings. SOL VISTA will use the opportunity granted by the Business Innovation Network to help grow the region’s green economy.”
With its new location in the Silver Spring Innovation Center, SOL VISTA plans to quickly begin filling “green jobs” from the large pool of talent surrounding the Washington, DC area. Current job openings are available on the company’s website at www.solvistaconsulting.com/careers.
SOL VISTA Founder Among Power-Packed Line-Up for USGBC's Launch of LEED-ND
Rockville, MD, April 4, 2010—SOL VISTA co-founder Shannon Sentman was among a power-packed group of speakers at today's launch of the LEED for Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND) green neighborhoods rating system.
The launch is the culmination of a partnership between U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU). LEED-ND integrates the principles of smart growth, new urbanism, and green building, and benefits communities by reducing urban sprawl, increasing transportation choice, and decreasing automobile dependence, encouraging healthy living and protecting threatened species.
The event speakers photographed above from left to right are: Tony Greenberg (Vice President, The JBG Companies), John Norquist (President and CEO, Center for the New Urbanism), Sophie Lambert (Director of LEED-ND, USGBC), Kaid Benfield (Director of the Sustainable Communities and Smart Growth, NRDC), Roger Platt (Senior Vice President, USGBC), Shannon Sentman (Co-founder and Principal, SOL VISTA), Geoff Anderson (President and CEO of Smart Growth America), and John Frece (Director, EPA's Office of Sustainable Communities).
SOL VISTA Listed As BGE Energy Efficiency Service Provider
March 9, 2010—SOL VISTA, a building optimization technology and services firm, is certified as an Energy Efficiency Service Provider by Baltimore Gas and Electric. “This partnership puts us in close contact to the program administrators and engineers for BGE’s Smart Energy Savers program, which allows us to offer our clients the latest BGE incentives,” noted SOL VISTA co-founder, Zack Moore. “We’re already utilizing their rebate programs on behalf of many of our clients, and have pushed the program to provide incentives for many of the newer, more innovative technologies that we offer.”
BGE’s Smart Energy Savers program offers a comprehensive portfolio of energy efficiency programs to assist businesses with saving energy. The program includes large financial incentives to cover the costs of energy efficiency projects performed by BGE business customers.
SOL VISTA Founder Speaks to Federal Agencies About Building Technology
Tysons Corner, VA, December 12, 2009—SOL VISTA co-founder Shannon D. Sentman, along with representatives from Cisco Systems, Panduit Corp., and Tridium Systems, met today with government representatives to discuss how new building technologies can help the federal government increase the energy efficiency of its buildings. The discussion focused on reliable technologies that would help agencies meet the efficiency requirements of new federal requirements, such as those included in Executive Order 13514.
More information about the event can be found at nextgov.com.
SOL VISTA Speaks at Greenbuild
Boston, MA, November 12, 2009—SOL VISTA co-founder Shannon D. Sentman was among a select group of green building experts to receive an invitation from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to present at this year's Greenbuild in Phoenix, Arizona. Greenbuild is the USGBC's premier annual event and attracts thousands of real estate professionals from around the world.
Mr. Sentman and three other panelists were invited by USGBC to educate conference attendees on the newly released LEED Green Building Rating System version 3. The panel discussion proved popular among attendees, who packed a large ballroom for the two hour program and then stuck around for another hour of run-over discussion and Q&A.
More information on the conference can be found here.
SOL VISTA Speaks at McGraw Hill's Green Retrofit Conference
New York, NY, October 20, 2009—SOL VISTA co-founder Shannon D. Sentman today spoke at McGraw-Hill Construction's Green Retrofit Conference in New York City. The two-day conference focused on the factors that influence real estate owners to "green" their existing buildings, and included many of the nation's foremost experts.
At the conference, McGraw-Hill Construction released a landmark market research study that includes first-ever content on the market activity and opportunity for green in retrofit. This report entitled Green Building Retrofit & Renovation: Rapidly Expanding Market Opportunities through Existing Buildings is the latest in McGraw-Hill Construction's landmark SmartMarket Report and research studies series.
More information on the conference can be found here.
USGBC Releases Green Office Guide
August 26, 2009—SOL VISTA co-founder Shannon D. Sentman is a contributing author for the U.S. Green Building Council's newly released “Green Office Guide: Integrating LEED into Your Leasing Process.” The guide provides tools and ideas that will help integrate green decision-making throughout the leasing process. Geared mainly towards office tenants and brokers, and to a lesser extent, attorneys, the new guide provides specific tools that help teams navigate the nuances of successful execution. Tools incorporated into the guide include site selection questionnaires, sample RFP language, criteria for qualifying professionals, and sample lease provisions with extensive drafting notes.
More information available at: USGBC Book Store.
American Bar Association Releases Green Building Book
August 25, 2009—SOL VISTA co-founder Shannon D. Sentman is lead editor and co-author of the American Bar Association's newly released "Green Building and Sustainable Development: The Practical Legal Guide." The book gives lawyers the necessary information to understand and assist their clients in establishing themselves as leaders in green building and sustainable development, helping them meet growing demand, take advantage of government incentive programs, enhance marketing opportunities, lower operating expenses in anticipation of rising utility costs, and manage risks.
More information available at: ABA Book Store.
SOL VISTA Speaks at ULI's Investing and Developing Green Conference
Washington, DC, June 23, 2009—SOL VISTA co-founder Shannon D. Sentman spoke at today's Investing and Developing Green Conference hosted by the Urban Land Institute. The conference focused on opportunities for private developers to profit from green building, and included discussions on financing, regulations, and cost savings from energy efficiency.
More information on the conference can be found here.