Island Efficiency
A Local Business makes the Switch to Ductless Heatpumps
One of the many things that makes the San Juan Islands so special is the rich culture of small and family-owned businesses. Here in the San Juans, the love and care that islanders put into their establishments is glaringly obvious. Many islanders also make efforts to run their businesses sustainably and do what they can to improve energy efficiency and earth-conscious practices every day. One such place is the Earthbox Inn and Spa, located in Friday Harbor, WA.
Laura Saccio, proud co-owner of Earthbox Inn & Spa (and Bird Rock Hotel, too!) is a great example of a San Juan County business owner who runs her establishments with a very personal touch. Laura incorporates many of her passions and personal interests into the day-to-day of running her business – a few of those passions being sustainability, energy efficiency, and supporting local businesses.
The Earthbox property is home to three historic buildings, one of which houses the spa. The spa building was built in 1895 and was the home of Captain Kasch of the Inter Island Navigation Company’s fleet vessel Yankee Doodle. It was important to Laura and the Earthbox team to preserve the beauty and charm of the historic buildings on the property, even as changes were made.
In 2019 Earthbox had a commercial energy audit done on the property by Sustainable Connections, an organization OPALCO has frequently partnered with to encourage energy efficiency and savings for co-op members. The results of the energy audit revealed to Laura and the team that the heating system that was in place at the time – cadet wall heaters and baseboard heating – was inefficient and guzzling a lot of energy. Making the swap to a more efficient heating device, like a ductless heat pump, would cut down significantly on energy costs in comparison. The Sustainable Connections team also recommended improving the insulation of the buildings, so that heated and cooled air would circulate through the rooms better and not seep through poorly insulated walls.
Now with a specific plan in mind, the Earthbox team could get to work on improving the energy efficiency of the property. Per the recommendations of the energy audit, they completed a full update of the insulation in all the buildings on the property. They started with a “clean crawl” to clear out the crawl spaces and then installed the highest level of insulation material. While they renovated and updated the inside of the buildings, the exteriors remained intact to ensure they kept their historic charm while also being up to date with modern standards. Cute and cozy for their guests!
In 2022, the first round of ductless heat pump installations took place, starting with the largest building on the property. Over the last few years, upgrades to ductless heat pumps were done in stages with the help of OPALCO’s commercial rebates. By January of 2025, all buildings except for one have been upgraded to mini splits. What used to be energy guzzling baseboard and forced-air heaters in the winter and fans (sometimes 2 or 3 depending on the temperatures) in the summer turned to one remote controlled ductless system that keeps the space the perfect temperature all year round.
In addition to the desire to conserve and more efficiently use energy, guest experience and satisfaction was a huge driving factor for these updates. “Temperatures have been changing over the years, so while back in the day nobody had HVAC systems in the Northwest, now people have gotten used to sleeping in cool conditions or having the ambient noise, and that plays a big part in guest comfort,” says Laura Saccio, co-owner of Earthbox Inn & Spa. It has also provided benefits to the staff by making some day-to-day tasks more efficient. Laura adds that, “If housekeeping misses turning down the thermostat in one of the rooms, we can control it via the cloud and have it ready for the next guest to check in.”
Laura’s personal interest in being a sustainable business owner guides the way she runs her day-to-day operations. The Earthbox team has been increasing the amount of environmentally friendly products they use. The toiletries in guest rooms are locally made by Handmade La Connor and bought in bulk and refilled in dispensers, rather than buying many little plastic bottles. All single use “silverware” is made from cornstarch and fully compostable. As toilets need upgrading, they are replaced with low-flow alternatives to conserve water with each use. These practices (and MANY more!) demonstrate the intention and care that goes into all aspects of business at Earthbox Inn & Spa.
Interested in seeing the space for yourself? Book a stay at the Inn or an appointment at the spa and see all these things in practice! Visit earthboxinn.com to book now.
Are you a business owner in San Juan County or a residential OPALCO member looking to make the switch to energy-efficient ductless heat pumps? OPALCO’s Switch It Up program lets members choose from a variety of efficiency projects to improve their home or business and finance the project on their OPALCO bill. Learn more about qualifying projects and the Switch It Up process at www.opalco.com/switchitup. OPALCO business owners can also enroll for a Commercial Energy Audit and get connected with incentives through Sustainable Connections. Email communications@opalco.com to find out more.
