What are some model
hotels and lodges that utilize green building techniques and
what have they learned in the process?
Examples:
La
Maison en Paille
- France - "To share the Straw Bale/sustainability gospel, we
are currently building our 240m2 Straw Bale-house/'hotel' to
receive people for guided tours, Straw Bale workshops as well
as other workshops and bed and breakfast."
Hotel
Eco Paraiso
- Mexico: At the border of Celestún's Special Biosphere Reserve
Hotel
Las Palapas
- Mexico: In Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo. "Both Las Palapas
and Eco Paraiso were concieved from the beginning as "green."
Our objective is to provide ecotourism, lodging and tours, with
comfort and style. My main interest in this forum is to learn
more about alternative biotechnologies and energies."
Rancho
Mastatal
- Costa Rica - "We are an environmental learning center, retreat
and lodge located in the tropical forests of Costa Rica's Puriscal
County. The site is comprised of 219-acres of waterfalls, crystal-clear
rivers, and impressive trees in the transition zone between
very wet and pre-montane rainforests on Costa Rica's Pacific
side. The property shares a border with the La Cangreja Reserve,
a biological paradise that represents the last remnant of natural,
unaltered, species-rich forest left in Puriscal County."
Ni'tun Ecolodge
- Guatemala - "We're located on the shores of beautiful Lake
Peten Itza in Central Peten. Our project is a low impact ecotourism
one. Our lodge is composed of four guest houses built in Mayan
style of construction (guano palm leaves for the roofs, sand
and rocks for the walls and wood and sand for our floors), all
with private bathrooms."
Lodge at Pico
Bonito
- Honduras - "Our construction practices and ongoing operations
have considered the local environment a priority. The Lodge
is located in the buffer zone of the Pico Bonito National Park."
Italian
Alpine Resort
- Italy - Academic Report: "Alpinism is a particular form of
tourism. In spite of the relative small number of alpinists,
their activities are carried on in fragile environment. This
paper is related to a research we have conducted in the highest
hut of the Alps, Regina Margherita Hut, located on the top of
Punta Gnifetti, at 4559 m, devoted to verify the applicability
of EMAS standard to its managing activities. In addition it
deals with the fall out of the research in terms of expansion
to other huts and to the elaboration of criteria for the ecolabelling
of small alpine Hotels."
Hotel
de la Suite
- Italy - Case Study
Which are the recommended information tools -- such as web
sites, listservs, organizations and journals -- that best assist
tourism leaders wishing to develop environment-friendly infrastructure
(including construction materials, sewage systems and energy
sources)?
Green
Building in Latin America
- Planeta.com's Resource Directory
Greenbuilder
Sourcebook
- Greenbuilder.com Resource
Sustainable
Building Sources
- Greenbuilder.com Resource
Green
Builder Conferences
- Greenbuilder.com Resource
Sustainable
Building Design
- Alex Joseph's "eClass" via Continuing Education, University
of Calgary
Journals
Green Hotelier -- Issues have international news, case studies
of best environmental practice and practical advice to help
small, medium and large hotels. Annual subscription is $40.
Email: ihei@mmcltd.com
What Spanish-language resources are available for professionals
interested in Green Building and the Tourism Industry?
Richard Komp writes:
La Casa Ecologica Autosuficiente, by Armando Deffis Caso,
(1994, although I believe there is now a newer edition) arbol
editorial, Ave. Cuauhetemoc 1430, col. Santa Cruz Atoyac, 03310
Mexico, DF. This text is more than just about individual, self
sufficient homes but also goes into "green" city planning, complete
cycle of life plans for all inputs and materials, and designing
to specific climates. A great book and I wish there were one
in English as good.
Manual del Arquitecto Descalzo, by Johann Van Lengen (1982,
by the same publisher as above) This (Manual for the Barefoot
Architect) is a much more practical book, with a lot of construction
details, but it also goes into green layouts of neighborhoods
and city planning. Has a better section on natural ventilation
the La Casa Ecologica, but not as much material on renewables.
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