5 ECO-FRIENDLY HOTELS
The Brando, Polynesia
Located on the small Tetiaroa atoll, this luxury resort – Marlon Brando’s former private island – honours its natural surroundings through the use of local or certified renewable materials. A deep seawater air-conditioning system runs cold ocean water throughout, providing low-energy cooling for all buildings and reducing energy demands by almost 70 per cent. The resort is fully biofuel capable and is close to achieving its goal of net zero carbon impact. thebrando.com
1 Hotel Central Park, New York
This 18-storey hotel boasts a threestorey living green façade. Interiors feature reclaimed barn wood and antique bricks, room keys are crafted from recycled wood, and glasses and carafes are made from recycled wine bottles. Showers have a five-minute timer to encourage mindful water use. 1hotels.com
Islas Secas, Panama
This island resort’s four villas were built with sustainable wood. Its energy is entirely solar generated, its food waste is turned into fertiliser, wastewater is reused for irrigation and there are no single-use plastic water bottles. Flights there aren’t quite so eco-friendly but a staff rotation schedule minimises boat trips from mainland Panama. islassecas.com
QO, Amsterdam
This IHG hotel is an architectural eco feat, with almost one-third of the concrete used sourced from Amsterdam’s Shell building. Its façade is built from thermal panels that react to the outdoor climate to regulate the indoor temperature. An aquifer thermal energy storage system stocks unused heated water underground until it’s needed up top, while a greywater scheme means all water is reused to flush toilets. qo-amsterdam.com
Hotel Verde Cape Town Airport
While only 400 metres from Cape Town airport, an undeniable source of pollution, this hotel decked out in 220 photovoltaic solar panels is certainly eco. Rooms have LED lights and spectrally selective windows, which let in daylight but block heat. A greywater system saves, on average, 6,000 litres of water per day, and the gym equipment pumps power back into the hotel. On checking out, guests get a certificate to show their carbon offset. The neighbouring wetlands are home to more than 100 types of vegetation. verdehotels.com