In Thailand, Vietnam and across Asia, these eco-lodges and hotels recycle, compost and recuperate to cut back their environmental impact.
THE YARD HOTEL, BANGKOK (THAILAND)
Yes, some structures are made out of recycled shipping containers. And yes, recycled paper serves as insulation to maintain buildings cool.
Inverter air conditioners and LED lighting save energy, while refillable glass guest water bottles eliminate the necessity for plastic, and composted waste keeps the garden green and the mojito mint. But what is basically extraordinary
The Yard (a reference to each greenery and a play on the Thai word for “relatives”) is its location in the center of galleries, boutiques and restaurants within the cool Ari district, a welcome respite from the concrete jungle and roaring traffic of the center of Bangkok.
SAMPRAN RIVER SIDE, NAKHON PATHOM (THAILAND)
Opened in 1962, Sampran Riverside (about 40 km west of Bangkok) was a pioneer, highlighting Thai culture with live performances and hands-on workshops.
The resort continues to innovate and leverage organic tourism, positioning itself as a destination that promotes higher understanding between farmers and consumers.
Sampran supports fair trade, banned the usage of agrochemicals, recycles oil and trains staff on food waste management and sustainable practices. Guests can practice many traditional Thai crafts, swim within the chlorine-free pool, or visit local farms, including the hotel’s Patom Organic Farm.
It also runs a restaurant in Bangkok that sells produce from the 170 local farmers it supports, and has partnered with other restaurants and hotels to commit to buying directly from the collective, a part of a supply cycle it calls the Samprana model.
GOLDEN BUDDHA BEACH RESORT, KOH PHRA THONG (THAILAND)
There are only six hotels on distant Koh Phra Thong (Golden Buddha Island), and the resort of the identical name offers amenities equivalent to its own club and beach bar.
The bungalows and treehouses don’t have air con, they depend on sea breezes and solar panels to power fans and warmth the water. Waste is transported to the mainland for correct disposal, and recycling proceeds are returned to employees. The use of plastic bags within the household is banned and reusable crates or disposable bamboo are used wherever possible.
Other eco-friendly details include dishwashing liquid made out of leftover orange juice peels and souvenir shop items sourced from Thailand and made out of natural cotton and hemp.
MANGO BAY RESORT, ONG LANG BEACH, PHU QUOC (VIETNAM)
This sprawling seaside resort on Vietnam’s largest island prides itself on raising awareness of environmental issues. On an island where tourism is rapidly replacing traditional occupations equivalent to fishing and fish sauce production, the bungalows at Mango Bay are built using low-impact techniques and materials that respect the landscape.
The center supports the regeneration of the reef by working with local fishermen and sponsoring regular cleansing campaigns. It also supports the work of the non-governmental organization Wildlife at Risk to guard the island’s natural world, including providing protected habitats and replanting native species.
HOTEL BABY ELEPHANT BOUTIQUE, SIEM REAP (CAMBODIA)
Baby Elephant is a sustainability-focused property situated in the center of Siem Reap, where most guests stay once they come to explore the vast ruins of Angkor Wat. The waste becomes compost and feed for cattle, while cardboard and glass are reused on site or given to individuals who reuse them, e.g. glass bottles go to roadside petrol sellers.
The NGO Naga Earth converts cooking oil into biodiesel. An on-site organic garden provides ingredients for the bar, kitchen, spa and staff meals. It can be a Refill not Landfill drinking water station. Baby Elephant takes its approach to environmental protection seriously, working with experts to look at every aspect of its business, from optimizing water drainage to planning maintenance schedules, from reducing plastic to training staff in environmental awareness.
Even mosquitoes are kept under control with non-toxic fan-powered traps and lemon grass within the garden.
EDEN ECO VILLAGEKAMPOT (CAMBODIA)
Established six years ago on the banks of Prek Teuk Chhou, a brief drive from Kampot, Eden Eco Village is a set of bamboo and thatch bungalows on stilts, lots of them situated directly on the water – and every unit generates its own solar energy for lights and fans. Most produce is sourced locally and the property grows its own mangoes.
He recycles and composts every little thing he can, including waste from composting toilets for fertilizer. Life here revolves across the rhythm of water: yoga by the river within the morning, then kayaking or swimming within the river, natural treatments in a women-only spa, and a firefly spectacle at night. This is a brief trip to the plantations producing the highly valued Kampot peppers, to the colonial town of Kampot and the seaside resort of Kep.
ECOLOGICAL HOUSES, PESAWAHAN, CICURUG (INDONESIA)
Jakarta is thought for its heavy traffic, so the contrast upon arrival at Lodges Ekologika couldn’t be more striking. A two-hour drive from town (beat traffic by checking train times), the bungalows are manufactured from recycled teak and reclaimed small (traditional Sundanese rice barns) were converted into shared housing.
The rooms use solar energy, harvested rainwater and reused gray water, while 95% of staff can walk to work, and the farm’s own organic produce is transformed into among the most delicious food within the region. The Ekologika lodges also began a reforestation program, which saw the planting of 1,500 trees and the number continues to be growing. There can be a camping site.
BUNGALOW JANUR, BOROBUDUR, MAGELANG (INDONESIA)
Situated within the hills above the majestic Borobudur (the biggest Buddhist structure on the planet), a brief distance from the historic cities of Jogjakarta and Solo, Janura Bungalows are manufactured from reused scrap metal, including beams and boards salvaged from a demolished 100-year-old rosewood house. One bungalow is definitely a complete house saved and moved into place.
The hand-woven roofs are manufactured from local, sustainable bamboo, which is a characteristic feature of Javanese houses, the so-called Lime. Outdoor bathrooms allow guests to perform ablution in unity with the environment. The body scrub is made in line with a standard recipe with ground spices, the food is served on banana leaves, and papaya stalks are used as straws. No chemicals were utilized in the pool, and reverse osmosis was used to filter the water.
FRANGIPANI LANGKAWI RESORT AND SPA, LANGKAWI (MALAYSIA)
This resort on the island of Langkawi – popular for its beaches and luxurious landscapes – takes environmental protection seriously: comprehensive lists explain the sustainable practices employed by staff, most of that are invisible to guests.
Most produce – including fish and poultry – is grown on site, and every little thing may be recycled, upcycled or composted. With over a decade of experience, Frangipani preaches its practices at conferences and forums throughout the region.
Interns are welcomed in horticulture and environmental sciences, and visitors who need to study their work and the local ecosystem can join the Eco-Walk.
OASIS Downtown, Singapore
The greenery that surrounds you as you enter Oasia Downtown – on the facades, on the roof and in the general public spaces – is eye-catching, however the stunning design is just not an empty statement about ecology.
The plants actually absorb solar heat, lowering the temperature on the facade by as much as 25°C, which leads to greater interior comfort and fewer energy consumption for air cooling. All public spaces inside the hotel have been designed to reap the benefits of cross-ventilation, and all features of the constructing – its orientation, use of sunshine and shade and open space – have been designed to attenuate energy consumption and maximize comfort.
The irrigation system and cooling facilities use NEWater, Singapore’s high-quality recycled wastewater, which is a component of the country’s plan to cut back dependence on imported water.
Source : Guardian
