Hotel Verde opens its doors

André Harms, Hotel Verde's sustainability consultant, is the expert behind some of the more technical aspects of the building. "We had the opportunity to change the status quo here," he said. "We looked at different ways of doing everything, right from the word go."

This includes various methods of "dematerialisation". The hotel is built with concrete slabs containing recycled materials, using Cobaix Void Formers. Strategically placing these recycled polypropylene, hollow spheres save approximately 1279 tons of concrete, while maintaining structural integrity.

In order to bypass the need for standard air-conditioning systems, traditionally one of the biggest energy consumers, Hotel Verde uses geothermal heat pumps coupled to 100 boreholes drilled approx. 65 metres into the ground, where the temperature is a consistent 19 degrees. Renowned supplier AGO Energy have installed a complex network of pumps and piping specifically designed for Hotel Verde that uses the Earth as a heat source in winter and "heat sink" in summer, boosting efficiency and dramatically reducing operational costs.

Hotel Verde also boasts photovoltaic panels, wind turbines and a sophisticated grey water recycling plant that will reduce the hotel's water consumption by 37%.

Guests encouraged to embrace greening philosophy

Of the 145 contemporary-styled rooms, there are four room types available: standard, studio, executive, and an executive suite. There is also an option for inter-leading rooms for families - all furnished and decorated in the hotel colours, which include grey with purple, orange and green.

Guests are encouraged to embrace its greening philosophy and will be offered rewards for sustainable practices during their stay. As GM of the hotel, Samantha Annandale explains, "We want to educate guests as well as encourage them to minimise their impact on the environment. We have come up with fun, subtle ways to do that, which will hopefully become second nature that guests then take home with them."