Travel Green: Discover Some Of The World’s Best Eco-Friendly Hotels
Low-impact travel and luxury can coexist thanks to an ever-expanding list of properties striving to respect their guest's desire for environmentally friendly accommodation. Here's a look at some of the world's top sustainable hotels.
Camp Glenorchy, New Zealand
Listed as one of TIME Magazine's "World's Greatest Places," Camp Glenorchy takes sustainability seriously. It's New Zealand's first net-zero energy accommodation. The property was built according to the Living Building Challenge™, which is said to represent the most rigorous sustainability standards on the planet. The property uses 50% less energy and water than comparable resorts and also relies on earth-friendly amenities like a solar garden, smart lighting, solar panels and an advanced onsite energy and water management system. Adding to Camp Glenorchy's environmental allure is its incredible natural surroundings between the Humboldt and Richardson Mountain range.
Pikaia Lodge, Ecuador
Explore the iconic natural beauty of the Galapagos Islands from eco-luxurious Pikaia Lodge. The carbon-neutral property uses alternative energy resources and has an outstanding social responsibility program. Recyclable, eco-friendly building materials were sourced for its construction (bathroom tiles, for instance, are made from lava stone taken from local sites that were approved by the National Park Service). Most of the furniture and decor were made from sustainable, agro-cultivated teak and bamboo wood from Ecuador. The property also uses only biodegradable cleaning products and hotel water is heated through the use of solar panels.