Climate Neutral, Climate Positive and Emission-Free Hotels
Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time and for future generations. There is a worldwide consensus that man-made climate change must be kept in check. Tourism is also heavily involved in climate change and hoteliers worldwide are addressing the issue of environmental protection and socially responsible action.
What are climate-neutral, climate-positive and emission-free hotels and what are the differences?
How is "climate neutral" defined?
Climate neutral means that the operation of the hotel does not increase the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. However, there are differences in how CO2 can be avoided.
A hotel can either reduce the emissions on site itself by adapting its processes or by participating in certified projects to compensate for CO2 production, i.e. the hotel pays fees to an organisation that finances projects to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases in emerging and developing countries.
Both options contribute to reducing CO2 emissions into the atmosphere.
Climate-positive goes even further; more CO2 is compensated for through climate protection projects or own process optimisations than is actually produced, thus making a positive contribution to the environment.
Zero emissions are defined by the fact that neither the construction nor the operation of the hotel produces environmentally harmful emissions
SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA
For the hotel in Bad Herrenalb, the highest priority is to avoid before compensating. The SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA is climate-neutral which is documented annually by calculating their CO2 footprint. Some measures include the compensation of all emissions from the conference area, the participating companies also receive a certificate for their own climate balance. The entire dining area is compensated and guests can choose to donate 1€ per night to the Klimasau. The hotel supports three climate protection projects, offers the possibility to have a sustainable wedding and guests can make their journey climate-neutral with the help of the journey calculator on the homepage. In addition to this, the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA takes part in various action days such as Einheitsbuddeln (tree planting on the Day of German Unity) and offers emission-free social programs at conferences. The hotel was recently awarded GreenSign Level 5, the leading European-wide sustainability certificate in the hotel industry. With the highest level of Level 5, the hotel is one of the sustainability champions and outstanding examples.
Owner Stephan Bode feels particularly committed to environmental protection due to the hotel's location surrounded by pristine nature in the spa town of Bad Herrenalb.
Creativhotel Luise
The Green Pearls® Hotel Creativhotel Luise in Erlangen has been classified as a climate-positive hotel. This means that more CO2 is offset than the hotel actually produces. The compensation is realized through the planting of trees in a "climate forest" in Panama. Solar power systems and district heating are used for the hot water system while the air conditioning is operated using 100% green electricity from hydroelectric power and is controlled by a central system, reducing its operation during the night. At the Creativhotel Luise, regionality plays a major role in the supply chain. Electric and solar mobility, as well as car-sharing, are further measures taken by the hotel to benefit the climate. With the Cradle to Cradle® certified renewable hotel room, the climate-positive concept can be seen and felt throughout: all materials used are 100% reusable or 100% biodegradable. Ben Förtsch, the young, innovative and multiple award-winning owner of the Creativhotel Luise is passionate about making the world a little bit better. The climate forest, which was founded together with Klimahotels, not only helps to compensate CO2 but also helps protect the biodiversity in the region while creating jobs for the local community.
Climate Protection on the Ziegelsee: Hotel Speicher
In 2010, through their ongoing initiatives, the Hotel Speicher am Ziegelsee became the first climate-neutral hotel in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and has been climate-positive since 2017. Thanks to 100% green electricity, 100% bio-district heating, promotion of e-mobility and heat recovery systems throughout all washing technology, guests can enjoy a climate-neutral stay. With these measures, the Hotel Speicher am Ziegelsee was able to save 72.1% more CO2 per guest and overnight stay in 2017 and consumed 59.1% less final energy than hotels in the same star category over the same period. In order to avoid long delivery routes, the hotel sources regional products as much as possible regularly trains its employees on energy efficiency and encourages them to come to work by bicycle. Unavoidable residual emissions are offset by a reforestation project in Panama as part of the "Klima-Hotels Deutschland" initiative. Since 2012, the Hotel Speicher has also been supporting the Moor Futures Project in the region, which enriches drained moors with water to naturally sequester CO2.
Zero Emissions in Milan: Hotel MilanoScala
Behind a historic façade in the centre of Milan, one of the most polluted cities in Europe, lies the Hotel Milano Scala - the first emission-free hotel in Milan. Highly effective thermal insulation was integrated into the structure during renovations and heating and air conditioning is provided by an environmentally friendly water-to-water heat pump. An automated energy consumption control system checks the temperature in each room and is deactivated via an ingenious magnetic contact as soon as a window is opened. Filters on the water taps in the rooms reduce water consumption and guests are encouraged to use public transport while out and about. The hotel also saves energy in the kitchen: all ingredients are sourced as regionally as possible to minimise transport distances and exhaust fumes. Herbs and some fruits and vegetables even grow on the hotel's own roof terrace. Induction hotplates and convection ovens also contribute to maintaining the energy balance.
All Green Pearls® Hotels are very conscious of their emissions and work daily on concepts to further reduce them or have already implemented projects to do so.
