According to a study by Cambridge’s Institute for Sustainability Leadership, tourism and hotel ventures account for an estimated five per cent of global greenhouse emissions. Worst still, that figure is expected to more than double by the year 2035, unless substantial measures are taken to encourage an eco-friendly environment in such spots.
The good news is many hotels around the world have already been looking into eco-friendly design ideas in a bid to attract environmentally conscious tourists as well as to remain responsible for the environment. There are many practices that hotels can adopt to become environmentally friendly, such as adopting a sustainable interior design. Here are some eco-friendly hotel design ideas for you to consider.
Better Control Of Water Wastage
Water consumption in guest rooms is one of the biggest contributors to waste. When you consider the water used in the pool area, laundry, kitchen and room, the average hotel guest uses an average of 620 litres of water in a temperature climate.
One way hotels can reduce water wastage is through implementation of shower flow regulators, faucets, and eco=friendly toilets.
Use Of Plants
One of the most common ways hotels around the world try to portray an eco-friendly environment is through the use of displaying an abundance of greenery within the hotel. Landscaping is not only good for the environment, but also play a part in decorating the hotel.
Large trees and bushes planted near hotel buildings keep the heat outside, providing for natural climate control.
Use Of Sustainable Tableware
The practice of banning plastic tableware and straws have been growing in recent years, especially evident in food and beverage industries. Hotels can be the next to follow suit by discouraging single-use items in the rooms and poolside plastic.
Nowadays, an increasing number of hotels have dropped the use of single-use plastic and adopted the use of sustainable tableware, as tourists are also becoming more aware of climate change and more familiar to the use of sustainable materials.
Choose The Right Materials
When it comes to the interior design of the hotel, choosing the right hospitality design materials can make or break the hotel’s efforts in being eco-friendly. Most hotels have the practice of being reliant on large furniture and décor chains that might not be so eco-friendly, as these companies usually contribute a substantial amount of carbon footprint.
Hotels are encouraged to source furniture from companies that specialise in sustainable materials and engage in eco-friendly practices. This way, they can also save costs in maintenance and replacement as these materials can last a lifetime!
When it comes to material selection, synthetic material is a great eco-friendly choice as they tend to last longer and stay clean. One material popularly used in sustainable interior design is wood veneers, as they are one of the most eco-friendly materials that can also be easily recycled.
Wood veneers are thin slices of wood attached or flued together and are less prone to splintering and warping which is common among wood designs. Furthermore, wood veneers are durable, safe, non-toxic, versatile, and cost-effective.