Solar panels to supply our electrical needs and the use of recycled energy from the air-conditioning system for our hot water system are some of the key features incorporated into the design of our hotel building to keep energy consumption low and reduce our carbon footprint.
However, that is just the tip of the iceberg! We have in the past year created a small veggie garden on our rooftop as part of our ongoing green efforts. How does this make a difference to the environment?
- Organic produce served for breakfast
- The herbs and vegetables harvested from our rooftop garden are all organic as there is no use of pesticides or other harmful chemical substances in the farming process. Fertilizers used in this planting process is made in-house, as a product of our compost activities (see below). All harvested items are then used by our in-house chef to create authentic home-made dishes to be served to guests during breakfasts. Currently, some of the harvests which have made it to our breakfast table include tomatoes, capsicums, chilies, curry leaves, chives, Moringa beans and long beans. We also have some fruit plants on the rooftop such as Papaya, Cucumber and Mango which we hope will bear fruits in due time. By using these organic produce, we can ensure the freshness and quality of our breakfast ingredients.
- Composting
- All scrap foods such as egg shells and skin peels from fruits and vegetables in the kitchen are separated and composted in our in-house designed composting machine. The compost machine allows for safe processing of compost. The liquid obtained from the compost is then filtered and diluted to be used as fertilizers for our plants. This resulting liquid fertilizer is natural, as it does not contain any chemical additives and very beneficial for plant growth as it is contains high levels of nutrients. Should you be interested in obtaining some of this liquid fertilizer, please do not hesitate to contact us. At the moment, the quantity of liquid fertilizer our composting machine produces exceeds the quantity required in-house.
- Oxygen
- Photosynthesis, the chemical process which plants rely on, uses carbon dioxide and water to process food and nutrients for its growth and survival. The waste product of this process, which is released back into the air via the stomata are, oxygen and glucose. Having plants on the rooftop is beneficial in that it will marginally increase oxygen levels in the environment and also provide natural shade to the building's surface, reducing heat transfer from the roof into the rooms below.
Want to know more about our other green efforts? Head on to our Go Green page here.