The Refinishing Touch Blog

Oftentimes we like to discuss “Sustainability around the world” and look at how different companies and organizations in different countries apply sustainable ideas and ideals to their work. Our favorite posts are, of course, the ones about hotels—we’re always excited to see when a hotel on another continent adopts new energy-saving practices or uses recycled materials in innovative ways, which is why this article on Treehugger around design-savvy eco-hotels caught our eye.

The hotels themselves are visually striking: in one case, a geodesic dome blends into its Swiss Alps surroundings, and in another, picture windows frame rooms overlooking an English cliff. But these designs stand out even more because the level of thought extends beyond aesthetic appeal.

For example, the ALT Hotel in Quebec, Canada uses a green heating system recovers heat from laundry water and exhaust, helping to save 7 kg of CO2 per room every day. At the 968 Park Hotel in Lake Tahoe, California, denim from blue jeans are used for insulation and an old pool fence was recycled to make furniture for its lobby.

A number of hotels go the extra mile to stand out design-wise and, increasingly, sustainability-wise. When the two work in combination, the best-looking hotels look even better.

Labels: Eco-hotels, Environment, Green, Hospitality