The co-hosts of the annual Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP) have announced the winners of the HICAP 2015 Sustainable Hotel Awards ahead of the 26th annual HICAP will be held on October 14 and October 16 at the InterContinental Hong Kong.
In the category of Sustainable Operations, the winner is the Alta Pension House Davao City, Philippines.
This 72-room budget-friendly family-run hotel, located in the heart of Davao City, Philippines, was recognised amongst the top ten Zero Carbon Resorts Energy and Resource Top Savers in 2014.
Their attention to energy and water usage reduction is impressive, scrutinising the facility for opportunities.
Results have demonstrated systems thinking to efficient resource use, such as capturing rainwater for laundry use, then connecting laundry greywater to supply water closets outfitted with low-flush features, all undertaken with “DIY” ingenuity.
Other innovative solutions include repositioning showerhead pipes to face downward to reduce leftover water and extend valve life, installing low-cost sky lighting in guestroom corridors to reduce lighting needs, as well as using chicken screen as an enhanced ventilation alternative to plywood.
Since 2010 the hotel has reduced water and electricity use per guest by 73 percent and 44 percent, respectively, translating to a US$ 36,000 annual reduction in utility bills despite a 30 percent increase in conditioned rooms.
