Hotels also are converted to renewable energy

Soon be launched in Chile the first hotel that works 100% on solar power, while elsewhere in Latin America is already bearing resorts rates of "carbon neutral".
The energy saving and low carbon footprint are concepts that are already reaching the hotel business, and this line is that adopting them means a reduction in operating costs as well as a plus marketing level.

The first example delivers local gallery hotel, just deploy technology for solar water heating, which in practice will mean a saving in energy consumption 80%.

This is how Marco Torres, Head of Chilectra eco-energy, which states that have already detected the interest of other hotel companies to implement this technology in their facilities.

"There are several projects we are working with some companies and not only in Santiago, so we are already at the level of budget and negotiations," he says.

Thompson states that in Galerias Hotel is the first in Chile to operate on solar power, there are 90 collectors installed on the roof of the enclosure, which will reduce annual spending on energy consumption of $ 59 million to $ 11 million approximately.

It is important to record though, that during the first 3 to 5 years of operation of the system could only recover the initial investment, while during the 15 years remaining useful life of the collector collected projected profits.

The Head of eco-energy Chilectra adds that with these measures the hotel center eliminated the use of gas in their units and with it emissions of CO2 to the environment, which is strategic for the company in terms of marketing.

"For the hotel industry, in addition to being profitable is a plus installation of this type of system-level marketing, and indeed Galeries has planned a launch to show this conversion to their customers and the general public," says Torres.

ANOTHER EXAMPLE IN PERU

The Inkaterra hotel complex is also another case of Latin America showing its transformation to sustainable business development, and actively working to keep carbon neutral rates.

This is pointed Jose Koechlin von Stein, Chairman of Inkaterra, adding that they promote sustainable tourism through Inkaterra Machu Picchu, in the heart of Andean cloud forest, the Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica, along the Madre de Dios River in the Amazon rainforest and the Inkaterra La Casona, a few steps from the Plaza de Armas in Cusco.

This pioneering work in South America has allowed them to receive support from the International Finance Corporation World Bank Group, the Global Environmental Facility of the United Nations, and the National Geographic Society.

Thanks to these funds in their resorts promote the use of clean technologies, directly and indirectly protect the forests with the respective offset carbon emissions and teach their guests how to offset the CO2 emitted individually.

"We know that tourists travel because for a unique experience and be a better person, so we offer a trip which is in contact with nature and learn about the natural riches of Peru," said Jose Koechlin Von Stein.

She adds that in Inkaterra Machu Picchu Hotel, for example, not only aims to show guests the imposing work of man but also the environment in which it is constructed this World Heritage Site.

"The Incas built there, although it was a place of difficult access, because for them it was a beautiful natural environment and that's what we tell the tourists too."