AUSTIN, TEXAS—Barton Creek Resort & Spa has earned Bronze Level certification by Green Seal in recognition of its environmental stewardship, making it the second hotel in Austin and the fourth hotel in Texas to earn this award. Green Seal is a nonprofit organization that uses science-based standards and certification to help shoppers, travelers and companies identify what is truly “green.”
“At Barton Creek Resort, we care about serving our guests and protecting our planet,” says general manager James Walsh. “We recognize the great responsibility that comes with operating our resort in such a beautiful landscape and we have adopted cutting edge sustainable practices to ensure the health and vitality of the Texas Hill Country for future generations. This certification acknowledges our commitment to serving both our guests and our planet in a meaningful way.”
With focused initiatives in place to conserve natural resources and reduce environmental impact, the resort has reduced a significant amount of electricity, gas and water usage on property. In 2011, Barton Creek Resort recycled a little more than 62 tons of assorted products, the equivalent of saving 1,034 trees, 425,842 gallons of water, 23,117 gallons of oil, 4,941 cubic feet of landfill space, and enough energy to power 30 homes for an entire year.
Sustainable Program Highlights
Highlights of Barton Creek Resort’s notable sustainable programs and practices include
• The resort’s grounds serve as vital open space for wildlife habitat. The landscape was designed using naturally-occurring water-frugal plants and grasses to reduce water usage. Additionally, all landscape debris is recycled for mulching which is used to help maintain hydration in plant beds.
• To conserve water, a series of water quality ponds capture runoff from the resort’s golf courses, the streets and residential areas. This water is then transferred to an irrigation pond for application onto golf courses. A series of interconnected re-circulation water features including the irrigation ponds and water quality ponds enable water to be recycled and reused for irrigation on the golf courses.
• To preserve local wildlife, including the large number of deer that live on the property and in the surrounding area, only non-poisonous plants and vegetation are used in landscaping. Nesting houses are also scattered throughout the property to ensure a healthy bird population. Additionally, 95 percent of all landscape plant material is native perennial and incorporated into the natural landscape to enhance wildlife cover and forage.
• The resort’s laundry department utilizes an ozone treatment process that virtually eliminates detergent usage and drastically reduces rinse water consumption. Water from laundry is recycled and used to water the resort’s golf courses.
• The resort has a full-time, on-site environmental assurance manager responsible for managing all environmental programs, training, education, initiatives and reporting.
• Compact fluorescent lighting is used throughout the resort, consuming 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent lighting.
• A Resource Advisory Group has been established for the resort, which includes local arborists, naturalists, conservationists, and land planners.
Go to Barton Creek Resort & Spa and Green Seal.
