EAGLE BEACH, ARUBA—Bucuti & Tara Beach Resorts has added a new feature to its expansive environmental program: INNCOM’s Glass Series Guest Interface Device Suite. The device is an eco-friendly, central control system that allows guests to opt in to the resort’s conservation program with just the touch of an aptly named “Green Button” that controls the lights, thermostat and humidity of guestrooms.
The fully automated system uses motion detectors and door sensors to identify when the room is occupied and unoccupied and adjusts energy settings accordingly. For example, when the sensor identifies that a guest has left the room, lights are automatically turned off and the temperature is set to pre-determined conservation levels. The system also identifies check-in and check-out status so that the energy management status remains intact, even if housekeeping staff are moving about the room.
Just last month, the Glass Series Guest Interface Device Suite was the recipient of an Earth-Minded Award presented by Hospitality Design magazine and the American Society of Interior Designers.
Bucuti president and chief environmental officer Ewald Biemans recognizes that there is always more that can be done to support conservation efforts and works tirelessly to ensure the carbon footprint of the resort and its guests is as small as possible. “Bucuti already has the lowest per-occupied-room electricity usage of all hotels in Aruba, and this new technology will help us save even more,” said Biemans. “From a financial standpoint, energy is the lodging industry’s second highest operating cost, so the Green Button is a valuable investment on many levels.”
Many Green Initiatives
The Green Button is the latest sustainable initiative the Green Globe 21 and ISO 14001 certified resort has implemented to help conserve resources and ensure the natural beauty of Aruba is available for guests and locals to enjoy for years to come. Just a few of the many initiatives in place include:
• Solar panels that heat water for guestrooms and the laundry;
• Water reducers, which cut down water flow by 60 percent in all showers and faucets, and low-flow toilets;
• A greywater recycling system that uses sink and bath water for irrigating the grounds;
• Recycling programs;
• Using biodegradable and environmentally friendly detergents;
• Sponsorship of numerous environmental causes including monthly beach cleanups, recycling contests and Aruba-based animal-related organizations.
For more information, visit www.bucuti.com/resort/eco-friendly-resort and www.inncom.com.
