Green Life
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ECO HOTEL LA RESIDENZA AND THE ENVIRONMENT
The Eco Hotel La Residenza in Milan is part of the first Italian group of Eco friendly hotels EcoWorldHotel; the green approach is bringing us positive results, first of all an economic saving of 15%. We started gradually, fulfilling to 15 compulsory requirements to get the first eco-leave (it is the revolutionary classification system in eco-leaves from 1 to 5, adopted from EWH.)
Actions and investments have been made on many fields.
We named an Environmental Referent, that coordinates the environmentally friendly actions. We chose him among internal collaborators, in order to be autonomous from external agencies.
About idric saving:
-installation of flow reducers in taps, wc with double discharge toilet (6 liters rather than 12 liters.)
About Energy saving:
-more than the 80% of the light bulbs are with a “Class A” energy-efficiency rating;
- use of ecologic “Class A+”minibars;
-appropriate management of the boiler and the heat pumps;
-use of low waste air conditioning
-use of energy coming from 100% renewable sources
About the garden:
it’s watered only in the early morning or in the evening, to avoid water wastage
About Informatics:
our computers are Energystar, (a brand that guarantees a lower energy consumption), we also regenerate the carteridges of the printer.
About the waste recycling:
we collect the organic waste, the cardboard, the plastic, the tetrapack, the glass. In the kitchen we use biodegradable mater-bi bags for the organic waste. At the front office, we have a collector for used batteries.
About the Laundry:
we are provided by an ecologic laundry, whose linen is Oeko-Tex standard 100 certified (using no synthetic fibers), to guarrantee the non-harmfulness of the linen coming into contact with the skin.
About the rooms’ cleaning:
we use only certified-quality detergents. They’re really ecologic because they are biodegradable at 98% in 24 hours, while other so-called ecologic detergents at 90% biodegradable in 20 days. Moreover, our detergents clean very well, they’re approved by the housekeepers!
About communication:
inside the rooms: we sensitize the guests, through folders containing eco-tips in 5 languages (material studied by EWH), suggesting how to respect the environment during the stay in the hotel (for example, closing the windows when the air conditioning is on).
in the bathroom: there is an adhesive that sensitizes for the correct use of the towels (it is said to put towels in the sink and not on the floor – the material is covered by a special bio-plastic and the ink is vegetal!)
Depliant and business cards are printed on FSC certified paper (a brand that guarrantees the proper forests’ management and sustainablility.)
About the restaurant:
We introduced biological food in the restaurant and in the bar, besides offering typical local products.
In particular, for breakfast we have bio marmelades, while for the restaurant we have added fresh biological and vegetarian dishes, appreciated from international guests; also italian guests are appreciating their quality more and more. Most wines are Italian, biologic and biodynamic.
We chose a fine quality of biologic coffee to be tasted in the snack bar.
About bio-architecture:
a whole room became an ecologic room, restructured following Feng Shui principles. This oriental discipline guarrantees relax and wellness in harmony with nature. There are photocatalytic paints, led bulbs, bamboo parquet, FSC wood furniture and fixtures and so on.
Thanks to the buying group EcoWorldHotel, the ecologic becomes more economic, too!
Some examples?
-ecologic detergents: the price is lower than others so called ecologic ones
-courtesy set (shampoo, balm, soap and so on): first, it had the hotel logo on it, but the former traditional supplier obliged us to buy exagerate minimum quantities, so we had to fill the warehouse with the risk of wasting the products. Now, we use a certified ecologic line, with recycled packaging; the detergent inside is ecologic and of fine quality, very appreciated from Northern Europe guests.
So, we have bettered the product quality, respecting the environment, the guest, but also the wallet, optimizing the warehouse management, reducing the investment buying only the needed quantity of goods and paying it at almost the 50% discount.
About visibility:
The fact to be part of EcoWorldHotel group has certainly increased our hotel visibility, thanks to the press releases, thanks to the attendance of the Group at events like BIT, Fà la Cosa Giusta!, Sapor Bio with Marco Columbro, where the Eco-friendly group has spread our depliants.
Up to now, we received only positive feedbacks and compliments for our environmental policy, with a consequent reputation improvement (also online, for example in Trip Advisor).
Moreover, some companies go on booking here because of our philosophy. Sometimes they are green companies, that want or may need to book in an ecofriendly structure because it is imposed from the head office or because they are multinational companies that have to report the social and environmental balance.
Finally, we are sure that Eco travel is a winning choice for the hotel keeper, who can combine economic saving and respect for the environment, and the fact to be among the first to act in this direction thanks to EcoWorldHotel gave us something extra for the Expo 2015.
ECOTOURISM: HOTEL LA RESIDENZA, AN ECOHOTEL IN MILAN
Ecotourism is defined as responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and sustains the well-being of local people: this is the definition of ecotourism given by the International Ecotourism Society. In 2002 the meaning of the term ecotourism exceeded the concept of ecological tourism in order to incorporate also the aspects linked to the respect of the local (social) community, its economical development and the tourist’s satisfaction.
Ecotourism is characterized by the following features:
- it is aimed to the promotion of a positive environmental ethics;
- it doesn’t degrade or wear out the resources;
- it focuses the attention on the intrinsic value of the natural resources according to a philosophy more biocentric than anthropocentric;
- it requires to the ecotourist to accept the environment as it is without pretending to modify it or adjust it to his advantage;
- it is based on the direct contact with the environment and it is inspired by a direct cognitive dimension.
Risen in the Seventies in America and Europe, ecotourism want to show how tourism, if well-managed, can be an instrument of conservation, protection and promotion of nature, as happens in the natural parks, where the money paid by visitors is reinvested in environmental safeguards projects.
Ecotourism is a way of travelling that goes beyond the models of consumistic tourism, allowing a better self-knowledge and of the others in respect of the environment. As nowadays tourism is the main economical activity in the world, it is tried to develop a greater attention to the interaction between travellers and hosting communities, in order to foster a real respect of the cultural differences and an openness to adaptation to different habits and manners.
So the good ecotourist:
- is interested in the knowledge of the local traditions, with the view of a relationship with the local population that can have positive economical effects;
- minimize the negative impacts on the natural landscape and he supports the protection of the natural areas;
- supports the projects of local education and environmental supportability;
- prefers receptive structures located in typical buildings of the place and of local ownership;
- chooses receptive structures which cares for the energetic saving and the recycling of the garbage;
- buys products of local handicraft and he prefers the traditional food;
- cares for the principles of solidarity and ethics (he feels useful to the places visited and to the local communities).
While the good ecotourist operator :
- supports a tourism based on the conscious and responsible use of the natural, cultural and social patrimony of the destinations;
- manages the environment caring for the social, economical and environmental supportability, also with instruments of certification and labelling;
- prefers means of transport with a low environmental impact;
- employs a staff educated about the local culture in all the steps of the journey, that stimulates the sensibility, the interest and the respect of the tourist;
- reinforces the partecipants’motivations, their expectations and their openness to share some "good environmental practices";
- prefers and supports tourist guides educated about the topics of ecotourism, that inform and sensitize the guests to the socio-cultural and environmental protection of the destinations;
- emphasizes the peculiarities and the typical products of the territory;
- plans a strategy of sustainable tourist development of his activity in the long term;
- is constantly up-to-date on the new technologies and the instruments available to reduce the environmental impact of the tourist activity on the territory;
- respects the authenticity of the territories, the uses and the traditional customs, without commercializing the local culture;
- offers a quality service and always requires a merit-rating of his offer to the tourist;
- prefers products with low impact on the environment and recyclable.
Now it’s possible to find eco-hotels not only in places famous for the beauties of nature, but also in big cities like Milan.
Hotel La Residenza is part of the Ecoworldhotel group, which unites independent hotels with the goal of spreading the philosophy of eco-tourism and to designate part of the profits to the promotion of the initiative of safeguarding the environmental heritage.
click here to Read about European Mobility Week
BIKE SHARING
Since November 2008 Milan has been developing a sustainable mobility, through a system of bike sharing called Bike Mi. The aim is to make Milan a more livable city, with cleaner air and less traffic.
At the moment there are 1500 available bikes and 100 collection points, located in the strategic points of the city.
Easy and ecological, Bike Mi is not just a bike rental, but an actual public transport system, ideal for short trips (max 2 hours) together with traditional means of transport.
It’s a practical way to go around the city for work and it’s a funny alternative to traditional means of transport for tourists who want to enjoy the city from a particular and fascinating point of view.
From the Eco- Hotel La Residenza the nearest collection point is at 3 km far away, it’s the station n° 90, located in Via Sassetti.
It can be reached by the yellow line of the subway; from Maciachini get off at Zara (one stop) and the collection point is at 10 minutes walk.
Otherwise from Maciachini get off at Centrale, then take the green line (direction Assago/Famagosta) and get off after 3 stops at Gioia. The collection point is at just 2 minutes walk.
Others collection points within 4/5 km from our eco-hotel are n° 39 (Corso Garibaldi), 91 (Via Pirelli), 25 (Piazza Duca d’Aosta), 52 (Piazza Repubblica).
Price daily ticket: € 2,50
Price weekly ticket: € 6,00
It is possible to subscribe tickets:
- online on BikeMi website or via WAP from your mobile phone;
- at the atm points, located in subway stations Duomo (M1-M3), Cadorna (M1-M3), Loreto (M1-M2), Romolo (M2), Centrale FS (M2-M3), Garibaldi FS (M2). ATM points are open from Monday to Saturday from 07.45 to 19.15
- calling ATM phone number 800 80 81 81.
CAR SHARING
City car sharing is an alternative, more intelligent and economical way of using cars.
It consists in using a shared car, always available, at affordable fares, with no manteinance, assurance and petrol expenses.
It is a system of self service car rent. You can find them in the contracted garages, located all around the city. Shared vehicles are available anytime in the day and any day of the year.
The service, run by Guidami srl, allows you to hire a car with a simple phone call or over the internet, paying according to the use of the vehicle.
With Guidami you can give up your own car without compromising your need for mobility. To move freely during your stay in Milan, the nearest contracted garage to Eco- Hotel La Residenza is named Nein, and it’s located in Via de Tocqueville 3. It is only 3,5 km far from the hotel, and it is easily reachable with bus number 70 for 9 stops (direction Bruzzano).
Guidami to:
- Cut out the fixed costs (buying, insurance, car tax);
- Cut out the manteinance costs and the related inconveniences (loss of time, need of a replacement car);
- Have an always clean and efficient car available;
- Choose a vehicle suitable for every needs: a citycar to move in the city, a family car to go shopping;
- Have always a free parking available in the nearby;
- Cut out the need of having a garage;
- Cut out petrol costs.
Guidami…..for the environment!
There are 101 available cars, respecting the stricter anti-pollution standards and easy to drive in the city traffic. The vehicles are equipped with all the active and passive safe devices provided from the constructor.
Sharing a car with other people concurs to replace about 6 private cars, with a conspicuous mobility and emissions improvement , as are saved up to 42,000 km of journey with a reduction of 2,5 t of pollutant.
With car sharing you can contribute to develop a more sustainable and sparing mobility culture.
From european sector studies, it comes out that:
- Every car sharing driver reduces of 35-40% his own consumptions, thank to a more sparing use of tha car and to an increase in the use of public (+15-20%) and pedestrian(+5%) means of transport.
- The 47% of car sharing users sell their second car, while the 12% renounces to buy the first one.
BOSCOINCITTA'
You can have a walk in a path on the woodland, cross a stream on a wood brigde, you can find yourself in a maze field in the open country or maybe sit at the margin of a pond to observe the ducks on the waterboard… where are you? In Milan, at the Boscoincittà, first example in Italy of urban reforestation.
It is not a garden, but a real wood in the city: 80 ha of wood, meadows, farmed fields, streams and a big pond with reed and waterfowls. At a few hundreds of meters from the entrance, is located the ancient San Romano farmhouse, renowed and refurnished with tables, benches and grills: an ideal structure to organize pic nic and open air parties. (for information and booking 02 4522401).
The park has been promoted and is now managed from Italia Nostra, that cares of the cleanliness, the manteinance and the development of the area, thanks to the help of many volounteers: during the years, it has been enriched by hundreds of trees and shrubs, and from a big network of paths. Turists and citizens of Milan can have a walk in the nature without going away from the city nor losing time travelling here and there. The entrance of the park is in Via Novara 340, and it is easily reachable by car, by bus or by bike.
Boscoincittà is a delightful tranquility Island: doing jogging, going by bike, sunbathing, reading, playing an instrument, drawing, painting, taking picture, chatting….make you forget to be in a chaotic city like Milan and you can breath the calm atmosphere of the country, despite being in a metropole.
In the west side of the park there is a zone with vegetable gardens, that citizens can farm as real gardens, as it happens in Germany.
How to reach Boscoincittà from the Eco Hotel La Residenza with public transport:
From Maciachini square go till the stop Via Farini/Via Stelvio, take the bus line 91, get off at Lotto and then the bus line 49 till Via S. Giusto/Via Dessiè; walk till the Park entrance, in Via Novara 340.