Jim Henderson undertook the task of transforming a former large chain of hotels into an environmentally responsible eco hotel in the downtown area of Rapid City, S.D. He named the new hotel as the Adoba Eco Hotel, a sustainable hotel concept. Henderson claims that there is absolutely no trace of toxins present in the room. The ceiling was taken down by them to bare concrete and then followed with lime-wash instead of paint. Henderson along with his team is yet to successfully make their combined vision a reality. However, the investments made in green technology seem to have paid off effectively.
[box_dark]Positive Impact on Environment: Just Rewards[/box_dark]
The combined savings in energy at the hotel in Rapid City crossed the 40 percent mark even with a total occupancy of 97 percent. Henderson stated that the next step is to install brand new, state-of-the-art elevators and boilers that are driven by DC current, resulting in increased energy efficiency. This step will be followed by the replacement of the air-conditioning system with a newly patented A/C system that they are set to install which will help slash the cost of energy considerably.
Things have been looking good for the eco hotel from the start. The owner of the hotel, Karim Merali, seems to be pleased with the excellent guest response. The hotel boasts of full 100 percent occupancy since the month of May and they are still almost completely booked at the moment. The bookings seem to run well into the early winter season.
[box_dark]Conception and Design Stage[/box_dark]
The project of Adoba was conceived several years ago by Henderson and Adrienne Pumphrey, his wife. But they were able to realize their dream only recently in collaboration with Merali. The Henderson family aim to demonstrate that a complete eco hotel is not only feasible but highly profitable as well compared to the earlier conventional hotels.
The planners for Adoba had to begin right from scratch. They had to reinvent designs and are making use of recycled and eco-friendly materials with the prime focus being energy savings. As the concept continues to develop, newly constructed hotels will be erected that include eco-friendly and energy saving features from the primary stage of conception to the ultimate construction. Past hotels will be converted according to the standards set by Adoba to form healthy and pleasurable features for guests.
Sacha Merali, the Vice President of Development and Design, revealed that the concept took shape by asking questions like what things seem to bother people when they travel, where are the placements for outlets, space design and how housecleaning will be able to tidy up a room even more effectively. They started by designing rooms with concepts for space-saving along with eco-friendly designs. They seek to replicate the model again and again, albeit in an affordable manner. They applied these same challenges and principles to remaining buildings. They were surely not able to alter the plumbing or the electric systems by a great margin but they wanted the artistry and function to feel tasteful to guests to provide them with an experience.
What is evident from a sweeping glance at the hotel rooms is the minute attention to detail. The carpets indicate both practicality and eco-friendliness since no glues are used owing to their toxicity. The carpets also come with a guarantee period of 15 years, following which the manufacturer is going to buy them back. Sacha Merali states that this special carpet has been composed of fibers that contain a blend of natural stone and grass. The main idea is to impart an outdoor feeling to the indoor environments.