As the world warms, the tourism industry — like many industries — is tackling
the climate crisis from a variety of angles. Aviation is (slowly) developing
technology to aid
decarbonization,
tour companies are actively funding environmental conservation
efforts,
and destinations are reassessing their previous visitation
strategies.
Joining these efforts from the accommodations sector is
Svart — the world’s first energy-positive, off-grid luxury
resort — which is expected to open in late 2023.
Located in the Arctic Circle at the base of Norway’s Svartisen Glacier
on the Helgeland coastline, Svart’s design, functionality and construction
are intentionally integrated within its natural environment. Because of the
building’s circular shape, rooftop solar panels will receive ample sunlight
throughout the day — particularly during the summer, when the sun barely sets.
Developers estimate the hotel will save 85 percent of its annual energy
consumption while also harvesting energy using these panels, covering all hotel
operation needs.
In an article published by SUN^x^ Malta,
Svart development director Ivaylo Lefterov asserted the property “will be
fully off-grid, carbon-neutral, and zero waste within the first five years of
operation.” The hotel does not intend to rely on any external infrastructure.
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Svart is the first building to be designed and built according to the highest
energy-efficiency standards in the Northern Hemisphere — and its environmental
ethos is literally being built into all aspects of the property. Steel and
concrete will be kept to a minimum, and solar panels are being produced using
hydro-energy. Because it is being built on the water, guests can only access
Svart via boats, which will also be powered by energy produced on the property.
Additional features include a sustainable fish farm, water- and waste-management
systems, and heat recycling from data centers. Svart will also have an organic
greenhouse farm, where it will grow its own fruit and vegetables — enabling a
farm-to-table dining concept.
The luxury property will be able to fully embrace regenerative principles in
large part because it’s been developed from inception based on four key pillars
— environment, nature, sustainability and technology innovation — whereas other
accommodations must backtrack and retrofit to adhere to these principles.
“For my experience at least, a lot of the mistakes that come from hotel
developments are that many projects don’t consider all elements at the same
time,” Lefterov said in an interview with
Sleeper.
“It’s often an afterthought, and then they have to adjust or adopt elements to
make it work. In a way, this compromises the end result and doesn’t allow it to
reach its full potential as something unique.”
This sustainable construction ethos is one that property developers hope to
carry into the guest experience with what Lefterov described to The AfterTravel as a “360-degree
holistic, circular approach.” As such, wellness and mindful wellbeing are
essential components of a stay at Svart. In addition to its 99 rooms and four
restaurants, the property will have a two-floor spa with three zones outfitted
with locally sourced products.
But the wellness aspect of the guest experience isn’t just about getting a
massage customized with local herbs or plants. Svart hopes to “inspire
discerning travelers to care for the protection of nature, preservation, and the
importance of the pristine polar region,” according to its website, with
transparency about its conservation and preservation efforts in an education
center. Additionally, guests will use customized wearable technology that goes
beyond typical data collection. It will create awareness and help guests design
their activities, spa program and food menu; but its sophistication goes one
step further by enabling travelers to take action based on what they learn from
this data.
“One of the failures of technology introduced in hotels is that they all offer
data collection but it’s lacking the next stage — how to use the data and
convert it into a benefit for the user,” Lefterov told AfterTravel. For
example, he noted, if a person is in a room for a certain amount of time, their
breath generates heat — which may be able to maintain a comfortable temperature
within the space. The key of this interactive, informative approach, he said, is
to help “change anybody’s attitude and behavior.”
Beyond being a fertile ground for guest education, Svart’s journey to becoming
the world’s first energy-positive hotel will likely surface valuable lessons for
accommodations specifically and the tourism industry at large. In his interview
with AfterTravel, Lefterov noted Svart’s on-site design laboratory will be “an
incubator for new technologies and new ideas,” such as different heating or food
systems, which can then be incorporated into Svart’s ecosystem.
“The vision for Svart is so much bigger than the project itself; we are trying
to use it as a showcase of what can be achieved in terms of sustainability and
energy solutions,” Lefterov told Sleeper. “It’s demonstrating to the user what
we can do, and the extent of what can be done, to really get people thinking
about it.”
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JoAnna Haugen is a writer, speaker and solutions advocate who has worked in the travel and tourism industry for her entire career. She is also the founder of Rooted — a solutions platform at the intersection of sustainable tourism, social impact and storytelling. A returned US Peace Corps volunteer, international election observer and intrepid traveler, JoAnna helps tourism professionals decolonize travel and support sustainability using strategic communication skills.
Published Feb 24, 2022 1pm EST / 10am PST / 6pm GMT / 7pm CET