Enel X and Hotel Mandarin Oriental Santiago launch the first sustainable high-rise vegetable garden as part of their carbon-neutral experience program
Published on Tuesday, 25 July 2023
- The "Azotea Viva" project is a high-rise photovoltaic system with an area of 290 mts2 encompassing a greenhouse for organic vegetable production, including a beekeeping area. All crops are grown using solar energy and will be available to hotel guests.
Santiago, July 25, 2023- The purpose of the "Azotea Viva" project, implemented jointly by the Hotel Mandarin Oriental Santiago and Enel X, is to provide organic and sustainable food from a solar-powered crop to reduce guests' carbon footprint during their stay.
As part of the "Carbon Neutral Experience" program, we developed a photovoltaic project to reestablish the relationship between guests and the environment, promoting sustainable practices during their stay by raising awareness of organic produce consumption through self-generation of energy.
The sustainable high-altitude vegetable garden, which has a 21.6 kW photovoltaic system and an annual generation of 19.2 MWh, is the first of its kind in the hotel industry and will supply energy for the greenhouse and its lighting using solar radiation.
"Sustainability is a strategic pillar for the hotel, having implemented a series of energy efficiency projects, renewable energy supply, and waste generation reduction, in addition to monitoring its carbon footprint online since 2018, through the ForThePlanet.cl program," said Claudio Leyton, Hotel Manager of Mandarin Oriental, Santiago.
Enel X's project covers an area of 290 mt2 and contemplates the cultivation of different vegetables for the hotel's culinary menu, thus avoiding the transport of products by suppliers that use fossil fuel transport. The glass greenhouse also has a beekeeping area, allowing the production of sustainable food for hotel guests.
"This project is part of the many energy efficiency initiatives already underway with the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, which shares a common purpose, namely, to advance in the fight against climate change, which will neutralize the carbon footprint of hotel occupants. This photovoltaic solution is an example of awareness that will address the commitment to environmental care and to produce food sustainably," said Karla Zapata, General Manager of Enel X.
The project "Carbon Neutral Experience" program will avoid the emission of 7.5 tons of CO2 per year, equivalent to planting 19 trees.
