Repsol YPF

Poetry has often described the sad paradox of destroying the beauty that we seek to capture. Hotels and campsites located in natural environments give us the opportunity to take in fantastic scenery and enjoy a clean and relaxed environment, far from the chaos of the big cities. These habitats are often fragile and can end up suffering due to continual careless human activity. However, it does not have to be like that. 

The European flower

The introduction of the European ecological label in tourist accommodation in 2003, led the way towards being able to enjoy nature without harming it. This label is a flower-shaped logo which identifies those hotels and campsites which comply with a series of regulations which in addition to offering the highest possible standard of comfort to customers, enable the efficient use of energy and keep the waste produced from their activity that could affect the surrounding environment to a minimum. 

The requirements that they must fulfil in order to qualify for the certificate include the use of renewable energy sources, reduced water and energy consumption, measures to reduce the amount of waste, and appropriate waste recycling, as well as giving customers information on environmental protection.

The benefits for tourist accommodation fulfilling these conditions are clear. Firstly, the energy saving represents a reduction in the cost of maintaining the facilities. Furthermore, these establishments are highly attractive to customers who are increasingly aware of environmental issues and as such more receptive to tourist accommodation displaying the eco-label. Finally, but no less important, it is the perfect way of guaranteeing the survival of the business, since the deterioration of the natural environment where it is located would result in it losing its appeal. 

How do ecological campsites work?

What exactly are the regulations set out by the European ecological label and how do they affect the service offered to customers? We will look at a few of them below. 

Firstly, the staff at the establishment must be suitably trained to carry out selective waste collection and its subsequent treatment and make minimum use of disinfectants, pesticides and fertilisers. They must also advise customers on environmental protection, as well as on the use of local transport (furthermore in this respect it is recommended that the establishment offers a bicycle loaning service).  

Towels and bed linen will be changed once or twice a week, except in certain cases where it is required more frequently. The lighting and heating systems must be automatically controlled. The eco-label requires that plants are watered first thing in the morning or during the evening, given that during the hottest hours of the day the level of evaporation increases and as such, the level of water consumption also increases. 

At least 22% of the electricity required for heating and hot water in the communal areas and rented accommodation must be produced by renewable energy sources. The hot water boilers must have an energy efficiency of at least 90% and the use of solar heating and rainwater is also important. Finally, at least 60% of light bulbs must be low energy light bulbs.

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