El Turcal
Sustainability guidelines
When the project to create a rural hotel was launched in 1999, one of the basic pillars we knew had to be the relationship between the hotel and its surroundings.
For which it was thought from the outset to carry out a rehabilitation based on bioclimatic parameters. These parameters included aspects of the building's own architectural design as well as the progressive incorporation of the different systems and strategies that allowed to have a building with a reduced ecological footprint. As regards the architecture section, the few technical and information resources that were available for those years were used. At the end of the 20th century terms such as "ecological positioning, energy efficiency, ecological footprint, bioclimatic parameters, etc." were the field of work and development of a few. After an arduous struggle and a close relationship with the team of architects and others involved in the project, a building was built that incorporated from the outset a whole series of bioclimatic parameters and techniques, namely:
- The building was implanted with an optimal orientation to take advantage of both light and solar radiation in winter
- Transparent floors were used that allow the passage of natural light from the overhead skylight to the living room 14 meters below.
- Systems of "cross ventilation" were designed in the rooms, and "chimney effect" in the living room, as the Etruscans did two thousand years ago.
- All bathrooms were designed with natural light.
- Fiberglass type screen screens were incorporated in the windows to avoid the entrance of solar radiation in summer.
- The building was provided with a self-ventilated cover designed specifically for the hotel, which achieves great effectiveness with a very light weight.
- Radiant floor of water was incorporated in the common zones to avoid energy losses due to the high ceilings of these zones. In addition to running on water at low temperature 45 º
- All the glass of the hotel have an air chamber and there are also large U GLASS facings.
- 95% of the lighting is done with low-energy bulbs.
- A sewage treatment plant has been created to treat waste water. The total oxidation system with activated sludge recirculation has been chosen. With this system a degree of purification of 90% can be achieved allowing the recovery of the water for irrigation and eliminating almost totally the pollutant parameters, organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus. The treated water takes care of the irrigation needs (dripping by microdiffusion and sprinkling) of the garden.
- In the yard, an ornamental pool was built to collect the rainwater from the decks.
- All bathrooms in the hotel have built-in showers and perlizadores systems in the faucets that allow a reduction of water of almost 55% without detriment of the flow or water pressure.
- The chiller of the air conditioning system works with ecological refrigerant R 47C.
- All cleaning products used in the hotel are ISO 14000 certified for respect for the environment.
- The parking pergola has been designed for the near future to house the solar energy park, with the aim of dispensing with the use of propane.
- No paints or varnishes with lead have been used.
- A small composting plant is available for the production of organic fertilizer.
- Recycle glass, paper and plastic containers and cans.
- 80% of the products used in the normal operation of the hotel are locally made products.
- Soap dispensers have been installed in all bathrooms, eliminating amenities. Saving the planet 2000 plastic containers per year.
For which it was thought from the outset to carry out a rehabilitation based on bioclimatic parameters. These parameters included aspects of the building's own architectural design as well as the progressive incorporation of the different systems and strategies that allowed to have a building with a reduced ecological footprint. As regards the architecture section, the few technical and information resources that were available for those years were used. At the end of the 20th century terms such as "ecological positioning, energy efficiency, ecological footprint, bioclimatic parameters, etc." were the field of work and development of a few. After an arduous struggle and a close relationship with the team of architects and others involved in the project, a building was built that incorporated from the outset a whole series of bioclimatic parameters and techniques, namely:
- The building was implanted with an optimal orientation to take advantage of both light and solar radiation in winter
- Transparent floors were used that allow the passage of natural light from the overhead skylight to the living room 14 meters below.
- Systems of "cross ventilation" were designed in the rooms, and "chimney effect" in the living room, as the Etruscans did two thousand years ago.
- All bathrooms were designed with natural light.
- Fiberglass type screen screens were incorporated in the windows to avoid the entrance of solar radiation in summer.
- The building was provided with a self-ventilated cover designed specifically for the hotel, which achieves great effectiveness with a very light weight.
- Radiant floor of water was incorporated in the common zones to avoid energy losses due to the high ceilings of these zones. In addition to running on water at low temperature 45 º
- All the glass of the hotel have an air chamber and there are also large U GLASS facings.
- 95% of the lighting is done with low-energy bulbs.
- A sewage treatment plant has been created to treat waste water. The total oxidation system with activated sludge recirculation has been chosen. With this system a degree of purification of 90% can be achieved allowing the recovery of the water for irrigation and eliminating almost totally the pollutant parameters, organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus. The treated water takes care of the irrigation needs (dripping by microdiffusion and sprinkling) of the garden.
- In the yard, an ornamental pool was built to collect the rainwater from the decks.
- All bathrooms in the hotel have built-in showers and perlizadores systems in the faucets that allow a reduction of water of almost 55% without detriment of the flow or water pressure.
- The chiller of the air conditioning system works with ecological refrigerant R 47C.
- All cleaning products used in the hotel are ISO 14000 certified for respect for the environment.
- The parking pergola has been designed for the near future to house the solar energy park, with the aim of dispensing with the use of propane.
- No paints or varnishes with lead have been used.
- A small composting plant is available for the production of organic fertilizer.
- Recycle glass, paper and plastic containers and cans.
- 80% of the products used in the normal operation of the hotel are locally made products.
- Soap dispensers have been installed in all bathrooms, eliminating amenities. Saving the planet 2000 plastic containers per year.
