3 minute read
Framework for The Future
Kelda Bassett and Louise Stone from British geodesic dome manufacturer TruDomes made a strong contribution to our Montenegro event. The pair describe their impressions and how they are helping operators to meet their sustainable goals.
Six months on from a successful appearance at Eco Resort Network 2023, we have experienced a surge in demand from glamping businesses investing in sustainable design to reduce their carbon emissions.
We came away from the event with increased optimism about the sector’s collective commitment to tackle the climate crisis and we have since worked with a range of clients on a series of projects installing domes upgraded to include eco technology and materials such as renewable energy and enhanced insulation.
Sustainability was very high on the agenda for many of the delegates we met at Eco Resort Network 2023. Many were particularly interested in the features that we can include within our domes to support carbon reduction. Maximising off-grid electricity is considered an essential in eco hospitality. We spoke to various resorts about using the multiangled surface of our geodesic domes to enable solar panels to charge up more efficiently. We’ve also been working with clients investing in our solar extraction fans to optimise temperatures, support natural ventilation and aid efficient air circulation within their domes.
Many operators are investigating ways to improve the thermal performance of their resorts. Retaining heat in the colder months is vital to reduce the carbon footprint of year-round luxury glamping, and we received a lot of enquiries about methods to achieve this. One of our most popular features is triple-lined foil insulation to keep interiors cool in summer and warm in winter, providing temperature regulation without reliance on high energy consumption.
Industry of all kinds are being encouraged to follow the circular economy as an alternative model which challenges the way we manage our material impact on the environment - instead of steadily degrading, it uses systems which continually regenerate, minimising waste and maximising use of resources. We were struck by the number of glamping businesses at Eco Resort Network 2023 which advocate the circular economy and understand how the lifecycle of accommodation plays a key role in achieving it. For them, sustainable design is not merely a box ticking exercise – it’s about long-term objectives. www.trudomes.com
Responsible sourcing and choice of materials was a frequent topic of conversation. We received a lot of positive feedback about our dome frames manufactured from aluminium, the metal which has the lowest carbon footprint and can be recycled repeatedly without loss of performance. Cheaper, less durable glamping solutions are made from low-grade materials that quickly deteriorate and require remediation or replacement, adding to carbon footprint and landfill. Apart from making financial sense in the long-term, investing in accommodation with lower maintenance and a longer lifespan is one of the most effective ways to make luxury eco hospitality more sustainable.
Eco resorts are invariably more environmentally conscious than most businesses. Coming together at events like this provided an opportunity to share ideas and insight, facilitating a more joined-up effort in support of carbon reduction. We offered our expertise on sustainable design and manufacturing, but we also learned from other delegates, and we returned from Eco Resort Network with some fresh ideas to explore. We made a lot of excellent connections, and we are looking forward to catching up with them at next year’s event. I’m confident that many of our new connections will be reporting some encouraging results in their carbon reduction programmes.
