{"id":29381,"key":"Overview_of_eco-hostels","title":"Overview of eco-hostels","latest":{"id":1210334,"timestamp":"2025-11-28T11:37:54Z"},"content_model":"wikitext","license":{"url":"https://www.appropedia.org/Appropedia:Copyrights","title":"CC-BY-SA-4.0"},"source":"[[File:Incomappleux 2008 summer.jpg|thumb]]\n\n== What is an Eco-hostel? ==\n\nAn eco-hostel is an inexpensive and sociable accommodation that enables guests to minimize their ecological footprint during their stay. Guests can usually choose between renting a bed in a private room or bunk in a dormitory. Either choice often shares a bathroom, communal lounge, and kitchen. The term is used loosely, as it is currently used as a marketing strategy to create a \"Green Image\", in hopes that you'll be encouraged to support their business as a part of your green lifestyle.Corbett, Julia. 2006. Communicating Nature. p. 152\n\nThe purpose of this web page is inform both travelers and businesses on existing eco-friendly technologies and activities currently found at eco-hostels around the world. These technologies and activities can be described as any conscious effort to reduce waste, decrease natural resource and energy consumption, provide community integrated education, and support a healthy lifestyle that is beyond the social norm in that region.\n\n== Green Labels & Certifications ==\n\nGreen labels and certifications are useful tools consumers can use to make better informed decisions, and are marketing strategies that hostels can use to ultimately increase visitorship. Because \"green-washing\" (as described in the above section) can be used to misinform customers about the degree of sustainability, labels and certifications are helpful to provide customers with credible information.\n\nMost labels and certifications require baseline criteria to be met, but can be applied for at no extra cost. An example of [http://www.green-key.org/ green key's] criteria can be found [http://www.kmvk.nl/cmslib/www.kmvk.nl/greenkeyorg/files/International_baseline_criteria_HOTELS_V1.2.doc here].\n\nOther green labels and certifications include:\n\n* [http://www.ecomark.jp/english/index.html Eco Mark]\n* [http://okocimke.kvvm.hu/public_eng/?ppid=2430000 Swan Eco-label]\n* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160327105616/http://www.naturskyddsforeningen.se/in-english/ecolabelling Good Environmental Choice]\n* [http://www.marque-nf.com/pages.asp?ref=gp_reconnaitre_nf_nfenvironnement&Lang=English NF Environment]\n* [http://www.greenseal.org/ Green Seal]\n* [http://www.iso.org/iso/home.html ISO]\n\n== Why Make a Hostel Eco-Friendly? ==\n\nFor starters, you are doing your community (and ultimately the earth) a great service. Other benefits include reduced operating cost and taxes, operating subsidies, and a growing consumer market. In a recent survey, hotel owners ranked ''reducing operating costs'' and ''demands from customers'' as the top two incentives to undertake environmentally oriented initiatives.Bohdanowicz, Paulina. 2006. Environmental awareness and initiatives in the Swedish and Polish hotel industries—survey results\n\n=== Starting table ===\n\n{| class=\"wikitable sortable\"\n! Name\t\n! Country\t\n! Waste*\n! Waste Policies\n! Energy* \t\n! Energy Policies\t\n! Water*\t\n! Water Policies\n! Ed*\n! Ed Programs\n! Community Integration*\n! Green Certifications/Labels\n! Price**\t\n! Other Features\n|-\n| [http://www.hostelmalargue.net/cont/index_eng.php EcoHostel Internacional Malargüe]\n| Argentina\n| 4\n| -Environmentally friendly cleaning fluids
\n-[[Compost]]
\n-Reuse and [[recycle]]
\n-Green house made out of plastic bottles
\n-House constructed with [[adobe]]
\n| 4\n| -[[Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Energy|Solar]] and [[wind energy]]\n| N/A\n| N/A\t\t\n| 5\n| -Signs and talks about water and energy consumption
\n-Provide education on farming
\n-Involved with projects in community
\n-Spanish courses\n| -Offer Bicycles\n| [https://web.archive.org/web/20090312084540/http://www.choique.com:80/cont/quienes_eng.php Choique]\n| $11.50\n| -Non-smoking\n|-\n| [http://www.bio.arche.hotel.at/ Biolandhaus Arche]\t\n| Austria\t\n| 3\n| -[[Recycle]]
\n-Use recycled napkins, toilet paper, and envelopes
\n-Minimal packaging and plastics used \t\n| 4\n| -[[Solar Water Heating|Solar water heating]]\t\n| 4\n| -Uses natural spring water\n| 2\n| -Healthy-living library\n| -Trips to nearby organic farm, natural caves\n| [http://www.biohotels.info/ Bio Hostels], [http://www.umweltzeichen.at/ Austrian Eco-Label]\n| $64.00\n| -Nature walks\n|-\n| [https://web.archive.org/web/20110824043907/http://www.hubertus-pension.at:80/englisch/index.html Pension Hubertus]\n| Austria\t\n| 3\n| -Environmentally friendly cleaning fluids \t\n| 5\n| -100% [[renewable energy]]\t\n| N/A\n| N/A\n| N/A\n| N/A\n| -Seasonal products available from local organic gardens\n| [http://www.umweltzeichen.at/ Austrian Eco-Label]\n| $45.00\n| -Non-smoking
\n-Public transportation available\n|-\n| [[The Rainbow Hostel]]\n| Costa Rica\n| N/A\n| N/A\n| 5\n| -[[The Rainbow Hostel solar energy|100% Solar energy]]\n| 5\n| -[[The Rainbow Hostel rainwater catchment system|Rain water catchment]]\n| 4\n| -Workshops\n| -Peaceful social structure\n| N/A\n| $10.00\n| -Just love, no violence\n|-\n| [https://web.archive.org/web/20111110070815/http://www.lacasaverde.com.ec:80/index.html La Casa Verde]\n| Ecuador\n| 5\n| -Extensive reduce, reuse, recycling system
\n-Septic system\n| 5\n| -Energy from hydro-electric dams
\n-Use FCL bulbs
\n-[[Solar Water Heating|Solar water heating]]\n| N/A\n| N/A\n| 5\n| -Own eco-policy
\n-Literature on environmental deterioration in Ecuador
\n-Knowledgeable staff\n| -Work with neighbors in community to be sustainable
\n-Buy local produce\n| N/A\n| $17.00\n| -Educational based hostel\n|-\n| [http://www.llullullama.com/ Hostal Llullu Llama]\t\n| Ecuador\n| 3\n| -[[Composting toilets]]
\n-[[Compost]]
\n-Built using local materials
\n-Bring waste to dump\n| N/A\n| N/A\t\n| N/A\n| N/A\n| 5\n| -Encourage volunteer projects including educating local primary school\n| -Volunteer work with community\n| N/A\n| $18.00\n| N/A\n|-\n| [https://www.greenelephant.co.za/ Green Elephant Backpackers]\t\n| South Africa\n| 3\n| -Minimal [[recycling]] system
\n-Reduce, reuse, recycle philosophy\t\n| 4\n| -[[Solar Water Heating|Solar water heating]]
\n-Insulation
\n-Natural lighting\n| 4\n| -Low flow shower heads
\n-[[Rainwater Catchment|Rainwater catchment]]
\n-[[Greywater]] system\n| 3\n| -Environmental management plan that staff are committed to\n| -Involved in numerous community program and charity organizations\n| N/A\n| $15.50\n| -Offer many tips, information, and outsourced tours and activities\n|-\n| [https://web.archive.org/web/20120825033348/http://www.cel.org.es:80/index_en.html Centre Ecològic Llémena]\n| Spain\t\n| 3\n| -Built from sustainable materials
\n-[[Organic agriculture]], [[permaculture]]\n| N/A\n| N/\tA\n| 2\n| -Natural waste water cleaning system
\n-Natural spring water swimming pool\n| N/A\n| N/A\n| -Shop with [[organic food]] and other organic products\n| N/A\n| $26.50\n| -Mattresses are 100% natural latex, quilts of Merino wool
\n-Yoga and tai-chi classes\n|-\n| [http://www.villa.ch/en-index.html Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof]\t\n| Austria\t\n| 3\n| -Use recycled paper products\n-[[Recycling]]\n| 3\n| -[[Solar Water Heating|Solar water heating]]
\n-Strictly water powered electricity sources\t\n| 2\n| -Water saving taps\n| N/A\n| N/A\n| -Use and offer local products\n| N/A\n| $33.00\n| -Easily accessibly by train\n|}\n\n* * Ed=Education; Scale is 0 to 5, with 5 being most eco.\n* ** Prices are for dormitory beds (or single beds if were not offered) at low season. Prices were taken in Sept 2010.\n* N/A = Information not available through website or contact by e-mail.\n\n== References ==\n\n\n\n{{Page data\n| license = CC-BY-SA-3.0\n| description = Explore the world of eco-hostels, where sustainability meets affordable travel. Discover eco-friendly practices that help reduce your footprint while enjoying your stay.\n}}\n\n[[Category:Engr308 Technology and the Environment]]\n[[Category:HBCSL]]\n[[Category:Hostels]]"}