Wellness resort Palmaïa – The House of AïA in Mexico’s Playa del Carmen has entered into a partnership with renewable energy supplier Beetmann to power the property with 100 percent clean renewable energy. Through the 10-year contract, Palmaïa aims to reduce its output of carbon emissions by more than 56,000 metric tons.
The beachside retreat is also working with Solarfuel of San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo León, to install over 2,000 solar panels on available surfaces throughout the resort in the next 12 months to generate additional energy. Meanwhile, Solarfuel is collaborating with Energryn of Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, to install a heat pump at Palmaïa that will eliminate the need for natural gas to supply hot water to the resort’s 234 oceanfront suites. With the addition of the heat pump, Palmaïa expects to lower its carbon emissions by 22 metric tons per year over 10 years.
During construction of Palmaïa, great care was taken to safeguard the resort's natural landscape, with the team building the property around the natural mangroves, jungle and cenotes. The greenery throughout the resort is untouched by development and is frequented by wildlife, including agutis, spider monkeys, iguanas, ant eaters and armadillos.
As industrial agriculture for animal consumption is one of the largest contributing factors of environmental destruction, Palmaïa serves plant-based menus at each of its restaurants and all rooms are vegan-friendly, with no animal products (amenities or furniture) in them. All bathroom amenities are refillable and made with 100 percent biodegradable ingredients and essential oils.
Opened in January 2020 along the Caribbean Sea, Palmaïa employs air-conditioning units that are powered with ecological gas instead of large, water-cooled chillers. Guests will not find any single-use plastics at the resort (even room keys are made of wood and thread), and a personal, limited-edition refillable vessel awaits guests on arrival.
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