Alsik’s connecting green thread
The Sønderborg area seeks complete carbon neutrality by 2029 – 20 years ahead of the rest of Denmark. Sønderborg’s vision is called Project Zero, and the local government, business community and residents have been ambitiously working to make the vision a reality since 2007.
Alsik is both part of Project Zero and a demonstration venue for the unique clean-tech expertise of the Sønderborg area. Accordingly, the construction of the hotel has been a visionary green construction project with ambitious sustainability goals ever since it was initially conceived and designed.
Alsik is currently 76% carbon neutral. A wide variety of technologies and solutions in both structural design and energy supply have been used to achieve this high percentage. For instance, Alsik has 380 square metres of photovoltaic cells on the roof, which generate 35% of the hotel’s energy, and the hotel’s supply of heat is 100% green district heating. Similarly, the surplus heat generated by the cooling systems at Alsik is used to heat hot utility water, and the surplus heat can be stored and used as needed. The hotel is illuminated by energy-efficient LED lighting throughout.
These are just a few examples, because the list of green structural and technological solutions is long. In addition, sustainability has been incorporated into the conceptual design of every aspect of Alsik’s operations. This is true of everything, from the care products in Alsik Spa, minimised food waste, and using local organic suppliers to green cleaning agents, sustainable materials, waste sorting and recycling, etc.
Green Key – tourism’s environmental label
As a result of the many sustainable initiatives Alsik Hotel & Spa has achieved the Green Key label.
Green Key is an international eco-label awarded to leisure organisations such as hotels, hostels and conference facilities. Green Key’s goal is to become the tourism industry’s chief label based on numbers and demand.
To obtain a Green Key label, the business has to meet a number of strict environmental requirements. In addition to environmental demands such as limiting the production of waste and decreasing the use of water and electricity, the criteria for the label also include certain requirements for policy, action plans, education and communication.
