A small group of the GLCM students started the day with an early morning hike at Lion’s Head to watch the sunrise. After a 3:45 AM wake up, we arrived at the trailhead at 4:45 AM and began scaling the mountain. An hour later we reached the top of Lion’s Head, traveling approximately 1.5 miles with an elevation gain of over 1200 feet. The hike included sections with ladders and chains in the steepest areas for an extra challenge. After watching the sunrise, resting, and getting some refreshments, we began the descent down.

After a quick stop at the house to freshen up and eat breakfast, we got on the bus to Hotel Verde, Africa’s Greenest Hotel. Once we arrived, we were greeted by Dave Pollock, the CTO. Hotel Verde used many systems that were successful in the past, along with some brand new technologies, allowing them to reach LEED Platinum certification, exceeding their goal of a LEED Gold certification. For example, Hotel Verde uses a geothermal system inspired by those in the United States, while other systems were inspired by those used in Europe. A new innovation was the use of geothermal in conjunction with a heat pump system, which was the first time such a system was implemented in the world. When the hotel was built in 2014, it was only the second hotel to achieve LEED Platinum Status construction, and the first to achieve LEED Platinum for operations.

When it came to designing the building, the owner insisted that no expense be spared to create the greenest hotel. Although the hotel had a R280 million cost (14.9 million USD), it had a payback period of only 7 years. This is due to the countless energy efficient features implemented. For example, the double glazed windows with an outer reflective panel created a “giant cooler box” effect, reducing air conditioning requirements to reach a comfortable temperature. Solar panels on the north facade not only generate electricity, but also cast shade onto the north windows, which experience the most sunlight during the summer months.

Next, we got to see the nicest mechanical room any of us had ever seen. The attentional to detail demonstrated just how important attention to every detail was to the owner when it comes to quality and efficiency. In the mechanical room, shown below, the black pipes/boilers are for cold water and the silver pipes/boilers are for hot water. Due to the green systems used, creating hot water generates cold water essentially for free and vice versa. This attention to detail included flying out a technician from Europe to ensure that all quality standards where met. Not only was the equipment top of the line, but so were the finishes of the walls and floor, which are typically neglected when it comes to mechanical spaces.

Other creative energy efficient strategies include using void formers in the concrete foundation, shown below, to reduce the amount of concrete needed by 1,200 tons without compromising the strength of the structure. Additionally, Hotel Verde was the first hotel in the world to use regenerative elevators, which work similar to regenerative brakes in a car. This regenerated energy is then used in the building, allowing for a more efficient system.

Some future improvements that Hotel Verde is working on to further improve their energy efficiency are to replace their 3 wind turbines with newer models, which have much better, more modern technology. Since the hotel is right next to the airport, airport height regulations must be considered when it comes to installing new wind turbines. Additionally, the hotel has spent over a year trying to sell excess solar energy back to the grid, but has not been successful yet. The solar system currently generates 158 kW, but the hotel only uses 60 kW, but does not have a battery system. Selling energy to the grid would allow the hotel to fully carbon neutral, as it would never rely on electricity it did not generate.

Blog by Dan Zhuravel