ECO SERENDIB OPERATING IN HARMONY WITH NATURE
Eco Serendib Villa and Spa is dedicated to offering an environment that integrates eco-friendly systems and products without compromising the guest experience. A select group of companies and organizations that are committed to the environment were brought together to create a showplace of sorts, demonstrating how luxury and ecological responsibility can co-exist in harmony.
The experience educates, engages and excites guests on ways to reduce the carbon footprint. The goal is that guests will embrace the benefits of greener living and, realizing how little needs to be forfeited to live a more eco-friendly existence, incorporate elements into their own lives, educating others in the process. The villa does not claim to be 100% green but instead demonstrates how it is possible to live in a smarter, more sustainable way while still enjoying modern conveniences and luxury. Likewise, the goal is for others in the hospitality and tourism arena to be inspired to incorporate more eco-friendly elements into their businesses.
For his efforts at Eco Serendib, Harith Wickrema was recognized as one of the top ten hospitality innovators of 2011 in the area of sustainability by Lodging magazine, a leading industry journal.
Highlights of sustainable elements include:
- 69 Suniva solar panels that significantly reduce carbon emissions
- An organic “Seed to Plate” garden for fresh produce and herbs; excess harvest is shared with the community
- Sub-Zero/Wolf kitchen appliances that use less energy than a 100-watt bulb and are made from as much as 75 percent recycled materials, fast, induction cooking; water-conservation products from Kohler; Energy Star appliances throughout
- Gray water system for irrigation
- Three separate 20,000-gallon cisterns to collect rain water as well as over-sized gutters on the roof to collect additional rainwater
- Reflective barriers on the roof that reduce the impact of the sun on interior room temperature
- Use of membrane barriers to keep rooms cooler
- Salt water pool, eliminating the need for chlorine and other harsh chemicals
- Barbecue area constructed of recycled styrofoam thus reducing the impact on landfills.
- Susan Jablon Mosaics, featured at the spa and pool area, made of from 100% recycled glass
- The Garden of Glass glass mulch lining Zen garden walkways made of 100% recycled glass – visually stunning and environmentally responsible
- Eco-friendly American Clay plaster walls in Spa
- Sodashi all-natural, chemical-free products in Spa
- Elegant dining room table and boardroom table, which appear to be made of marble, are constructed from left-over construction materials and eco-friendly epoxy by Aurastone
- Sustainable design textile from Andrew Morgan Collection
- Gloster furniture, which is produced using sustainable plantation management systems
- Boardroom technology that allows for completely paperless meetings including Tabrasa write-able walls and Hitachi interactive white board technology; documents can be transmitted directly to participants’ computers
- Recycled tire material for outdoor rugs
- Re-use of old roofing tiles as terraces in the organic garden
- Re-purposing of stones for the construction of outdoor shower
- Solar walkway/driveway lights
- Composting
- Exclusive use of eco-friendly paint, plaster and finishes throughout the villa
- Recycling of refuse as possible
- “Edutaining” eco-tour of the villa for all guests, explaining the eco-friendly aspects of the property which are invisible to the eye and offer “guiltless indulgence” since they take nothing away from the luxury experience; daily turndown service includes eco facts and innovative ways to reduce the carbon footprint
- Use of Kindle for downloading books. Guests are given one free book per stay that are then left for future guests
- Institution of Eco Serendib Beach Restoration Program that counteracts carbon emissions while combating erosion by planting one native tree at an area beach for every night booked at the villa
- Donation of excess building materials to the Island Green Building Association, allowing for introduction of low cost ReSource Depot for the community
