The Cristalino Lodge has just introduced 100% solar power generation to supply the electricity consumption of our rooms, with the unveiling of 60 new solar panels, bringing a saving of about 20% on total consumption. Now the hotel is equipped with photovoltaic technology to capture the sun’s rays and reduce the level of carbon dioxide emissions into the environment, producing 76.5 kW of electricity per day. At night, power is supplied to the rooms from a bank of storage batteries, ensuring maximum comfort for your enjoyment of the Cristalino forest reserves.
“We are delighted about this new phase, with the expansion of clean energy production at the Cristalino Lodge,” says general manager Alex Da Riva. The changes are in line with the hotel’s serious commitment to sustainability, which includes architecture that is in harmony with the surrounding forest, banana plants beside each bungalow performing a role in the gray water treatment process, and own organic vegetable garden. Additional treats include private outdoor shower and bathtub, Trousseau bed linens with a 300 thread count and toiletries in the Granado Brazil Nut line to enrich our guests’ interaction with this authentic Amazon experience.
The 60 photovoltaic panels directly convert the sun’s energy into electricity, providing power for all the essential items in the hotel’s 18 rooms, including a lighting system that uses LED bulbs, ceiling fans, reading lamps and plug sockets for the 24 hours a day convenience of our guests. The innovations enable a reduction of up to a third in the cost of operating the hotel’s genera- tor, as well as avoiding damage to electronic equipment, since the photovoltaic system provides power of superior quality to that of conventional systems. Hot water, on the other hand, comes from solar heating systems, providing guests with a delightful bath or shower surrounded by the natural splendors of the Amazon.
The new sustainable activities join others that have long been practiced by the Cristalino, which is responsible for the conservation of a reserve containing 11,399 hectares of primary forest - an area six times larger than the Fernando de Noronha archipelago and twice the size of Manhattan Island. All sectors undergo systematic quality control and staff training, conducted by consul- tants whose services that range from the changing of amenities to the area of governance.
When it comes to catering, the purchasing department works closely with the kitchen team that is responsible for preparing creative recipes that combine the produce from the hotel’s organic vegetable garden, such as lettuce, rocket, free range eggs and spices, with local supplies of items such as heart of peachpalm and fish such as the tambaqui, which appears in a number of tasty recipes - from barbeque grilled to casserole.
Another feature of the sustainable tourism initiatives is staff training to collaborate in the re- sponsible use of natural resources and the proper guidance of guests on the hotel’s forest trails, putting into practice the fundamental principles of hospitality and providing a warm welcome.
The lodge has 18 bungalows equipped with a natural ventilation system, thirty kilometers pre- served trails for getting a closer look at the birds, mammals, butterflies and orchids, and two observation towers that provide a different view of the life in the forest. Cristalino was chosen by National Geographic Traveler as one of the world’s top 25 ecolodges and has received other international acclaim, such as the Condé Nast Traveler World Savers Award and the TripAdvisor EcoLeaders certificate, and has been awarded the Condé Nast Johansens seal.
Moreover, the conservation, research and knowledge generation programs developed in part- nership with the Cristalino Ecological Foundation also yield positive results for the region, es- pecially in the state schools in Alta Floresta and Novo Mundo. The schools participate in the “A Day in the Forest” program, which gives students aged 11 to 12 fresh insights into the Amazon, through activities organized by the foundation’s educational team.