Eco-Friendly Lodging
Green And Environmentally Sensitive Traditions Continue At The Historic Mendocino Hotel Ocean and Garden Suites
The Mendocino Hotel is an historic structure, and is distinguished in that it has used since it was constructed in 1878 a number of “green” materials, and has employed sustainable practices. “Town and Country Magazine” April 2007, pointed out that a number of hotels like the Mendocino Hotel have “been using environmentally friendly materials for decades, even centuries, without realizing their ‘green’ value.”
Lovingly restored antique furnishings
The Mendocino Hotel Ocean & Garden Suites has spent over one million dollars on antique furnishings that have been lovingly restored and which will be sustained and used for another 100 years or more-unlike plastic or mass produced furnishings that are discarded after only a few short years. The Hotel has recycled “aged” vintage curtains which could have been discarded, and have transformed them into attractive throw pillows that have been placed in the lobby in front of a 200-year-old real wood-burning Dutch fireplace. Stained glass salvaged from the early 1900s have been restored and incorporated throughout the public areas and, like the Tiffany style lamps, have been carefully maintained so that they will be enjoyed for many future generations. The Victorian wallpaper in the lobby and dining room is hand screened and vinyl-free and also contributes to the cozy feeling and ambiance regardless of the season.
Sustainable Site Systems At The Mendocino Hotel Yield Superior Comfort
In keeping with the “green” tradition, in 1975 dozens of highly efficient toilets carefully selected from a Swedish manufacturer and the Mendocino Hotel became the first full service hotel to install a system that used 80% less water. Public lavatories each have low flow faucets with timers.
An exquisitely tuned, environmentally sensitive process controls light, temperature and air circulation utilizing an elaborate “technology” of windows, flues, curtains and doors. Two long central hallways in the Main Hotel on Main Street draw breezes through, offering relief from warm summers and the Garden Room is warmed throughout the winter with natural sunlight that penetrate transparent ceilings and is cooled in the summer by opening windows and the slow quiet revolutions of ceiling fans. The Cafe Jardin in the hotel Garden room is a virtual greenhouse and has recently converted electric powered inefficient heaters to the latest state of the art, pollution free, high efficiency propane heaters reducing energy consumption by 200%.
The hotel pumps and filters several thousand gallons of water from its seven on-site wells which draw water from the aquifers beneath the hotel property. With this sustainable resource, the hotel is reducing dependence on and the use of plastic for bottled drinking water. Biodegradable disposable utensils and plates made from potato are available for large group events, wedding receptions and on request. Water and energy conservation cards are placed in all dining rooms and in guest accommodations as a friendly reminder that we all need to be mindful of conserving water and energy whenever possible. About 90% of the light fixtures have been replaced with Energy Saver Compact Fluorescent bulbs. These bulbs are environmentally friendly and save up to 75% in electricity costs over incandescent bulbs. There are dimmer switches and timers installed throughout the property for further electrical savings.
Laundry is done on-site using high efficiency washers and dryers. A new high-efficiency kitchen dishwasher that washes dining utensils for over 90,000 meals a year has been installed that boosts water temperature several fold thereby limiting wash cycle time and water consumption as well as exceeding health department dishwater temperature requirements. Duraflame “All Natural Firelogs” are used in the 25 Garden Suites and have replaced natural wood burning logs in the fireplaces so that the ambience of a fire can be offered to a guest with 75% less pariculate emissions and without the toxic and harmful fumes of regular wood. These bio-wax free logs are a cost effective and environmentally sound method for reducing greenhouse gas emission levels from fireplaces. And to further serve the future generation of electric and hybrid vehicles that transport guests to the hotel nine power outlets have been installed in the hotel parking lot—the surface of which is not blacktop or pavement but a unique and attractive cinder block with multiple openings allowing lush vegetation to grow through offering both a visual treat and a design that reduces run off and allows the water to seep into the ground below---- thus regenerating in part the aquifers on which the town depends for its survival.
Organic Food, Sustainable Seafood and Organic And Biodynamic Wines Are Featured At The Mendocino Hotel Restaurant
The award-winning Mendocino Hotel Restaurant is another example of a commitment to organic foods and sustainability. The owner of the Mendocino Hotel is a member of the international organization Slow Food and is an active member of the “convivium” (or a regional branch of this international organization.) The executive chef purchases organic greens and other products from local purveyors and supplements this from herbs nurtured without pesticides on the Hotels own 2 acre gardens and from its sister hotel the Hill House Inn and Restaurant. A professional wood chipper has been purchased and is used regularly so that all of the clippings from the gardens can be chipped and used as a natural supplement for the flowers and vegetables. This has also reduced the fuel dependent pickup and delivery of clippings the local company that is the provider of waste pickup and recycling services. Organic meats, vegetables and cooking ingredients are selected from certified organic purveyors whenever possible and fresh fish is chosen using a list from reliable sources such as blueocean.org, which identifies the most endangered and most plentiful. For example, Chilean sea bass has been removed and abundant and sustainable American farm clams are featured on the ZAGAT-rated menu. CEAGO biodynamic wines are featured by the glass and bottle from a list that includes a number of local organic wines and which has received the Wine Spectator Magazine Award of Excellence for the past nine years. The hotel participates in a Biodiesel program in which its vegetable oils used for cooking are picked up on a regular basis and transformed into fuel for biodiesel vehicles in Mendocino.
Contact us for more information at 800-548-0513 or info@mendocinohotel.com.