The three pillars of sustainability: ecology, economy and social responsibility
The three pillars of sustainability form the basis of sustainability. On the following page all sustainable measures on the subject of ecology
The three pillars of sustainability form the basis of sustainability. On the following page all sustainable measures on the subject of ecology
From 2006 until today, the Seehotel has been certified with the European environmental certification EMAS. In the course of this, a comprehensive environmental management system was introduced, which enabled a systematic analysis of the hotel's environmental impact. Despite several renovations, during which the number of overnight stays was increased by 40% and 40% more space in the hotel had to be heated as a result, energy consumption remained constant. In contrast, the CO2 emissions caused by the hotel have been continuously reduced.
In 2004, the Seehotel switched to the green electricity provider NaturEnergie. This supplies the Seehotel Wiesler with CO2-neutral electricity from hydropower and solar energy. The hotel has thus been supporting the expansion of renewable energies for years.
Two years later, the hotel's own PV system was installed on the hotel roof and in the following years also for the loft house. This generates around 10,000kWh of electricity per year. To put this into context: the PV system can cover the electricity requirements of the entire hotel for half a month. The conventional energy mix in Germany emits 469g CO2/kWh. In comparison, a PV system emits only 44g CO2/kWh, taking into account the manufacturing process. This means that the hotel saves around 6 tons of CO2 per year by feeding electricity into the grid.
As a further environmental measure, surface sealing in the outdoor area was minimized. Part of the asphalt parking lot was replaced with paving stones. Rainwater can thus be better absorbed by the ground and is available to the environment to store the groundwater level.
In 2000, an innovative renovation was on the agenda for the Seehotel. All guest rooms were to be refurbished. In line with environmental and sustainability considerations, the Seehotel Wiesler was already using local woods such as spruce back then. This was a real challenge at the time and not at all common. Mr. Wiesler sat down with Arstineria Inneneinrichtung und Schreinerei from the village and explained his ideas. Together they procured suitable woods and integrated them into the new modern design. Together with ArsInteria, Seehotel Wiesler still designs the most modern building projects today, in which the use of local wood is an integral part. This not only promotes regionality, but also saves CO2. This is because timber construction saves energy compared to concrete and the CO2 absorbed by the trees is stored directly in the building. The new penthouse floor at Seehotel Wiesler was created during the renovation of the roof truss in 2016. This was also carried out using predominantly local timber. In addition to tried-and-tested tree species such as spruce and birch, these rooms also feature the original tree of the Black Forest, the silver fir.
The importance of regionality is not just a current trend, but has long been close to the Wiesler family's heart. In their own Eva Wiesler Beauty Spa, Ms. Wiesler attaches great importance to natural products, free from parabens, microplastics and other harmful substances for the skin. For example, she introduces her own vegan product range and develops her own home-grown treatment concepts together with her spa team. In a chance conversation with the cheese supplier from Ospelehof in Hinterzarten, she learned that the farmer's Ms. liked to bathe in whey, which gave the farmer the idea of producing and marketing his own whey cosmetics. Ms. Wiesler supported the farmer, recorded the whey series in the spa, provided him with tips and used them for her own regional treatment concepts. Ms. Wiesler was later nominated Spa Manager of the Year for the impulse and her concepts for regional spa treatments.
In 2011, Mr. Wiesler developed a new type of hot water-powered tumble dryer together with the Stahl company. This gently dries the laundry of the Seehotel. By generating heat using environmentally friendly wood chip heating, there is no need for energy-intensive electricity heating in the dryer. The technology was developed to market maturity together with the Stahl company in Stuttgart and is now even commercially available.
As a wellness hotel, bathing shoes are an absolute must. In order to meet the wishes of the guests, several disposable bathing shoes from different companies were tested. Looking at the table full of plastic, Mr. Wiesler wondered whether there was an ecological solution. Internet research led him to the company Fashy, which has its headquarters in Stuttgart. The reusable bathing shoes are free from harmful chemicals and are made in Germany. After use by guests, the shoes are disinfected and cleaned so that they can be reused. Many guests are so enthusiastic about the shoes that they take their own pair home with them.
In the winter of 2019, there was a severe storm in the Black Forest. Trees were uprooted in many parts of the forest. In spring 2020, the Seehotel decided to plant the storm-damaged forest. As a result, 100 silver firs, the original tree of the Black Forest, were planted in the Titisee forest. "Instead of supporting planting campaigns abroad to regenerate CO2, we prefer to plant our own trees in our forest, which can later be visited by guests." Says Klaus-Günther Wiesler
The Seehotel Wiesler's own moor is located right next to the forest area. Moors are the largest CO2 reservoirs in the world and peat may not be extracted. That is why the hotel protects the moor, which is even located on its own property. An information board on a popular hiking trail informs the public. By protecting the moor, rare animals and plants have found a home. Rare plants and animals such as teals and little grebes can be observed in the valuable biotope.
Species conservation is also important to the Wiesler family on the grounds of the Seehotel Wiesler. They have therefore designed the wall on the lakeshore in an open construction. This provides shelter for small animals. A large insect hotel was built in 2020. This provides many nesting places, especially for wild bees and parasitic wasps. The adjacent flower meadow completes the paradise. Anna Wiesler had the seed mixture for the flower meadow put together by a company in Ihringen especially for the site. As a result, our guests can now enjoy the regional flowers directly from the beautiful sun terrace.
Even in the hotel kitchen, great importance is attached to an ecological way of working. The Wiesler family and head chef Klaus-Günther Wieser have deliberately opted for palm oil-free cuisine, as there are many good regional alternatives, such as rapeseed oil. The use of fresh ingredients and the avoidance of ready-made products is a matter of course for him and his kitchen team. The organic waste produced by the cuttings, for example, is turned into high-quality compost in the in-house composting machine. The high-performance bacteria in the machine compost the contents within 24 hours and reduce the volume of waste by 80%. The resulting compost is then used to fertilize flower boxes, the lawn and other beds around the hotel. This closes the cycle of the food we use.
Start your recovery now
Start your recovery now