Water

The term sustainability is on everyone’s lips and is becoming increasingly important in tourism as well. Conserving resources does not always mean sacrifice; it can also help save money.

For example, it makes no sense to drink water from plastic bottles in South Tyrol when in Tramin we have excellent spring water from the Klapf, Zoggler, Rungg, Bach, and Söll sources. In the Tramin village newsletter of April 8, 2023, the Environmental Commission of Tramin presented a remarkable example calculation on this matter:
1,000 liters of tap water cost just under 2 euros. Now, if you go to a shop and buy bottled water in plastic bottles, you might get about 2–4 liters for that amount. Over the course of a year, assuming a person’s water consumption is 2 liters per day, this results in a real saving. In addition, tap water also saves resources and energy required for the production, transport, sale, and recycling of the bottles.

The project “Südtirol Refill Alto Adige”, launched by the Federation for Nature and Environmental Protection with the website www.refill.bz.it, also focuses on the topic of water. The website provides a map of publicly accessible fountains and refill stations that allow people to refill their own drinking bottles. This is especially important information for hikers and cyclists. The drinking fountains in Tramin have also been included and are additionally featured on the southtirol.info website, giving them an even greater reach.
Another initiative in this direction is “Achtsamkeit am Berg” (“Mindfulness in the Mountains”), launched by IDM, which also deals with waste reduction and the use of tap water. Among other goals, the project aims to support hospitality businesses in promoting the use of our high-quality local water, because the starting point for change is always information. One idea for accommodation providers, for example, would be to provide guests in apartments/rooms with a bottle along with an information display about our water.

The potential for savings does not only concern individual citizens; in particular, accommodation businesses are affected by the energy costs, which represent a significant expense factor. Water scarcity is becoming a central issue in all areas of life, which is why saving this important and increasingly scarce common resource is becoming ever more relevant in terms of sustainability. The treatment of hot water (including municipal fees) has almost doubled in recent years and currently amounts to around €10 per m³ – with a rising trend. Considering that this accounts for about 12% of a business’s total energy consumption, it becomes clear that there is significant potential for savings.

10 simple tips for saving water:

Water meters: Installing cold and hot water meters is useful to measure consumption and understand where usage is highest within the business.
Flow restrictors: These limit the amount of water used and can reduce water consumption by up to 30%.
Toilet flushing: Dual-flush systems are already standard in many places. However, it is still helpful to place reminder stickers so guests remember to use the small button and save valuable water.
Water fittings: Dripping or limescale-covered taps cause major losses. Regular maintenance is therefore advisable.
Linen changes: Encourage guests to understand that daily towel changes are not necessary. Considering that up to 270,000 liters of water can be saved annually, this also has a positive impact on the energy balance.
Wellness area: Clearly communicated pool cover times and temperature displays help avoid complaints. Every degree of temperature reduction leads to noticeable savings. Timer switches for spa-area fittings also contribute to savings.
Hot water preparation: Installing a solar system is preferable. Proper insulation of pipes is important, and decentralized water heating can be useful to avoid overly long pipe systems.
Control systems: Modern control systems reduce energy consumption. Pumps are automatically activated when water is needed, and heating systems are adjusted accordingly.
Water softening systems: With the correct water hardness level, washing temperatures can be reduced.
Drinking water awareness: Sensitize employees and inform guests. Conscious use of water resources saves money and protects the environment. (Source: HGV newspaper, December 2022, p. 16)

Sustainability Label South Tyrol

Based on the criteria of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), IDM has defined indicators that serve as a foundation for making the sustainability of accommodations and destinations measurable. Particularly sustainable businesses receive the South Tyrol Sustainability Label, which can be achieved through a three-level model.

Accommodation providers can also become holders of the South Tyrol Sustainability Label if they implement certain criteria within their business or destination, such as sustainable management, cultural sustainability, socio-economic sustainability, and environmental sustainability. Each business can individually decide which recognized certification level it aims to achieve and implement the corresponding set of measures.

Our member establishment, the Traminerhof, is currently at Level 1 and is allowed to use the corresponding certificate in its marketing.
IDM manages and awards the label and supports applicants as well as certified businesses in their efforts. The obtained certification can represent a clear advantage in the competitive booking landscape, as this criterion will in the future also be used as a filter option with the introduction of the marketplace.

More information about the application process and criteria can be found Here

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