Solar Energy
On the island of Falhumaafushi, 1,490 solar panels were installed in October 2020 on the rooftops in the back-of-house areas and staff accommodation. Powered by DHYBRID, a global solution provider for renewables and energy storage systems based in Germany, DHYBRID planned and installed the solar energy supply system, which has a total output of 400 kW.
Almost all electricity consumed in the Maldives is generated from imported diesel. Having implemented solar energy in the resort in conjunction with traditional means, the resort has lowered its fuel consumption while at the same time preventing approximately 1,500 kilograms of carbon emissions daily, accounting for approximately 25% of the daily energy needs.
Earth Basket
Located on Dhigurah island spanning 3,450 square metres, the Earth Basket is a place that showcases the resort’s sustainability efforts in reducing consumption, produce locally and support communities and ecosystems.
Flourishing with fruits, herbs and vegetables, the Earth Basket is the resort’s very own organic farm boasting many different types of herbs and vegetables from simple basil leaves to Malabar spinach, cucumber or eggplants.
The vision behind this initiative goes beyond the boundaries of food and agriculture and the team’s aim is to reduce their carbon footprint and reliance on imports whilst creating a sustainable and interactive experience for guests. All the produce is grown pesticide-free and the food waste from the resort is converted into compost and used to nourish the garden.
The freshly grown produce features in the culinary and spa offering, allowing guests to eat well and live well. Not only this, but the Earth Basket programme is fully integrated into elevating the guest experience – through workshops in the farms, to culinary masterclasses with the hotel’s chef, to packages designed for guests to learn about sustainable living.
Saving and Recycling Energy
Every guest villa at The Residence Maldives is equipped with a heat recovery system between the air conditioner and the hot water heater. When the air conditioner is switched on to cool the villa, the heat generated from the outdoor unit of the air-conditioner is recycled through a heat recovery system and used to heat up the water in the hot water tank that guests use in their showers and bath.
In addition, when the sliding glass door to the villas deck is left open for an extended period of time, a switch installed in the doors will automatically switch off the air conditioner to prevent it from overworking, thereby saving energy in the process.
