Roseau, Dominica: Journey + Leisure journal acknowledged Coulibri Ridge Dominica “World’s Greenest Resort” in its October edition. The inquisitive and conscious travellers voted for the resort and referred it “THIS MIGHT BE THE WORLD’S GREENEST RESORT”.
On the southern coast of Dominica, Coulibri Ridge (doubles from $700, three-night minimal) is a hilltop oasis 15 years within the making. Constructed to be power efficient-it’s powered utterly by commerce winds and the Caribbean solar the resort can also be proof that sustainability and luxurious don’t must be mutually exclusive.
Homeowners Daniel Langlois and Dominique Marchand shared with TL the seen (and unseen) options of their 14-suite property, which opened in 2022. By Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon
LOCATION
Coulibri Ridge’s 205-acre web site, which was as soon as a citrus farm, is supremely sensible: the southem publicity optimizes photo voltaic power era, and near-constant breezes preserve wind generators working. Being oceanview somewhat than oceanfront means the resort is much less weak to storms.
BUILDINGS
Lodging is organized throughout 5 three-story items, every with a mixture of room sorts. Each constructing has its personal power-generating mini grid in addition to a rainwater harvesting system. Exteriors are clad in six inches of volcanic stone that was mined on web site, which retains cool air in and humidity out.
SOLAR PANELS
The resort’s 255 photo voltaic panels produce 85 kilowatts per hour- greater than sufficient for its each day wants. Extra energy is banked in 288 recyclable batteries.
ROOMS
Suites are spacious and designed for longer stays. They’re additionally outfitted with power-efficient LED lighting and taps and out of doors showers which might be motion-activated, which helps cut back water waste.
POOLS
Two communal swimming pools, a 3rd on the spa, and personal plunge swimming pools for friends within the three Sky Penthouses are equipped with rainwater, heated with solar energy, and cleaned with copper ionizers, which zap algae and fungi Because it’s not chlorinated, the water is much less irritating to eyes and pores and skin, too.
WIND TURBINES
Ninety-five % of the resort’s energy comes from the solar, however a pair of wind generators present further juice. Painted inexperienced to mix in to the hillside, their blades are oriented vertically, which is assumed to scale back dangers to birds and bats-creatures that present pure insect management.
EVEN MORE EARTH-FIRST FEATURES
WATER
The property doesn’t have a pure water supply, so rain harvesting is essential. Roofs are pitched to maximise runoff, which flows right into a sequence of underground cisterns the place it’s filtered and sterilized with UV gentle.
RESTAURANTS
Chef Damien Mason, who’s from Dominica, attracts on the property’s organically grown bounty, which incorporates avocado, banana, bok choy, cacao, guava, lettuce, lime, mango, orange, soursop, and tomato. Moderately than import elements, Coulibri solely serves meals sourced from the island at its two eating venues.
STAFF
The resort’s efforts transcend environmental issues and issue in the neighborhood, too. Coulibri was constructed completely with Dominican labor, and all of the service employees are Islanders, many from the close by villages of Scotts Head and Soufrière.