Sustainable accommodation: small decisions, great stays
- Samantha Green Castañeda
- Aug 25
- 5 min read
This is a practical guide on how to bring ecology into everyday life and seduce your guests with transformative habits.
Imagine arriving at a place where there is silence, the air smells of wood and orchards, the water runs warm, heated by the sun, and breakfast tells the story of the landscape. That’s sustainable accommodation: not a catalogue of "no-nos," but a friendly experience that turns everyone—not just those already convinced—into an ally of the land.
At Living Impact, we help estancias, agroecological farms, and retreat and wellness operators translate sustainability (and sustainability) into everyday gestures that captivate the general public and improve business results.
Sustainability vs. sustainability (and why it matters in your home or accommodation)
Sustainability is the "ethical minimum": acting with environmental responsibility, using today's resources without compromising those of future generations. In a lodging establishment, this translates into water and energy efficiency, waste reduction, protection of nearby ecosystems, purchasing with a smaller footprint, and operational decisions that minimize impact (efficient lighting, solar thermal energy, water management, separation and composting, noise control and nightlights, etc.). It is, in essence, taking good care of what already exists so that it will continue to exist tomorrow.
Sustainability, on the other hand, goes a step further: in addition to being environmentally responsible, it has the means to sustain itself over time. It involves concrete actions and structures that integrate human, social, educational, cultural, and economic aspects within a framework of equity and a global vision: transparent governance and community participation; ongoing training for staff and suppliers; fair local value chains; diversified revenue models (lodging, retreats, agriculture, education, citizen science); sound and transparent finances; regulatory compliance; well-being and job security; accessibility and inclusion. Sustainability seeks the equitable development and well-being of people while caring for the environment—not one or the other, but both at the same time, and for the long term.
For your accommodation, the translation is simple:
Sustainability could mean responsible practices (saving water and energy, waste, habitat).
Sustainability also means a management model that ensures continuity (mixed incomes, partnerships, social and economic indicators, education and culture, gender equity, local participation) and that allows you to continue offering that well-being experience 5, 10, or 20 years from now.
And if you want to go further, regeneration comes in:
Not just avoiding damage or "standing the test of time,” but actively improving the soil, water, biodiversity, and cultural fabric season after season—for example, by restoring biological corridors, planting trees, recovering local recipes and languages, or training young people as guides and monitors.
Result: absolute comfort + measurable impacts, explained in simple language that anyone can appreciate (percentage of renewable energy, litres of water saved, value remaining within 20 km, local jobs, closing wage gap, returning species).
This is the promise that captivates your guests today and sustains your project tomorrow.
Habits that elevate any stay (at home, hotel, or retreat)
The secret isn’t in significant investments, but in daily rituals that become part of the experience.
Energy that isn’t noticeable, but can be felt
Turn off "vampire” loads at night, adjust high-consumption schedules, and prioritise warm, efficient lighting. If there are solar thermal systems for showers or photovoltaic systems for pumping, mention it with a small sign: guests appreciate knowing how their comfort reaches them.
Water that cares Flow reducers, aerators, and dual flush systems are invisible... until you explain them. A brief sign avoids the "preachy": “This faucet saves 30% without sacrificing comfort; thank you for taking care of the river you’ll see at dawn."
Food that tells stories
Zero-mile breakfasts, sourdough breads, garden infusions, tasty plant-based options. Present the menu as a narrative of the place: who grows it, which variety, and why this recipe.
Waste without drama
Discreet separation points, refillable amenities, and refillable bottles. Offer a simple gesture: "Reuse your glass during the retreat; we’ll give you a coaster made of local fibres."
Air and sleep
Cross ventilation, mosquito nets, and ceiling fans reduce the use of air conditioning. If you have blackout curtains and a dark-sky policy, say so: deep sleep is a sustainable luxury.
Biodiversity nearby
Flower beds for pollinators, nesting boxes, and a butterfly garden. A small map points out “micro-habitats” and adds curiosity to each walk.
How to Bring Ecology to a General Audience (Without Nagging)
The key is to design small victories. Replace guilt with pride.
Kind Nudges: Short, positive messages (“Your 5-minute shower saves the same amount of water as watering 12 vegetables”).
Micro-challenges: “24-Hour Single-Use Plastic-Free Challenge” with a complimentary gift upon completion.
Visible Evidence: A mini-dashboard at reception or on the website with three live data points (renewable energy, liters of water saved, percentage of local purchases).
Participation: Invite guests to record birds with eBird or plants with iNaturalist during their stay; then send an email with the observation map. Citizen science makes guests co-authors, and tech challenges engage them in interactive activities.
For accommodations offering wellness retreats and trips
Your guests are looking for calm and purpose. Integrate sustainability into your retreat script:
Conscious welcome: brief breathing + 5-minute "energy tour" (panels, biodigester, composting).
Nature routine: forest bathing, interpretive walks, participatory cooking with farm produce.
Closing with a legacy: planting a tree, planting a hedge for pollinators, or installing a nesting box; send follow-up with photos and growth.
This way, each retreat leaves measurable traces and a story that the participant organically shares.
Minor improvements, significant results (real-life examples you can replicate)
Refillable amenities + centrally filtered water: reduces waste and costs, and increases the perception of quality.
Solar thermal + simple insulation: constant hot water and less machinery noise.
Garden-to-table produce: the average bill goes up when diners understand they're paying for quality and storytelling, not just calories.
Signage with a purpose: beautiful signs (not scolding) that explain why we use that solution. I invite you to design signage in multiple languages (Creole, local indigenous languages, local idioms).
Measure and narrate your impact in three lines
For homes and accommodations, three easy-to-understand indicators are enough:
Environmental: % renewable energy/liters of water saved / species observed on the property.
Social: % local purchases/number of women suppliers or guides/hours of team training.
Economic: % of spending that stays within 20 km / monthly savings due to efficiency/occupancy during mid-season.
Publish a brief "Part of the House/Farm” each month: a graph, a guest anecdote, and a decision made thanks to the data. This builds trust and loyalty.
And financing? Don’t live solely off the tourist trade.
Financial sustainability is part of comfort.
Mixed income: retreats + lodging + agroecological sales + workshops + monitoring sponsorships (companies adopt transects or trails).
Grants and accelerators: energy/water equipment, citizen science, community gardens.
Payments for ecosystem services (depending on the country): forests, riverbanks, and biodiversity hedges.
Partnerships: universities, NGOs, and municipalities for internships, social tourism, and environmental education.
30–60–90 Day Plan
(for stays, homes, and accommodations)
30 days
Write your "Sustainable Stay Manifesto," install filtered water and refillable amenities, activate a simple dashboard with three metrics (Energy per guest-night (+% renewable), Water per guest-night (+ litres saved), Local Value Stayed (≤ 20 km)).
60 days
Integrate a micro-ritual into each reservation (bird check-in, herb planting), adjust lighting/ventilation, and train your team and collaborators in purposeful care.
90 days
Implement solar thermal energy or make insulation improvements, launch a workshop open to the neighborhood or residents (composting, garden kitchen), and publish your first "Farm Report" with details about your stay.
How Living Impact helps you
1:1 coaching for accommodations and properties: sustainable experience design, retreat scripts, citizen science protocols, and data-driven marketing.
“Sustainable Hosting in 10 Steps” PDF: message templates, energy and water checklist, print-ready signage, editable mini-dashboard.
"Renewable Energy Culture for Accommodations" course: habits, measurement, solar thermal/photovoltaic/biogas, savings storytelling, and investment plan. You'll leave with a 12-month plan ready to execute.
Sustainability isn’t a trend or a list of taboos: it’s about hospitality done correctly. Small, meaningful changes—clear, measurable, and gracefully implemented—transform your environment and your guests. If you want your home, hotel, or retreat to breathe like the landscape that surrounds
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