Behind the Green-Bardessono

Why Bardessono, well, I was for one very interested in what one of 3 Platinum LEED certified hotel properties in the world would look like and function, and I was looking for a place I could go for a couple of days for total rest and relaxation. This place ticked all those boxes. The LEED(system of certification is point based and to be platinum certified, you have to pass with 52-69 points. 


Bardessono was named after the family who owned the land, and much of  the stone used on the exterior came from the original family home/winery(Tufa stone). Many of the environmental initiatives are listed on the links above. I will list several of the items that were interesting to me. 


I will let you know that if you prefer more "comfy"/traditional surroundings, than this place is not for you. There is a distinct contemporary, zen spirit, there is no carpeting and most materials lack real color.The furniture throughout is thoughtful, but not necessarily soft(the fabric on the daybed/sofa was ArcCom Moonbeam(not exactly soft, but is eco and crypton finish(holds up to liquid).  The sheets however were SUPER soft and the bed, wonderfully comfy.

View from rooftop pool of entrance, main outdoor area outside Lobby/Restaurant, you can see overall design and use of natural materials, drought resistant landscaping. Water features are throughout grounds.

Magnolia section of rooms, there are 3 other sections(Cypress, Birch and Olive) each have those species of trees included in the landscape design, with other water features. I will post more of those photos tomorrow.

Lobby-Vertical garden installation by Seth Boor, Scott Smith and Flora Grubb of 800 tillandsia in 4 vertical niches, ilo of revolving fresh floral arrangements that you would see in most hotels. Tillandsia require no soil and minimal water to grow(known as air plants also.)

Some of the environmental impact features are that many types of wood used in the understated, flat-roofed structures were salvaged from lumber mills and all from within 100 miles of Yountville, accented by naturally rusted steel. Each building's roof is fitted with a concealed photovoltaic solar collector and reflective material which makes it possible for the hotel to provide a significant portion of its electrical energy requirement. Another aspect of the hotel's energy saving : motion sensors determine room occupancy and turn off lights and electrical devices, drop shades and adjust temperatures while it is empty. When you return to the rooms, all settings automatically return to what they were when you left.

There were many other green aspects to the hotel, including low water flow fixtures, drought-resistant landscaping and a kitchen garden that grows fruit, vegetables and herbs for the dining room.

• Eighty two 300 foot wells beneath the Bardessono as part of a geothermal system for heating & cooling rooms and preheating of domestic hot water
• Automated external venetian blinds on windows and occupancy sensors to turn off lights
• LED and fluorescent light fixtures
 • Recycled wood furnishings with eco-friendly fabrics
• Redwood ceilings from old wine tanks
• Glues, adhesives, paints, and wall coverings with low VOC
• Concrete with a high potash (recycled product) content
• Glass Tiles with a high recycled content
• Steel with a high recycled content
• Organic linens and terry
• Organic cleaning products
• Spa & Restaurant food use organic and local
• Recycled Uniforms
• Drinking water, filtered on site
• Vegetable waste composted for use in the gardens
• Laundry done with limited hot water and non-detergent cleaners
• Recycling throughout the hotel
• Recycled paper products
• Electric and bio-diesel vehicles for hotel/guest use

In Lucy's Garden-they even give you seed packets when you have dinner at the restaurant.

Tomorrow, I will post video of the room and talk about the hotel experience. Have a great Tuesday!!