The world's most environmentally friendly resort

The owner of AquaCity resort in northern Slovakia claims `green’ technology is not only making them the most environmentally destination on the planet, but gives them a business edge, cutting costs and allowing customers to choose an environmental alternative without having to pay more.

The resort’s success is based on the discovery of geothermal water within the past 5 years, which have enabled the British based owner to invest in a water park, two hotels, spa and sauna centre, restaurant, bars and conference facilities.

A system of heat exchangers uses the water, piped from boreholes, to heat the resort and feeds the pools with mineral rich, warm water, while the commissioning of a second bore hole bringing 60/80 litres of geothermal water to the surface per second, enough energy to light 1 million light bulbs, is due to become operational within days, and will provide a third of the 35 acre resort’s electricity requirement by the end of 2006.

AquaCity’s British based owner Mr. Jan Telensky said “AquaCity is not only conserving the planet but is also giving affordable luxury through being green. I use environmental technology to save money and give me the business edge, as a result our resort is extremely competitively priced so customers can choose an environmental alternative without having to pay more”.

AquaCity Resort has already won the internationally renowned Green Globe for sustainable tourism, the Green Apple award for eco-tourism and is Europe’s first resort to be given Green Hero status.

Jan Telensky continued “The biggest growth areas in the global economy are alternative energy and water and AquaCity has both – totally free.”

Plans are now underway for a dome like Cornwall’s Eden Project, new bowling alley, stadium and a further 26 pools, including a tropical water paradise, while three massive solar panels on the resort’s roof and giant wind turbines will make the resort completely energy self-sufficient and emission free within two years.

By using the natural resources to power the resort, over 400,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions were saved in the past 12 months, a financial benefit of a £2 million saving in heating and energy costs, which in turn is reinvested in the resort to both reduce the cost of staying at AquaCity’s hotels and using the pools and saunas, which for local people is the equivalent of 5p for the saunas, 50p for the Olympic sized pool.

Already a highly successful businessman before investing in AquaCity, Jan Telensky’s motivations are not solely to make money, his dual motivation is to make a contribution towards saving the planet, which through green policies that are now only financially viable but actually save him money, he can afford to do, to the benefit of customers and the world.

What green means at AquaCity:-

- The swimming pools are stainless-steel lined, reducing the amount of chemical required to keep them sanitised
- In the kitchens, taps are fixed to prevent them running freely, grills and ovens are not left on
- Room keys operate the central lighting, avoiding lights being left on when unoccupied
- Dripping taps are attended to and low energy light bulbs are used
- Waste is recycled where possible
- Local legislation is adhered to
- A local and social `conscience’ ensures staff are recruited from the locality and the community receives support
- All of the resort’s heating is extracted from the geothermal water via heat exchangers
- The swimming pools are filled with natural geothermal water
- `Used’ water is cooled and returned to the earth
- Geothermal water is converted to electricity to power the resort, currently in part, ultimately in total

For further information, visit aquacityresort.com.