About
URBN Hotels Resorts is a specialized boutique hotel and resort company based in Shanghai, China. Its focus is to immerse travelers into their surroundings, beyond offering a traditional hotel experience. Localized extra services such as tai chi and yoga classes, in-room beauty and traditional health treatments, unique bike and walking tours, Chinese cooking classes and basic Mandarin Chinese lessons are available to enhance every stay.
URBN Hotels, Shanghai is set in a vibrant hub of local activity tucked amidst shops, restaurants, colonial lane houses and the famous former French Concession. Conveniently located two blocks away from Nanjing Road – Shanghai’s premium shopping, entertainment, and business district – URBN’s mission is to embrace the surrounding city and embody its culture.
We have created a sense of place that reflects the past, present and future of the city. Old Shanghai is revealed in walls of original brick, floors of reused indigenous wood and an array of traditional Chinese services. In parallel, the contemporary design and amenities draw on the energy of a younger, modern Shanghai.
URBN Hotels is committed to developing and operating green hotels. By renovating an existing structure, focusing on using recycled and locally sourced materials such as reclaimed hardwoods and old Shanghai bricks, and introducing eco-friendly solutions like passive solar shades, and water based AC systems, URBN hopes to set an example for other businesses and industries in China and around the world.
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Strategy
In May 2007, URBN Hotels entered into an agreement with Emissions Zero, an international
intermediary offering bespoke solutions for companies and industries to reduce and offset greenhouse gas emissions. The total amount of energy the hotel consumes, including staff commutes, food and beverage delivery, and the energy used by each guest, will be tracked to calculate the carbon footprint. URBN will then purchase credits to neutralize its footprint by investing in local "green" energy development and emission reduction projects. Hotel guests can also choose to purchase carbon
credits from the program to offset their own flights - China is the fastest growing emitter of greenhouse gases, and URBN is committed to setting a new standard for the hospitality and real estate industries by taking green ideas into green action.
Our strategy was first to minimise emissions associated with construction by: retro-fitting an existing structure; using 90% recycled materials; and sourcing everything locally.
The second step was to maximise the operational efficiency of the hotel by installing: energy efficient water based air conditioning system; heat recovery ventilators; roofing insulation; double paned windows.
Passive solar shading from trees in our courtyard as well as bamboo and ivy louvers utilise natural rhythms to cool/heat our rooms in summer/winter respectively.
The south face of our hotel is dedicated to an ivy ‘green wall’ which increases thermal insulation, air purification, carbon sequestration, ecological enhancement, and acoustic absorption.
The majority of our lights are low voltage and all electronic equipment is automatically turned off when guests leave their rooms
Further steps: our employees are trained in carbon neutrality and sustainability; environmentally friendly cleaning products are used throughout the property; printing is kept to a minimum; all waste is recycled; guests are encouraged to use public transport and offered the chance to offset their flight emissions.
Finally we offset our unavoidable emissions through a landfill gas collection and utilisation project in Southern China.
For future expansion, we look to acquire and rehabilitate existing properties and then operate them carbon neutrally.
Strategy highlights:
- China’s first Carbon Neutral hotel
- Carbon credit available for guests to purchase to offset their flights
- 6 square meters of green space per hotel guest
- Renovation of existing structure and reuse of many of its elements
- Focus on using recycled and locally sourced materials
- Low wattage lighting through out hotel
- Energy saving light setting for all rooms
- Reclaimed Shanghai hardwoods and old Shanghai brick
- Passive solar shading
- 'Extensive' green wall over south facade
- Double pane windows
- Energy Efficient Water based AC system with heat recovery ventilators
- Low VOC paints
- Environmentally safe cleaning products
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