Would you also like to minimize your ecological footprint during your travels? How can we support you?

We see this as our joint initiative to reduce environmental impact, protect natural resources and promote socially responsible behavior without being preachy. We deliberately refrain from pointing fingers.

However, integrating ecological, economic and social concerns into a vacation home is not easy. Sicily, and Palermo in particular, are not pioneers in sustainable thinking and action.

Avoiding plastic and separating waste seem to be foreign words here. Nevertheless, there are positive developments, such as the first bus stops being equipped with charging stations. Italy, and Sicily in particular, is also considered a pioneer in the storage market alongside Germany when it comes to renewable energies.

There is a lot to do and we will not be deterred from making our modest contribution. The word "modest" was chosen deliberately, as we feel we are still at the beginning. We are committed to doing this within our means, true to the motto:

"What we do today determines what the world will look like tomorrow."
- Marie Baroness Ebner von Eschenbach

What is our ecological footprint? What about our ecological footprint?

Catalog of measures:

Here are some of the measures we have already implemented:

Solar power generation and storage

Sicily's solar energy plays an important role in our sustainability concept. With an average of 7.4 hours of sunshine per day, we use this resource not only for our well-being and vitamin D balance, but above all for the benefit of our environment. Our solar power generation and storage systems enable us to generate clean energy and use it efficiently.

Heating - Drying - Cooling

Sustainable energy plays a crucial role in our approach. The heat pump of our energy-efficient split air conditioning system not only uses the natural ambient heat from the air, but also acts as the main source of heat. Combined with an 8 kWp photovoltaic system and a 16.2 kWh electricity storage unit, the vacation home is CO2-free. Surplus energy is fed into the electricity grid.

In addition, the apartment has a Bosch condensing boiler of the latest generation, which only serves as a secondary heat source and as a fall-back system. This ensures that the accommodation is heated in an environmentally friendly and efficient manner.

"Be the change you wish to see in this world." - Mahatma Gandhi

Electricity & light

When selecting the lighting, we placed particular emphasis on color rendering, dim-to-warm functions and energy efficiency. LED luminaires guarantee long-lasting and sustainable use.

In addition to the lighting design, our efforts also focused on avoiding unnecessary electricity consumption. All household appliances were carefully selected according to energy efficiency criteria. In addition, a central switch enables all power sources (with the exception of the refrigerator) to be switched off when leaving the apartment. Simply eco. - Logical, isn't it?

Drinking water

Our tap water is not only regularly tested in accordance with EU directives, but is also characterized by its exceptionally good taste. We therefore use it as drinking water and save ourselves and our guests the unnecessary carrying of water bottles. In this case, the reference to the value of drinking water and the recommendation to save water is superfluous, isn't it? PS: Don't forget to take your water bottle with you!

"The purest form of madness is to leave everything as it is and at the same time hope that something will change." - Albert Einstein

Plastic-free

Avoiding plastic waste is already a challenge in everyday life at home, and on vacation this can be doubly difficult. To give you the opportunity to avoid plastic waste during your vacation, we have already taken precautions.

We have deliberately avoided using plastic for crockery and cutlery as far as possible. But the decisive step is right on our doorstep - at the Mercato Ballarò, a traditional market known for its regional range of seasonal fruit, vegetables, fish and sustainable meat.

Several unpackaged stores are within walking distance, and our guests can find the exact locations on their digital city map. Glass storage containers as well as a shopping basket and bag are included in our Palazzo Vetrano apartment.

Sustainable furniture

Across generations. Good design is inherently sustainable, because what is passed on does not have to be recycled.

When selecting our vintage furniture, we placed particular emphasis on sustainability and longevity in addition to aesthetics and quality. Most of our pieces come from Palermo and the surrounding area, and they have already enriched the happiness of others. Our brass bed can undoubtedly be considered to span generations. If we succeed in making this furniture enjoyable for the next generation at some point, this would be another sustainable step.

Of course, we also have a few furnishings from IKEA. Their customers should also feel comfortable in our accommodation. We hope that we have selected the appropriate sustainable products.

Building materials

Doors, windows and all ceiling constructions were made from wood, a renewable building material. Wood serves as an exemplary model for a functioning natural cycle. A forest stores and filters rainwater, produces oxygen and binds air pollutants. It also helps to protect against global warming by storing carbon dioxide, supports biodiversity as a habitat and supplies valuable wood. The use of wood as a building material reduces the greenhouse gas CO2 and binds it in durable products such as buildings over a long period of time.

The thermal insulation glazing of our wooden windows provides effective protection against cold and heat. We were particularly impressed by the fact that our building contractor had already carefully considered the sustainable selection of building materials in advance. To be honest, we would not have expected such an exemplary attitude in Sicily.

Climate-friendly arrival

The most environmentally friendly way to get to Sicily is of course on foot or by bike. Alternatively, you can also travel by car or train. Although the car is an hour faster on the route from Frankfurt to the ferry port of Genoa, for example, the question arises as to which is the more relaxed choice. Particularly when you consider that the ferry entry at the port of Palermo is priceless.

For those who don't have the time, there is still the option of traveling by plane without the shame of flying. Most airlines now offer CO2 compensation. However, non-profit providers such as atmosfair are probably a better alternative. They calculate the climate impact of a flight for two people from Cologne to Palermo, return flight, at 1,200 kg CO2. This corresponds to just under 22% of the often quoted flight to Bali. The compensation amount for this is €28. Here you can not only calculate the CO2 emissions of your flight, but also directly and easily support worldwide compensation programs.

From Palermo airport, you can take the train directly to Palermo Centrale station and thus to the old town.

"Our planet is our home, our only home. Where are we supposed to go if we destroy it?" - Dalai Lama

Means of transportation on site

Palermo's old town is a great place to get around on foot. For all bike lovers, we have listed convenient rental options within walking distance in the digital city map. Overland trips can be easily organized by bus, train or ferry, saving you the need to hire a car. An economical and ecological solution at the same time.

Personal responsibility

We have already written our own post about our personal carbon footprint on our blog planBwagen and are continuing our efforts, even though we are far from perfect. As already mentioned, our focus is not on pointing the finger at others, but rather on promoting joint efforts for sustainability.

Food & Social Affairs

At Moltivolti, our favorite restaurant, you can not only dine exquisitely, but also support their social commitment in Ballarò at the same time. The Moltivolti team sees food as a tool for dialog between different people and cultures.

CleanUp

Here we share information about our personal commitment to travel, as the issue of plastic waste is a pervasive challenge today. Ocean and beach pollution is a widespread problem, with waste from land entering the sea via waterways and drains. It is important to recognize that every action has consequences and every piece of litter left behind harms the environment. Follow our example and make sure you always pick up more litter than you bring in.

"It's easy to talk big, but the important thing is whether or not you clean up the mess." - Haruki Murakami, Norwegian Forest

Conclusion:

Sustainability as the basis for a future worth living

We are not perfect. But it's the small steps that count. That is why we are happy to make our contribution together with you. It is up to each and every one of us to make sustainable action the basis of our lives and thus make a contribution to a future worth living. Let's do it together. Thank you!

Sustainability is about sticking with it, not perfection.