Showcasing The Dearly Koh Tao Hostel, Thailand
We try to incorporate sustainability every step of the way, from how we source the utilities to how we run the operation as well as the activities we offer. The building was carefully designed to be energy-efficient, considering the source of natural sunlight, the ventilation, and the direction of the wind. The hostel has solar panels and a water treatment system facility on site. By background, the infrastructures on the island are not ideal. Most properties are using diesel generators to produce electricity. We decided to invest in solar panels so we can produce our own electricity from the sun. For water, we have a large storage tank located under the building to collect rain and underground water. Then it goes through a filtering system to be used throughout the property. Then the wasted water is treated again before recycling it for gardening. For operations, besides the waste management and recycling system, we use sustainable materials for decorations. For example, we made a Christmas tree out of cardboard boxes as well as tree branches. We also want to create a green community within the hostel. Besides organizing beach cleanup, during our signature Beach Crawl activity, we would always have a trash bag with us. Whenever we see litter, we would / encourage our guests to collect it and bring it back to the hostel. With our scuba diving school, we can do ocean cleanup as well as educate our guests about the ecosystem around the island. We also do recycling workshops. We take the guests to Plas-Tao, a local shop that turns waste plastic on the island into a new product. It is quite unique to see the very same litter we collect turns into a new product”
