Environment Minister Untersteller presents new certificate to the “most ecological hotel in Germany”
The ECOINN Hotel on Kanalstraße has achieved something that hotel manager Thomas Puchan did not actually think possible: the hotel, which has had the lowest CO2 emissions per overnight stay of all German hotels since it opened, has reduced them from 4.33 kg to just 3.16 kg – a reduction of 27.1%.
That was also why Baden-Württemberg’s Environment Minister Franz Untersteller insisted on presenting the new certificate in person at a ceremony. “What you have achieved is not just a great accomplishment; your hotel is a beacon for the industry. It is vital for our climate that many more hotels, but also other businesses, follow your example. You are the prime example of what can be achieved if you really want to!” In his speech, Untersteller also referred to the ECONVENT conference venue belonging to the ECOINN, where he himself has already held meetings with his senior staff because it offers perfect conditions for “green meetings”.
Hans-Ulrich Kauderer of the DEHOGA state association struck the same note in his welcome address and emphasised the ECOINN’s role model function, also with regard to its waste-free breakfast buffet. Among other things, he referred to the “DEHOGA Umweltcheck in Gold” award, which the ECOINN had received again at the beginning of the year.
Puchan expressed his thanks and pointed out that the energy-self-sufficient ECOINN feeds almost two thirds of the electricity it generates in its own hydroelectric plant into the public grid, thereby more than offsetting its residual emissions. “This means we can rightly call ourselves a plus-energy hotel.”
Helge Beißert, managing director of Viabono, which produces carbon footprints according to strict criteria for tourism businesses and hotels, could only agree with Puchan.
Puchan proudly pointed to his team, whose environmentally conscious actions made this significant reduction possible in the first place.
The ECOINN received a great deal of applause from the audience, including Prof. Dr. Christian Maercker, Rector of Esslingen University, and Christoph Nold, managing director of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK).
