Modern people take a comfortable and convenient life for granted. Many people may think that they would be forced to downgrade their quality of life if they go green, but a lifestyle that is both environmentally-friendly and luxurious, as represented by the frequently used word "eco-luxe," is completely possible. The concept of green has started to permeate in areas outside of everyday life and people are increasingly recognizing ecologically conscious selections as the hippest choice.

Hotels are synonymous with luxurious lifestyles, but hotels in Tokyo are gradually evolving into being tantamount to an ecological lifestyle. It is interesting to note that the "Hybrid Hotel Project," measures implemented by Hotel New Otani to protect the global environment, has been providing guests with even more comfortable stays.

More than anything else, Hotel Otani is characterized by its abundant greenery. The hotel's rooftop is covered by 2,500 m2 of rose gardens featuring some 30,000 roses in 32 species that bloom beautifully twice a year. This rose garden, designed by a world famous British floral decorator, is popular as a stage for wedding ceremonies. The extensions of the building and the rooftops of the second and the 16th floors are covered with many different kinds of plants, including grass and trees, which effectively absorb CO2 emissions and alleviate heat. The Japanese garden of this hotel - which has a history of more than 400 years - has a rich natural environment that has been fostered over the centuries, as well as a biotope where visitors can see beautiful fireflies in early summer.

The low rate of food self-sufficiency and the high rate of food disposal are serious issues in Japan and the disposal of food by hotels has been seen as a problem for some time. Hotel New Otani, however, dries five tons of kitchen garbage every day in the compost plant located inside the hotel, fermenting it to produce 30 tons of fertilizer per month. The fertilizer is processed in the compost plant and used by contract farmers to grow rice, which is served in the hotel's employee dining room. The remaining compost is used by farmers to grow vegetables and some of the vegetables are purchased by the hotel. Through this 100% recycling system of its kitchen garbage, which realizes sustainability and traceability at the same time, the hotel's kitchen garbage incineration costs were reduced by 34 million yen per year. This figure reminds you of the fact that ecologically-minded actions also lead to a reduction of unnecessary spending.

Luxury guest rooms at the Hotel New Otani are equipped with fully-glazed windows, offering a surprisingly abundant amount of sunlight and a sense of freedom. This is also a result of the hotel's ecological efforts. The "full-height windows," in which glass panels extend from floor to the ceiling, have a special structure that reduces the transmission of heat between the exterior and the interior, significantly reducing the air conditioning load. Another advantage of this eco-glass is the view of Tokyo that the rooms offer during the day and the enjoyable night view of central Tokyo that can be seen from the bath tub in the evening.

In addition to the compost plant, some other green technologies developed by the hotel contribute to the comfort it offers. The "AMES" air conditioning system installed in each room enables fine adjustment of the room temperature and air flow, relieving guests from the burden of excessive air conditioning. This system is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by 28%, according to the hotel.

"VIEW & DINING THE Sky," a stylish restaurant on the top floor of the hotel, has implemented a system of all electrical cooking appliances in each of its kitchens. Through this effort, the air conditioning load has been reduced and the hotel expects reductions in total energy usage and CO2 emissions by 14.1% and 29.8%, respectively. The wastewater from 50 kitchens, which amounts to 1,000 tons per day, is processed into recycled wastewater by the recycled wastewater processing plant located in the hotel and used in the rose garden and employee lavatories as one of its recycling practices.

A lifestyle that respects the earth and nature, including lush greenery, a society free from waste, concerns about food and with spaces where people can live comfortably in good health, may be the "luxe" in "eco-luxe" and represent luxury in the true sense. An ecological life nurtures a kind and rich spirit. Consideration for the environment leads to a more comfortable life, instead of a life of sacrifice and inconvenience. An environmentally-friendly life gives you the feeling that the ultimate in luxury lies in an ecologically-minded everyday life.