Why Eco?

Landscape and Architecture Integration

The Resort’s architectural design and the choice of materials were selected to blend harmoniously with natural surroundings. The minimalist architecture was adjusted to the morphology of the land, in order to minimize its impact on the natural landscape. This was enhanced by the use of natural building materials sourced locally or nationally, such as the islands’ cryptomeria, exotic bamboos and domestic cork that built on the simple natural setting.

SANTA BÁRBARA’s furniture was designed and built exclusively for the Resort. Other decorations were made from repurposed materials, such as lamps which were made from oil containers of an abandoned farm, and the restaurant chairs and tables which were made from reused iron and covered with vegetable fiber, using matting crafts.

SANTA BÁRBARA was constructed using the expertise of local craftsmen and companies, who were later employed to support and maintain the resort.

Luxury Amenities

Responsible, effective and non-toxic As part of our natural, sustainable practices, SANTA BÁRBARA by SINGULAR PROPERTIES promotes a line of amenities by Voya, an Irish organic, seaweed-based brand used in products and spa treatments. The therapeutic properties of their products are used in wellness and relaxation treatments to calm and soothe, nourish and protect the body/skin.

Farm-to-Table

Natural Dining Concept The organic farm, which includes two greenhouses and a 4000 m2 plot, allows the cultivation of fruits, vegetables and aromatic herbs, guaranteeing the quality, sustainability and exclusivity of our gastronomic experience for our guests.

Beach Cleaning

Socially-Responsible With the aim of maintaining the beauty of our coast, our maintenance team devotes time to gathering debris and pollution deposited along the dark sand beach of Santa Bárbara. It is a small gesture that aims to involve the local community and alert them to this problem: in 2019, 350 kg of garbage was collected from our beach.

Energy Efficiency

Energy Conservation & Transfer SANTA BÁRBARA has implemented several measures to reduce the energy efficiency of its buildings/processes, such as: having the buildings’ exteriors coated with materials (cork and cryptomeria woods) that allow thermal insulation; the contractual adjudication of a photovoltaic farm to reduce consumption from the electric grid by 60%; and the gradual replacement of standard lighting with exclusively low consumption alternatives.

Hydric efficiency

Water Conservation The complex promotes policies to reduce the waste of water and over-consumption, that includes: collecting and storing rainwater from the many buildings in a basin, which is then reused for landscaping and horticulture; the installation of a natural pond on the property to pump water year-round; and the investment in a hot water distribution network which is thermally isolated, to reduce running water waste.

SANTA BÁRBARA Sustainability Policy

During the first quarter of 2020, SANTA BÁRBARA contracted a specialized firm to conduct an audit to analyze and develop a sustainability action plan, that resulted in:

● Reduction of electrical consumption / GHG emissions - the elaboration and implementation of procedures, as well as the installation of equipment, to conserve electrical usage among various areas of the complex (that included housekeeping, kitchen, maintenance and administration).

● Waste separation and waste reduction to landfill by 20% - the development of a signage action plan, based on the “5 R's” principle: rethink, reduce, reuse, recycle and repair. This included the reevaluation of the LER codes assigned to waste produced osnite, in accordance with the rules on waste classification by the Portuguese Environment Agency and Azorean Regional Secretariat for Energy, Environment and Tourism).

● Composting - organic waste produced at SANTA BÁRBARA is sent for composting, then reused in the organic farm as biomass for the cultivation of fresh fruits, vegetables and aromatic herbs.

● Implementation of a sustainable purchasing policy - in order to avoid waste, there is a mindful preference for the purchase of certified local and national products from fair trade and sustainable origins, the elimination of single-purpose items and the use of ecological cleaning products for disinfecting surfaces, among others.

● Valorization of human capital and raising awareness of sustainability - the implementation of training programs and the scheduling of periodic meetings to constantly improve on the sustainability policies that have been implemented.

● Guest participation in sustainability policies - raising awareness and encouraging good practices throughout visitors’ stay; the development of sustainable packages/activities, that include walking and/or cycling trips, agricultural activities in the organic farm, explanation of the composting process, beach-cleaning and eco-tourism activities (such as bird-watching or terrestrial ecology), as well as the establishment of partnerships with local associations/NGOs.