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30 January, 2023
It’s cool to be green
Royal Malewane
At The Royal Portfolio, we’re always looking for ways to reduce the impact of our operations on the environment. Building the new Waterside Lodge at Royal Malewane gave us the perfect opportunity to include innovative green solutions from the very beginning.
Especially in summer, the heat in the Greater Kruger area can sometimes be challenging, while fresh winter mornings and evenings can catch some of our guests by surprise. And of course, there’s nothing quite like a shower or a dip in the pool after a game drive.
All of which means that creating the perfect stay involves a major heating or cooling requirement (depending on the season). That used to involve using a great deal of energy and water.
Fortunately, we’re blessed with abundant sunshine here at Waterside, plus naturally clean water from the nearby Klaserie River. This combination allowed us to break the mould once again, which is exactly what we did when we installed a state-of-the-art hydronics system.
Reducing our impact
Thanks to this investment, we’re now running all our heating and cooling systems with almost zero carbon emissions.
The sun provides the energy, and because the hydronics solution is a closed loop system, the same water can be reused over and over again. Without diluting our luxury offering, we’ve been able to significantly reduce our water usage and electricity consumption.
What is a hydronic system?
A hydronic system uses water to transfer heat, and create either a cooling or warming effect. Solar panels provide the energy to heat water which is stored in an insulated buffer tank. Energy efficient heat pumps move the water around the lodge as required, via a network of underground pipes.
A discreet fan coil blows wither heated or cooled air into the guest rooms, as required. The system has sufficient capacity to ensure that the swimming pools, underfloor heating, heated towel rails, and water for baths and showers are all at the perfect temperature year-round.
The hydronics system is very precise, and can be used to heat or cool specific zones in each guest room.
Less is more
The water from the Klaserie River is easily purified, with and very little being lost in the filtration process. The whole system is almost silent – you’ll only know it’s there when you feel how cool your suite is, enjoy a hot shower, or reach for a heated towel.
Back-up systems are in place for cloudy days, but the system is so efficient that even if we can’t see the sun, the panels will still generate some energy.
Less is more
Waterside is a work of art in many ways, not least in terms of the new sustainability solutions we’ve used. As you explore Waterside, you’ll notice many of Liz Biden’s signature pops of colour – but look a little closer, and you’ll see how green this special place in the wilderness really is.
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The Greater Kruger
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Personalised Dining
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Private Bush Villas
Lean into the luxurious comforts of a spacious and exclusive Royal Malewane safari villa experience.
The Greater Kruger
Explore Royal Malewane’s landscape which forms part of the largest protected wilderness area in Southern Africa.
Personalised Dining
Savour soul-stirring recipes and our sommelier’s handpicked selection of South Africa’s finest wines.