Jan 22 2010

Eco Breaks in Lanzarote

The island of Lanzarote in the Canarian archipelago at first glance may not seem to have the best of green credentials. But there are a number of ways in which it beats other destinations hands down for holidaymakers looking to reduce their carbon footprint.

To begin with, its location only four hours flight from the United Kingdom means that it is half the distance and therefore half the fuel consumption, of the Caribbean. And it can vie with tropical islands for all year round good weather, with an average of only twenty days rainfall per annum and day time temperatures of approximately 20º Celsius even in mid winter.

Even the Lanzarote holiday apartments make a contribution to minimising the eco footprint of the island.

The year round sunshine that it enjoys means that solar panels are used widely across the resorts and in residential homes. Many holiday villas in Lanzarote have their swimming pools heated by panels on the roof, whilst some even derive their internal power from this source as well.

Wind turbines have been in use on Lanzarote since the mid 1990’s and contribute approximately thirty percent of the island’s power needs. These giant turbines make good use of the prevailing winds as they blow in from the Atlantic Ocean. And local residents often choose smaller turbines for domestic use for the same reason.

But it isn’t simply businesses and accommodation on Lanzarote that operate on a more eco-friendly basis. Even the tourist attractions have been developed to work as much in harmony with their surroundings as possible. This low impact ethos was the result of Cesar Manrique creative influence in the island’s development which came just at the right moment.

These factors combined have turned Lanzarote into an ideal holiday destination for the environmentally conscientious. There are even several places to stay that run entirely on solar and wind energy, as these alternative sources of power have gained in popularity and effectiveness in recent years. Making eco holidays in Lanzarote a reality.

More detailed information about available Lanzarote holidays can be found on the Lanzarote1.com website.


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