Stylish & Eco-Conscious: New Denver Hotel Sets Sights on Carbon Positivity
With plans to be the first of its kind in the U.S., Populus to remove more carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air than it emits. Plus, it’s chic interiors are a sight to behold.
Slated to open in Denver in 2024, Populus is set to be the first carbon-positive hotel in the nation. In other words, the hotel will remove more carbon dioxide from the air than it emits, resulting in negative carbon emissions. According to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), “Buildings account for almost 40 percent of global energy-related CO2 and will play a major role in a sustainable transformation.”
With the need for green building solutions growing, Populus will be an incredible example showcasing how hospitality design can make changes in the building industry. “Creating spaces that support our health and well-being, as well as the economy and environment will be vital to accelerating sustainable development and delivering a better standard of living,” says USGBC.
Photo courtesy of Studio Gang, via Travel + Leisure
How exactly does the Populus account for its carbon positive output? According to Stacey Leasca of Travel + Leisure, “Rather than merely purchase carbon credits, the hotel has planted more than 70,000 trees (Engelmann Spruce, a tree previously diminished in the region by beetle kill) in partnership with One Tree Planted and the U.S. Forest Services in Gunnison, Colorado.”
Photo courtesy of Nephew, via Travel + Leisure
What’s more, the Populus exemplifies the balance between green building solutions and beautiful interior design.
In a preview published by Travel + Leisure, the nature-inspired hotel boasts interior design that reflects neuroaesthetic principles. In the article, Leasca writes, “guests can soon experience a space that feels both warm and calming with neutral tones like sand-colored flooring, terra cotta decor, and pops of pistachio green throughout its 265 rooms and common spaces.”
From “curating colors, textures, and shapes that not only look beautiful but appeal to all of the senses and emotions,” to the use of many reclaimed and eco-friendly materials, the interiors are a practice in illustrating how thoughtfully designed spaces with neuroaesthetic principles in mind can create unique and feelings-inspired spaces.
We’re inspired by the incredible innovation exhibited by Urban Villages, the real estate developer behind the hotel, and Wildman Chalmers Design, and we can’t wait to see the final product.
Read more about the hotel’s green building and design solutions at travelandleisure.com.