What are the eco credentials of Una St Ives?

Una St Ives, a luxury resort in Carbis Bay, Cornwall, has built its identity around eco-conscious design and sustainable practices. The resort integrates environmental responsibility into its operations while maintaining a high standard of comfort and style. Sustainability is a key part of its brand, combining luxury with a commitment to greener hospitality. Below, we explore the resort’s sustainability credentials in detail.

Sedum roof at Carbis Bay Lodge

Eco-friendly practices

Lavigne Lonsdale, the original architect of Una St Ives, aimed to create a design that was both ethical and effective.

The resort was developed in collaboration with local partners, with a strong focus on using local suppliers. Each eco-inspired property was built with sustainably sourced cedar wood, insulated with sheep’s wool, and fitted with double or triple glazing. The following key features were specifically incorporated into the build:

Sedum roofs

Every eco property and The Atrium buildings at Una St Ives are designed with sedum roofs, blending seamlessly into the surrounding landscape. These living roofs provide both aesthetic and environmental benefits, creating a natural extension of the green retreat.

Sedum roofs help regulate temperature by providing natural insulation, reducing energy costs, and improving energy efficiency. They also absorb rainwater, slowing runoff and acting as a sustainable drainage system.

In addition to thermal benefits, sedum roofs offer sound insulation through their layers of soil, plants, and trapped air. They also contribute to cleaner air by filtering pollutants and improving air quality.

Beyond their practical advantages, these roofs support biodiversity by creating microclimates for small wildlife, reinforcing Una St Ives’ commitment to sustainable living in harmony with nature.

Solar panels

Discreetly integrated into each eco property and across the development, Una St Ives' low-maintenance polycrystalline solar panels provide a sustainable energy source. These panels supplement electronic immersion systems, supplying around a third of the hot water needs.

By harnessing solar energy, lodges benefit from lower electricity costs, saving hundreds of pounds each year. At the same time, the panels produce no harmful emissions, helping to reduce the resort’s overall carbon footprint.

Sheep wool insulation

The entire Una St Ives development is insulated with 100% pure sheep’s wool, offering multiple benefits. Naturally non-toxic and fire-resistant, it provides an eco-friendly alternative to traditional insulation materials.

Sheep’s wool insulation requires less than 15% of the energy needed to produce glass fibre insulation. As a result, it offsets its energy costs more than five times faster. With its exceptional insulating properties, it is one of nature’s most effective ways to maintain warmth and energy efficiency.

Eco carpet

Mohawk brand flooring was carefully chosen for the luxury interiors of each eco property at Una St Ives. This high-quality flooring combines style with sustainability, contributing to the resort’s eco-conscious design.

Every minute, 14,000 plastic bottles are recycled to create Mohawk’s eco carpets - equating to three billion bottles each year repurposed into a more sustainable afterlife. The innovative production process maximises efficiency by utilising even its own by-products, ensuring minimal waste.

With its blend of durability, comfort, and environmental responsibility, this flooring choice aligns with Una St Ives’ commitment to sustainable luxury.

White oak flooring

White oak floor at Carbis Bay Lodge

The interiors at Una St Ives feature white oak flooring, chosen for its durability, timeless appeal, and sustainability. White oak is a strong, long-lasting hardwood that naturally resists moisture and wear, making it an excellent choice for high-traffic areas. Sourced from responsibly managed forests, it is a renewable material that supports sustainable forestry practices. Its light, natural tones enhance the warm, inviting aesthetic of the eco-inspired retreat while contributing to a low-maintenance, environmentally friendly living space.

Eco paint

The interiors of the eco-inspired properties are coloured with environmentally friendly paints from NaturePaint. NaturePaint is an eco-friendly powdered paint that reduces carbon emissions by avoiding the transport of water. The paint contains no chemical preservatives, is free from animal testing, and is vegetarian-friendly.

Cedar cladding

Cedar clad lodge at Una St Ives

All lodges and buildings at Una St Ives are clad in sustainable cedar, chosen for its natural durability and environmental benefits.

Cedar cladding is a renewable, biodegradable material, often sourced from responsibly managed forests. Its natural resistance to decay and pests reduces the need for chemical treatments, while its longevity lowers maintenance and replacement demands, cutting down on waste.

In addition to its durability, cedar provides excellent insulation, helping to improve energy efficiency and contribute to a more sustainable built environment.

Heating

Wood burner at Carbis Bay Lodge

Una St Ives prioritises energy efficiency by incorporating air source heat pumps, solar panels, and efficient electric heaters to reduce power consumption in its villas.

Air source heat pumps provide a low-energy heating solution, while solar panels generate renewable energy to supplement the resort’s electricity needs. Additionally, natural log burners offer an alternative heating source and can be carbon-neutral when managed sustainably.

These systems work together to minimise environmental impact while ensuring comfortable, energy-efficient living spaces.

Landscaping

Eco landscaping at Una St Ives

Lavigne Lonsdale designed Una St Ives to blend seamlessly with its surroundings, creating a rustic, natural environment with wildflowers and long meadow grass. Existing Cornish hedgerows were left untouched, and gardens are allowed to grow naturally, supporting local biodiversity.

Sustainability extended to construction, where waste was minimised by reusing rocks for retaining walls and pathways. Heating solutions were also chosen to align with the resort’s eco-conscious ethos, ensuring a greener, more sustainable development.

Waste management

To reduce construction waste, rocks excavated during building were repurposed for retaining walls and pathways. This sustainable approach not only minimised waste but also helped the development blend naturally with its surroundings.

Administration

The freeholder of the Una St Ives land is in administration. The freehold is currently being marketed for sale and any new owner will be bound by the terns of both the lease and the original planning restrictions, meaning the future of Una St Ives as an eco holiday destination is assured.

Conclusion

Una St Ives integrates a range of eco-friendly practices, including the use of sustainable materials, energy-efficient systems, responsible waste management, and natural heating methods. These initiatives align with the resort’s eco-inspired retreat branding, ensuring a balance between luxury and environmental responsibility.