The green vacation is not a new idea. Eco-tourism, for example, has been around for years. Well, now, you can add the sustainable spa to the list of possible green vacations. The pioneer in this genre is a spa-cum-resort called El Monte Sagrado in Taos, New Mexico. On the outside, it appears to be a typical upscale spa, but it couldn’t be more different from your conventional urban spa.

El Monte Sagrado began implementing sustainability practices in 2006, and despite the demanding desert environment, the results have been spectacular. How do they do it? They begin with the view that being profitable doesn’t have to come at the expense of the environment. As a result, the resort has been able to blend its opulence with many innovative ways to uphold sustainable practices.

Being located in the desert, the primary sustainability concern is conserving water. The managers claim that they are able to re-use more than 4,000 gallons of water each day. Special tanks have been installed for treating used water along with wetlands and a series of small wells. Even storm water is harvested and used within the facility. An underground system is used for circulating water throughout the resort to maintain the internal temperature without depending too much on air-conditioning.

Further, Living Designs Group, the chief architect for this resort, is still finding ways for improving the energy efficiency of El Sagrado. The resort is now being described as a role model of sustainability for eco-conscious vacationing.