Sustainability

Eremito is a contemporary hermitage designed for those who wish to spend a few days of silence, digital detox and immersion in nature.
The hermitage is located within the UNESCO Monte Peglia Biosphere Reserve, a natural landscape of over 3,000 hectares in Umbria.
From the very design stage, many architectural, energy and management choices have been oriented towards reducing consumption, careful use of resources and the predominant use of solar energy.
In this context, sustainability and way of life are not two separate aspects: the use of solar energy, vegetarian cuisine, attention to consumption and the reduction of waste are all part of the same way of inhabiting the place.

Eremito was conceived as a contemporary hermitage, a place dedicated to silence and simplicity, powered primarily by solar energy and designed to welcome solitary travellers.

Key Figures

A few essential figures that describe how the hermitage operates:

• over 3,000 hectares of surrounding UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
• annual electricity production exceeding the facility’s consumption
• building with A4 energy rating
• energy system based predominantly on solar power
• collection and reuse of rainwater for irrigation
• vegetarian restaurant using produce from the kitchen garden and local suppliers
• progressive reduction of single-use plastic through refillable systems and water filtration

Energy Self-Sufficiency

Eremito produces more electricity on an annual basis than it consumes.
This result is made possible by the integration of several solar-powered systems:

• photovoltaic system with storage
• vacuum solar thermal panels
• solar tracking concentrator

These systems contribute to producing the energy required for the operation of the facility, for heating, cooling and for domestic hot water.

Architecture & Energy Efficiency

The building was designed to improve energy efficiency and reduce thermal dispersion.
The structure makes use of:

• external thermal insulation
• local stone exterior cladding
• radiant underfloor heating and cooling system
• A4 energy rating

These solutions help maintain comfortable conditions throughout the year with more efficient use of energy.

Resource Management

To reduce energy and water consumption, Eremito adopts a number of technical solutions.
Among these:

• low-consumption LED lighting
• presence detectors in corridors
• low-flow WC systems
• consumption monitoring via home automation system

The home automation system allows real-time collection and display of aggregated data on the main water and energy consumption and production figures.

Water

Rainwater is collected in dedicated cisterns and reused for irrigation.

Dining

The Eremito restaurant offers a vegetarian cuisine.
The kitchen draws primarily from:

• organic produce
• ingredients from the kitchen garden
• local suppliers

This choice reflects the desire to maintain a direct relationship with the land, with the seasons and with a more elemental form of hospitality.

Waste Reduction

The management of the facility includes practices oriented towards waste reduction and more responsible use of materials.
In particular:

• residual waste is sorted for recycling
• a portion of the organic component is composted
• the use of plastic has been progressively reduced over time
• bottled water has been replaced by a reverse osmosis filtration system
• amenities and cleaning products are organic, biodegradable and supplied in refillable containers

The facility continues to work towards the progressive reduction of single-use plastic.

Electric Mobility

Charging stations connected to the photovoltaic system are available for guests arriving with electric vehicles.

An Evolving Journey

Over the years, Eremito has developed an energy system based largely on solar power and has progressively refined its resource management.

This journey continues with interventions and improvements aimed at making the facility increasingly efficient, including in the less visible yet meaningful aspects of daily life at the hermitage.

Società Benefit

EREMITO Società Benefit pursues common benefit objectives and operates in a responsible, sustainable and transparent manner towards people, the local area, the environment and other stakeholders.
Among the common benefit objectives set out in the articles of association:

to respect and enhance the place that hosts it, promoting an authentic connection with the territory, the people and the rhythms that characterise it
to promote a conscious relationship with nature through the widest possible use of solar energy, local sourcing and choices oriented towards reducing impact
to welcome with empathy and slowness those in search of simplicity, in particular solitary travellers
to cultivate mental and spiritual wellbeing through silence, rest, meditation, prayer and other practices of recollection

Download the Impact Report

 B Corp Certification

Eremito has obtained B Corp Certification, awarded by the international organisation B Lab to companies that meet specific requirements relating to social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency.
The certification is based on the B Impact Assessment, a tool that evaluates multiple areas of business activity.
Eremito was the first eco resort in Italy to be certified by B Lab.

View Eremito’s B Corp profile

B Corp certification is a trademark licensed by B Lab, a private non-profit organisation. B Lab is not a conformity assessment body pursuant to Regulation (EU) No. 765/2008, nor a national or international standards body pursuant to Regulation (EU) No. 1025/2012. The criteria of the B Impact Assessment are distinct and independent from standards derived from ISO norms or other standards bodies and are not ratified by national or European public institutions.

Sustainability Manager
Matteo Murzilli

View our Sustainability Report