SDG 6 – Clean water and sanitation
The UN hopes to inspire the joint creation of a world, in which everyone has easy access to affordable, potable water as well as sanitary facilities. The goal also seeks to increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and to substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity. Furthermore, SDG 6 endeavours to protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes.
What we’re doing
For us, less really means no more than less. Austria. The country of mountains and streams. As our national anthem proclaims, we are spoiled with readily available potable water of the highest quality. Even in Vienna, we enjoy this privilege and are connected to the entire water supply stemming from the Vienna Mountain Spring Pipeline. Thus, we are guaranteed to receive the absolute best drinking water in any major city in the world. At our hotel, we pay the utmost attention to our water-use habits. To reduce water consumption in our hotel, we employ eco-friendly showerheads with built-in water limiters that lower water consumption by up to 35%. Furthermore, we use well water to generate power and to cool the passive house. When it comes to cleaning, we only use biodegradable cleaning products, which, in conjunction with washable microfiber towels, helps us greatly reduce our consumption levels.
Implementation
SDG 6 comes to life in room 205. It’s our mission in this room to communicate just how precious a resource water really is. The wardrobe was fashioned from a Moroccan front door and has water faucets for hooks. The headboard on the bed was once a room door and the light above the nightstand was made using bath fittings. The suitcase cover was once a flag that previously flew in a water conservation area in Vienna, which is also where we got the signs behind the bed and in the bathroom. The old wardrobe has been a resident of this house for over 100 years—we just gave it a makeover for this project. Beneath the TV, you’ll find a console made with old water pipes and you’ll find the same material in use for the toilet paper dispenser and hand towel rails. In the bathroom, you can hang up your towel on repurposed faucets, and in the shower the print on the shower gel bottles remind you to turn off the water—even while you’re showering. Use the egg timer we installed to help you time your water consumption. Right next to the entrance, you’ll find an old water bucket above the doors that has been transformed into a lamp. The second light in the anteroom was a rain barrel and the desk lamp was once a kitchen faucet. The standing lamps are there to remind you that in earlier times, hot water had to be heated in pots and was not taken for granted as it is today. And last but not least, the lamp above the bed is dedicated to those that preach water, but drink wine—we’ve heard that there are some of you out there.
