Grand Residences, protecting the planet

April 22 is Earth Day, a time of reflection for us all on what we can do to protect the planet. At Grand Residences, our role of environmental stewardship is of the utmost importance and we do what we can every day to conserve natural resources and the environment.

State of the art technology

Grand Residences uses cutting-edge technology to reduce its environmental impact.

• 90% of all the lighting in Grand Residences is LED, the remainder is PL
• Energy-efficient air-conditioning, lighting, electrical appliances and water heating systems are used
• Reverse osmosis technology is used to purify the water and there is a desalination plant
• The resort has a state of the art waste water treatment plant

Green policies

• The resort separates all solid waste and plastics, aluminum and paper are recycled. There are special compartmentalized bins in the suites so that our guests can separate their trash
• Environmentally friendly cleaning products, polishes and varnishes are used at Grand Residences wherever possible and we are constantly looking for ways to reduce the use of chemicals in different areas
• Our staff participate in environmental awareness workshops
• The resort organizes tree planting ceremonies, nature walks and other conservation activities that you and your families can enjoy

Reforestation

In accordance with environmental law, the Grand Residences gardens are planted with mangroves and native coastal plants and trees. Seventy-five percent of the grounds are given over to white and botoncillo or dwarf mangrove raised in the resort nursery. Also growing on site are coconut, chit and royal palms, chaca, ciricote and akits trees and beach lilies, riñonina and other salt-loving plants.
Approximately 77.65% of the species in the gardens are native plants, 22.28 are exotic flowering ornamental plants such as allamanda, hibiscus and ixora and 0.07% are regionalized species.
Grand Residences is participating in a Xcaret-led reforestation program in the Riviera Maya and recently donated more than 200 ciricote and akits trees from the nursery to be planted along the highway between Puerto Morelos and Playa del Carmen.

In addition to the mangroves growing on site, Grand Residences also replanted the adjacent lot with mangrove seedlings and removed landfill so that normal water flow could resume. Restoring water circulation is crucial to the long-term health of the wetlands.
The Grand Residences reforestation project contributes to the conservation of the mangrove forest habitat of wildlife such as herons, ibis and roseate spoonbills, coatimundi, raccoons, iguanas and crocodiles, among others.
Grand Residences is also participating in a Xcaret-led reforestation program in the Riviera Maya and recently donated more than 200 ciricote and akits trees from the nursery to be planted along the highway between Puerto Morelos and Playa del Carmen.

Sea turtle conservation

During the summer months, Grand Residences security guards take on another role, that of sea turtle guardians. They are on the lookout for the female turtles that come ashore from May to September to dig their nests in the sand. When they find one they watch over her until she has finished laying her eggs. Then, in coordination with the local biologists and volunteers that also patrol the shoreline, the eggs are carefully moved to nests in a fenced off nursery further up the beach where they are safe from the elements, birds, dogs, raccoons and humans.
The nests are labeled with the date, time, turtle species and the number of eggs and are monitored until the baby turtles hatch 45 to 60 days later.
Finally, the hatchlings are released after dark to scuttle across the sand towards the waves and a new life at sea.

Beach cleaning

Grand Residences staff keep the beach in front of the resort clean and many also volunteer for regular municipal government beach cleaning initiatives.

Grand Residences observed Earth Hour on March 25

As it does every year, Grand Residences participated in the global Earth Hour movement on March 25 to spread awareness of climate change. Owners and guests and their families enjoyed a day of fun activities culminating in the traditional dimming of the lights for one hour in the evening.
The morning started with beach cleaning at 9 a.m. followed by yoga on the beach at 10 a.m. There were t-shirt painting sessions and a recycling craft contest at 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. respectively.
At 1 p.m. owners and their families were invited to join staff in a tree planting ceremony.
Afternoon activities included a painting competition for children at 2 p.m., a nature quiz at 3 p.m. and a world on the beach event at 4 p.m.
To spread the conservation message, children had their faces painted as cute pandas at 7 p.m. and owners and guests gathered at 7:30 p.m. to witness a Fire Show.
Finally, at 8:30 p.m., non-essential lights were dimmed around the resort and guests were invited to turn their lights off for one hour, sit on the terrace and enjoy the sound of the waves and the beauty of a star-studded Mayan sky.