Breathing in the cold, crisp air of winter, holding a hot mulled wine or tea in your hand, looking up at the starry sky. We love such perfect winter moments. However, eventually, it gets cold even with the warmest coat. But is that why you have to hole up inside? And leave the cozy roof terraces snowed in and fallow over winter? Not with the Green Pearls® partners.
But cuddly, cold and sustainable seem mutually exclusive at first glance. Because after all, what other way is there to sit outside in sub-zero temperatures without using a radiant heater or other less-than-environmentally-friendly methods? Nonetheless, before our partners show off their sustainable roof terraces in winter and tell you how to stay warm, let’s first take a look at why you won’t find a typical heating mantle at a sustainable hotel.
Is the mushroom-fueled heating system an economic boost or a climate protection measure?
The use of gas-powered heating elements grew dramatically during the pandemic. The outdoor areas with the warming radiant heaters were popular in the Catering industry. There was a lot of criticism and even bans for climate protection reasons in some places. According to the environmental association BUND, a mushroom heater emits as much CO2 in a season as a passenger car in a year. However, it concerned only the gas and/or electricity consumption. Natural heating of the air with gas or electric panels could have negative effects on the climate, according to environmentalists. And all that for a little outdoor sitting in the snow. There must be alternatives, right?
Indeed, there are! For example, radiant heaters with infrared light that only warm the surface that the infrared rays hit. Another advantage of infrared heaters and electrically operated heaters is that they do not emit CO2 directly and do not require fuel such as gas. Heating pads are also an alternative. There are now even those that are operated with rechargeable batteries instead of cables and can be used extremely flexibly in this way. It is a tremendous “comfort factor” to sit on a warm cushion instead of a chair or armchair cooled down by the winter temperatures.
A view of other roof terraces
Rooftop terraces are also popular with our Green Pearls® partners, both in summer and winter. They have shown to us ways their guests can comfortably sit outside with no guilty conscience (and a chilly butt).
Bioethanol instead of gas
With bioethanol-powered lanterns from the company Höfats, the LENI Mountain Apartments & Chalet in Sölden bring warmth to the terrace, open throughout the winter. These small fires with their wild swirl of flames conjures up a valuable and beautiful campfire ambience.
Increase the cuddle factor
You can enjoy winter in the two Allgäu Green Pearls® without any emissions at all. By providing additional warm blankets, you can look out over the fairy tale landscape and Neuschwanstein Castle from the roof terrace of Hotel Das Rübezahl. The team sets up fire bowls on the deck for an atmospheric ambiance as night falls. The Hotel HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio in Balderschwang also keeps deck chairs equipped with furs and additional blankets ready throughout the winter. You’ll be warmed by a hot drink from the inside and by the sun at least a little from the outside. 😉
Spend the winter sitting in the glasshouse
If it is too cold outside or if it is raining or snowing, you can take shelter in a glass house on the roof terrace of the Creativhotel Luise in Erlangen. Although you won’t be out in the fresh air, you’ll still have a clear view and can snuggle up nicely with the fluffy blankets and pillows. Protected from wind and weather, the winter atmosphere can be wonderfully enjoyed from up here with a cup of tea or mulled wine. On request, the hotel will put together an individual roof terrace event for you, your team or your family.
Sleep outside in winter
For a special outdoor experience in winter, you can book the SAND sleeping basket in the outdoor area at Lifestylehotel SAND am Timmendorfer Strand. This new weather and sun protection makes an overnight stay possible all year round from now on. If the sky is clear, you can even see the stars, snuggled up warmly with your loved one. If you’re interested in how and where you can sustainably view stars (link), feel free to read our blog post here.
Special outdoor events in the winter
While not for sleeping outside, at least for entire evenings, Hotel SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA organizes various outdoor events. With the Open Kitchen X-MAS Edition at the Grill, you can experience a BBQ in the wintry Black Forest on Dec. 25, 2022, and fire baskets at mulled wine receptions create a great atmosphere and, above all, a lot of coziness.
As you see, you don’t need climate-damaging mushroom heaters to stay warm outside in winter. Which of the ways shown here to warm up on your terrace in winter do you already use? Have you gotten any new inspiration for how to create cozy winter moments outside? Tell us how you’re getting plenty of fresh air during the cold season.
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