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Villas at Pelican Hill sunset pool

Sustainability

The Resort at Pelican Hill®’s design, operations and guest experiences reflect our continued commitment to long-term environmental stewardship.

A Magnificent Meeting of Land and Sea

Water Conservation

  • A state-of-the-art water capture and recycling system conserves more than 50 million gallons of water annually.
  • Not only does the golf course exclusively irrigate with reclaimed and recycled water, but it uses 30-40% less reclaimed water than allocated.
  • Daily moisture meter measurements provide real-time data to meticulously micro-manage irrigation across every corner of the golf course.
  • Guestroom signage encourages water-wise reuse of towels, sheets and robes in consideration of the California drought.
  • Low-flow plumbing conserves water use throughout guest areas and operational areas.

Bottled Water Alternatives

  • To reduce plastic waste, groups may forego individual bottled water for water stations, including natural citrus-flavored and melon-infused water options.
  • The Resort provides employees with filtered water dispensers and complimentary refillable bottles in their work areas

Land Stewardship

  • Pelican Hill®’s owner-and-operator, Irvine Company Resort Properties, is a steward of one of California’s most beautiful stretches of coastal land.
  • In planning, building and operating the Resort, the Irvine Company continues its 150-year tradition of land stewardship and sustainable development, treating this land as a valuable, nonrenewable resource managed with careful planning and a long-range vision.
  • The Irvine Company’s sustainable development approach includes the large-scale preservation of more than 57,000 acres of open space and parks (more than 60% of the 93,000-acre Irvine Ranch which includes Pelican Hill®).

Habitat Preservation

  • Pelican Hill®’s 504 acres include 80 acres of restored and protected Coastal Sage Scrub (CSS) habitat, which is indigenous to the area and home to numerous wildlife species, including the Coastal California gnatcatchers (listed as threatened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).
  • The Resort is home to numerous animal species, including coyotes, bobcats, birds of prey, Great Egret, roadrunners, rattlesnakes, various waterfowl and shorebirds, like the Whimbrel and the Willet.
  • Additional wildlife conservation projects include red-tailed hawks, successfully housing fledglings in trees that remain undisturbed by Resort staff, and an ongoing bobcat study using motion-sensor tracking cameras.

POLLUTION PREVENTION

  • Bio-filtration basins treat runoff to remove pollutants and prevent contaminants from entering the Pacific Ocean at Crystal Cove State Park, designated an area of Special Biological Significance by the State Water Resources Control Board.
  • Catch basin inserts along Resort pathways capture organic debris before it enters storm drains that lead to the Pacific Ocean.

Waste Recycling

  • A recycling and cardboard bailing program intentionally separates recyclables with five recycle bins collection points throughout the property.
  • A compactor system in the event center, which hosts large functions that produce a great volume of waste, heightens the amount recycled.
  • A certified vendor removes green waste mainly from landscaping and uses it to create compost.
  • All e-waste is removed by a certified vendor that ensures it’s not being shipped overseas or ending up in landfills.

Conserving ENERGY

  • To conserve energy and reduce electricity usage during peak seasons, golf cart charging is rotated.
  • The Resort powers down unoccupied guest rooms and the central laundry facility during low-occupancy periods to reduce electricity and gas usage.
  • LED lighting is installed throughout the property to reduce electricity usage, based on the lower wattage of new lights, as well as reduced air conditioning demand due to the other lights generating much more heat per bulb.
  • Windows have energy-efficient, low-emissivity (low-E) coatings.
  • The Golf Clubhouse and Villa Clubhouse feature above-average, energy-efficient HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) split systems.

Locally Sourced Ingredients

  • Pelican Hill®’s restaurants feature seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, many from farms within a 10-mile radius of the Resort.
  • Chefs partner with local growers to plan future crops that maximize the amount of produce sourced from our own backyard.
  • The Spa at Pelican Hill® also incorporates locally sourced sustainable products in its treatments when possible.

Room Keys

  • Better for the environment and equally as durable, the guestroom key cards are made of contemporary bio-plastic versus older versions comprised of PVC (polyvinyl chloride plastic), made in a highly toxic manufacturing process.

Cleaning Products

  • The Resort opts for safer cleaning products for guests and employees, as well as the environment, by selecting those made with bio-based oils and high-performance natural cleaners that have demonstrated performance.
  • Reducing products with chlorine bleach and petrochemical derivatives decreases the possibility of irritants harming guests and employees.

Recognition

  • Golf Magazine recognized Pelican Hill® in its eco-friendly Green Hall of Fame Award winners, among just three U.S. properties selected in 2012.
  • Pelican Hill® has also been honored as a Golf Digest Green-Star Environmental Award Finalist.