Jalousie Plantation resort brings solar golf carts to St Lucia

Okay, it’s not exactly a cure for cancer, but any initiative that does cut down on fossil fuel reliance still resonates with me. So, I was pretty excited to see that the Jalousie Plantation has adopted a hybrid solar-powered golf cart to move guests around on its 192-acre property … with no carbon emissions! This is among the first of these environmentally-friendly golf carts in the Caribbean, and the goal is for this quirky little vehicle to replace the oil-dependent carts and minibuses that currently carry passengers around Jalousie.

This measure is reflective of Jalousie parent company Kor Hotel Group’s “Second Nature” program, which consists of several eco-friendly measures across its holdings. Kor’s properties are encouraged to source local produce, arts and other supplies to cut down on food-miles (or other “product-miles”) in an effort to reduce carbon emissions while contributing to economic growth in the community.

“We want to play our part at The Jalousie Plantation in supporting the environmentally-conscious initiatives of Kor and the new hybrid solar-powered golf cart is seen as a first step in helping us to do this,” Jalousie’s General Manager, Rodrigo Caldeira said.

The golf cart has a photovoltaic cell on its roof, which takes St Lucia sunshine and turns it into the electricity that makes the cart move. In the event of rain, the cart can be plugged into an electrical outlet to have its battery charged.

“Eventually all of the vehicles we use at Jalousie will be gasoline-free and this will help us to lessen our emissions of greenhouse gases which are having a tremendous impact on eco-systems around the world and contributing to climatic change and global warming,” Caldeira said. “The new cart also significantly reduces noise pollution and makes a great contribution in our efforts to reduce our consumption of fossil fuels and in ensuring our operations are environmentally sustainable.”

Invest in yourself in St. Lucia, earn a $1,000 return

Hotels are giving incentives like crazy. They just want your business. The latest comes from RockResort’s The Landings St. Lucia. Book five nights through the “Invest in Yourself” deal, and you’ll get a resort credit of $1,000. This makes it a lot easier to book a few spa treatments, eat like royalty or hit the greens. You can also apply the credit to activities on the water, from snorkeling trips to sailing and waterskiing lessons.

The entry point is $490 a night, which gets you a Deluxe Harbor Front Villa suite. Your home away from home will have two bedrooms, a kitchen and a living room, which works well if you travel with a family or a group of friends. So, if you need a break from the grind, this is it! Get down to St. Lucia, and invest in a little relaxation.

[Photo via RockResort’s The Landings St. Lucia]