Sustainability at the saratz
Environmental sustainability at the Saratz Pontresina
«The world is changed by your example, not by your opinion.»
Paulo Coehlo
The Engadine is situated in a high valley in the heart of the Alps. Visitors past from all over the world have come to know and love this corner of Switzerland with its unspoilt and striking landscape. It is the incredibly beautiful and enchanting Alpine backdrop that makes the Engadine so irresistible.
At the Saratz, we are committed treating our environment respectfully and in harmony with nature. We believe in sustainable consumption and production. We use our energy resources responsibly and promote biodiversity. As an employer, we stand for equal opportunities and social cohesion.
Sustainable travel doesn't necessarily mean having to go without. Sustainable travel means greater awareness, enjoyment and depth. With this in mind, Switzerland is pursuing its own characteristic sustainability strategy: «Swisstainable».
We are proud to be a part of Switzerland Tourism's Swisstainable programme since 2021. Simply put, this means that we are committed to sustainable corporate management practices and are continuously evolving towards sustainability in our seminar, meeting and convention sector. We aim to accomplish Level III of the Swisstainable Program by the end of 2024.

Saratz Heat Pump
The Saratz heats with geothermal energy!
There is sufficient energy inside the earth to sustain us on the surface – and it is both clean and kind to the environment. For the Saratz, this was a compelling reason to install our own geothermal energy production system.
Committed to tradition
Since 2014, the Saratz has been contributing with its geothermal heat system towards maintaining the quality of air and life in the Engadine. Our valley has a longstanding tradition when it comes to renewable energy sources: boasting sunshine on 322 days a year, it is the "drying chamber" of the Alps and, at the same time, one of the most water-rich valleys.
Heating system – a short introduction
- In order to exploit renewable energy, a borehole was sunk through granite rock to a depth of 1,350 metres (a Swiss first!) below the hotel garden.
- The water present at this depth is heated naturally by geothermal energy to 40 degrees Celsius and a heat pump brings it into circulation.
- The Saratz uses the thus generated thermal energy to heat the indoor swimming pool and wellness area and part of the hotel complex. An oil-fired central heating system is available to cover peak demand.
This results in savings of around 80,000 litres of heating oil each year, which corresponds to a reduction of 210 tonnes of carbon emissions per year.
Other activities to protect the environment
We certainly aren't going to tell you that spending a holiday with us will reduce your ecological footprint. Because that would be nothing but marketing babble. What we will tell you is that nature is our energy source. And that we value nature and treat it with respect: