Germany's first self-sufficient hotel proves a hit

This minihotel for two people comes from an Austrian company called wohnwagon. In a pilot project, the firm has moved it to Zossen, a town about an hour's drive south of Berlin, where it stands next to a conventional hotel. There's been no lack of guests since the "tiny house" opened its doors to weary travelers.

No, it's certainly not a multi-room presidential suite. But the 25 square meters of living space make you realize that's all you need to get in what should be available in a hotel. A spacious bed, somewhere to sit, a bathroom, and even a place to cook — what more do you want?

The minihotel was built with protection of the environment in mind. It's almost entirely made of ecological building materials that can be fully recycled, put to different uses or which are biodegradable. Parts of the cob walls are clad with wood panels, giving the hotel its own special character.

In order to live up to its high ecological standards, the makers of the hotel refrained from using conventional insulation material. What they used instead is raw sheep wool, as shown in the picture. This material is in no way less effective at keeping the cold out and the warm air in so that guests feel comfortable.

When it gets chilly outside, you can also fire up the wood heating system and with it create an even more romantic atmosphere in the hotel. The wohnwagon crew emphasizes that the heating is CO2-neutral, meaning that the logs or billets can only release the amount of CO2 that they've previously captured.

Using a flushless toilet is also part of the hotel's self-sufficient nature. Liquid and solid components get collected separately, and some of them can later be used according to the principle "First it's poop, later it's plant fertilizer." You get the idea. Aromatic oils prevent the waterless toilet from producing a huge stench.

But let's move outside again for a final look at where the electricity and part of the heating power comes from. It's a row of solar panels lined up on the roof, with a capacity of 800 watts each. The hotel owners say the installation needs little maintenance. By the way, there's no inbuilt Wi-Fi system, but you can use that of the adjacent hotel.