Green Mago

Sedona Mago Retreat upholds a high standard of eco-friendliness. Meeting rooms, guest rooms and a water management system are all constructed to harmonize with nature and to meet the high ecological standards as you would expect from an organization that pursues Love for Humanity and Love for the Earth. Our score on the Northern Arizona Green Checklist developed by Coconino County Sustainable Economic Development Initiative was 5 Leaves, the highest level of the rating system. The data was submitted to The Institute of Ecotourism in Sedona, AZ in July 2008.

Mago Retreat’s eco-harmony accomplishments and plans are in four areas: Air, Land, Water, and Resources.

Air | Land | Water | Resources | Future project for greener Mago

Air
Our goal is to keep the air surrounding the retreat clean and fresh, as nature intends it to be. A variety of trees help to naturally purify the air. 2,000 Juniper trees were already present at the opening of Mago Retreat 10 years ago, and 1,300 trees and 2,040 plants have been planted since then. We also have a local van to pick up guests from a pick-up location in Cottonwood so that the number of cars driving into the center can be minimized. Also, the large central parking lot near the main gate encourages guests to walk, rather than drive, around Mago Retreat. Three pollution-free electric cars are used by the Services and Household departments.

Land
All construction is completed with a high level of respect for the land. Buildings are constructed to harmonize, in scale, facade and material, with the natural environment and landscape. Most of the pathway lights are solar-powered. Mago Hall, our main event hall and meeting room (300 seat capacity), is a stressed membrane structure with a heated floor, providing excellent insulation and ventilation for energy conservation. Heavy mulch is used around trees to preserve water and is produced on-site from wood remaining from construction projects.

Water
Conservation of water in the desert is a high priority. Water from four wells is used for drinking, washing, and watering plants. Water run-off from surrounding mountains and rainwater is captured to fill the man-made lake and the three ponds terraced above it. The gray-water recycling system takes water from all guest rooms and the Welcome House(sinks, bathtubs/showers and toilets), filters it seven times, stores it in two 10,000-gallon tanks, and sends it through rubber pipes to water many trees and plants. Guest room signs urge guests to reuse towels and linens for several days. Low-pressure toilets and waterless urinals for new buildings are planned. (They will be tested and, if effective, installed elsewhere).

Resources
Wherever possible, the principle of “reduce use, reuse, recycle” is practiced. The dining hall generates 14,600 gallons of compost a year for use in the organic garden, which also uses manure from the horse ranch for fertilizer. Both compost and manure are fermented for one year before this new soil is used in the Organic Garden; this process eliminates the need to add any chemical fertilizer. Vegetarian meals (with fish) are served in the dining hall, which uses less of the world’s food resources. In season, fresh vegetables and fruit grown in the organic garden are served in the dining hall. All paper towels and toilet paper are from recycled materials. We use a recycling system for paper, plastic, metal, and glass.

Future Project for Greener Mago
Water and energy are big issues for our retreat center as they are for our planet. We already have built a high standard water recycling system. Our goal is to establish a complete self-sufficient and renewable energy system within our premises by using solar panels and geo-thermal system in the next 5 years.

Air | Land | Water | Resources | Future project for greener Mago