“Gorski konak”, Village of Zubetinac, Municipality of Knjaževac, Serbia

https://www.gorskikonak.com

Gorski Konak is a rural tourist household that has 5 rooms with 14 beds. It is located in the village of Zubetinac, municipality of Knjaževac, Serbia.

Rural tourist household Gorski Konak not only provides its visitors with accommodation, but also with various contents and activities, including hiking and cycling tours in nature, SPA and wellness services, as well as a restaurant with a capacity of 24 seats indoors and 36 seats in the garden during the summer season.

Gorski Konak has implemented several circular economy measures and activities:

• • The building has published posters promoting sustainable energy use. It is the only printed material, all other promotion is done exclusively through digital channels and online

• • Gorski Konak, in principle, does not prepare food for its guests. It allows guests to get local products from local producers in the surrounding villages and have a kitchen available for guests to prepare their own food. Gorski Konak, for group visits, organizes traditional gastro evenings – where only local food and drinks are prepared and served. Guests are traditionally welcomed with honey, homemade juice without added sugar, a glass of homemade brandy or wine.

• • Solar panels for heating the hot technical water for showering and washing – a total of 3 panels that heat the 330-liter tank. The investment was put into operation in 2021. With this, it was achieved that now hot water for showering and washing is provided for eight months without additional costs for electricity.

• • Photovoltaic panels for electricity production – 32 panels with a total power of 10 KWh were installed with an approximate production of 12,500 KW per year. The investment was put into operation in 2023. This investment enables the production of electricity in sufficient quantity to enable the building to be heated via a heat pump during five winter months.

• • Air-water heat pump, with the power of 32KW, which heats 150m² during the winter months. The investment was put into operation in 2023. This achieves greater heating efficiency compared to solid fuel burning, does not emit CO₂ and uses electricity generated from photovoltaic solar panels.

• • Since 2023, the building has motion sensors for lighting in the corridors and uses low-energy LED lights. This enables lower consumption of electricity.

• • The facility has its own well. A drop-by-drop system is used for watering the garden and orchard.

• • As of 2022, the building has 5 electric bicycles. They are used by guests for cycling tours but are also used by the owner and his workers and family for local movement. A reduction in fuel consumption was achieved compared to car transport.

Gorski Konak is also a socially responsible tourism facility and supports the activities of the local Mountaineering Association. Every year, it prepares a free lunch for hikers who climb the nearby peak of Tupižnica.