Casa Verde: Sustainability and automation redefine the luxury hospitality experience in Brazil

On the coast of Santa Catarina, Brazil, Felissimo Exclusive Hotel has set a new benchmark for sustainable luxury hospitality. Just 500 meters from Praia dos Amores in Balneário Camboriú, the hotel is home to Casa Verde – a 120-square-meter, independent suite that combines intelligent automation, clean energy, and contemporary architecture to deliver an exceptional and environmentally conscious guest experience.

The project was born from the vision of hotel director Terence Schauffert Reiser, who wanted to push the boundaries of high-end hospitality.

Casa Verde – or Casa do Futuro (House of the Future), as we like to call it – is a showcase of what we believe to be the path for contemporary hospitality: a sensorial and efficient experience, supported by the best technology available,” he says.

Designed by architect Jobim Carlevaro, Casa Verde features a cubist structure with a striking glass façade and reforestation wood cladding that integrates naturally with the surrounding garden. Inside, the suite is fully equipped with smart building solutions from ABB Electrification, including KNX-based automation, solar energy integration, and electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.

Proven sustainability – and payback in under two years

With a total investment of R$ 1.2 million (approx. USD $217,000), Casa Verde quickly became one of the most requested units at Felissimo Exclusive Hotel, with daily rates exceeding R$ 4,000 (approx. 725 USD). Thanks to high occupancy and measurable energy savings, the return on investment in premium construction and advanced technology was fully recovered in just two years – a solid reinforcement on how smart building technologies can pay off both environmentally and economically.

Estimates based on technical standards and usage patterns at the hotel suggest that Casa Verde uses 20 percent less electricity than a comparable suite without automation. This is significant, especially considering that energy typically accounts for around 6 percent of hotel operating costs in Brazil, according to the Brazilian Hotel Industry Association (ABIH).

Smart comfort, powered by ABB

With a unique focus on a seamless, personalized guest experience and reducing energy consumption, ABB’s KNX-based automation system lies at the heart of Casa Verde’s design. It connects and manages the suite’s lighting, climate, blinds, sound system, and entertainment – all controlled via sensors, tablets, Tacteo keypads, or a dedicated app. Guests can select pre-programmed experiences such as Relaxation, Eco, Good Night, or Arrival, with lights, sound, and temperature adjusting automatically in real time.

The proposal was to create a space that was more than just accommodation. We wanted to show that it is possible to combine design, well-being, and energy efficiency. ABB's technology allowed us to execute this vision with precision,” says Bruno Hessel Rodrigues, Product Marketing Engineer at ABB.

The suite also integrates solar panels with ABB’s EV charging infrastructure, reducing reliance on the grid and supporting the hotel’s long-term sustainability goals.

Future-ready and guest-centric

More than a successful project, Casa Verde serves as a prototype for what’s next in hospitality. Beyond its immediate environmental and financial performance, the ABB system is designed with scalability in mind – ready to support features like voice control, personalized guest settings, and integration with broader hotel management systems such as room service or housekeeping automation. Guest reviews reflect the success of this approach, with one recent guest stating, ‘From check-in to check-out, finally a place that understood what service and hospitality is.’

According to Felissimo, Casa Verde is among its most in-demand suites – not just for its design, but for the seamless experience it offers.

Key ABB solutions deployed at Casa Verde

• Complete electrical distribution boards with RCDs (Residual Current Devices), SPDs (Surge Protective Devices), and circuit breakers
• Fully integrated KNX automation system
• Tacteo keypads for scenario activation and custom functions
• Shutter control modules, presence sensors, and dimmable actuators
• ABB EV charging station integrated with the solar power system

Projects like Casa Verde demonstrate how ABB technology can transform buildings into smarter, more sustainable, and people-centric spaces. KNX automation integrated into our electrical portfolio creates an efficient, connected, and high-value-added journey for the hotel sector,” adds Rodrigues.

ABB is a global technology leader in electrification and automation, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. By combining its engineering and digitalization expertise, ABB helps industries operate at high performance, becoming more efficient, productive, and sustainable, so they outperform. At ABB, we call this ‘Engineered to Outrun’. The company has over 140 years of history and more than 105,000 employees worldwide. ABB’s shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ABBN) and Nasdaq Stockholm (ABB). www.abb.com 

ABB Electrification is a global technology leader enabling the efficient and reliable distribution of electricity from source to socket. With more than 50,000 employees across 100 countries, we collaborate with our customers and partners to solve the world’s greatest challenges in electrical distribution and energy management. As the energy transition accelerates and electricity demands grow, we are electrifying the world in a safe, smart, and sustainable way. At ABB, we are ‘Engineered to Outrun’, and we are passionate about helping our customers and partners do the same. go.ABB/electrification