Mexican resorts are working to live in harmony with their can’t-be-beat scenery.

What makes the Mexican-Caribbean resort area, Playa Mujeres, so naturally beautiful is the lush vegetation and well cared for fauna habitat that has remained relatively undisturbed even as resorts grew up in their midst.

A new resort, Capricho Residences, is working with the Mexican government to protect the area’s vegetation, beaches and animals by developing the community in sustainable ways. The goal is to implement an “environmentally-saturated” life for its residents and guests at the resort’s hotel.

Capricho's eco-friendly measures are intended to reduce environmental impact in several ways: by decreasing energy consumption, which generally means burning fossil fuels; preservation of the habitat for native plants and animals; committing to use cleaning products that are less harmful to the environment; reuse of precious water resources; and smart design features that make better use of clean energy.

Capricho will develop only 40 percent of the resort's 900 acres, leaving the rest as a nature preserve. There is also a restoration plan for vegetation: Sensitive plants will be transferred to nurseries during construction, then replanted later.  

Wastewater will be used for landscaping and for maintaining two nearby golf courses. Electrical needs will be replaced, where possible, using solar power. Swimming pools will be chemical free (by replacing harsh cleaners and purifiers with saline based products) and also heated using solar power.

An air conditioning system that operates using a mini reservoir and recycled water is expected to cool homes with a 60 percent savings on energy demands.

Motion sensors will be used to make the air conditioning system, as well as lighting components, more energy efficient. When rooms are unoccupied, both systems will use the minimum. Insulated glass windows and doors will help prevent unwanted exchange of hot or cool air introduction or loss in the homes. By also insulating ceilings, the homes will need less of the air conditioning system to keep things cool. Stone and wood materials will also be used in the construction of Capricho.