The Old School - An Eco-Friendly B&B
'You can relax, safe in the knowledge that your B&B does things the Eco-Friendly way.'
The Old School Bed and Breakfast Eco Policy:
Utilities at The Old School Bed and Breakfast
We are endeavouring to observe environmental and good health issues at The Old School Bed and Breakfast, and have recently invested in a double Solar Water Heating System to help reduce usage of electricity and oil. Oil and immersion systems are turned off in summer.
There are low-wattage lamps throughout the house - an amazing 75 in all, in our 20 rooms, pantry, cupboards, staircase, three hallways and annexe. Each bulb reduces the electricity use by 75%.
The refrigerators and washing machines are all AA-rated and the dishwasher is AAA-rated for power consumption.
Our water is metered so we try to limit the amount used with economy devices in the toilet cisterns and by asking the family and guests to be mindful of water consumption.
We also ask guests not to leave the television on stand-by and to 'deactivate the fluorescent illuminations' on leaving the room.
Recently installed windows and doors are made from sustainable hardwood sources and are double glazed to help maintain comfort levels throughout the year. The frames have been painted with Eco-Aware Paint by Westcott and Wells of Cambridge.
Breakfasts are cooked using a range powered by LPG, [which uses gas efficiently only as it is required] and a power-efficient microwave oven.
Electricity is bought from a Green Tariff Supplier and where oil-fired heating is in use, the system is timed and all radiators have thermostats to minimise waste.
Repair to the fabric of the building is effected by thoughtful use of materials: e.g. lime mortar rather than cement for re-pointing, and timber rather than chipboard.
Cleaning the B&B
The laundry has an energy-efficient ironing system and beds are made up with sheets, rather than duvets, to aid comfort of our guests and to reduce laundry quantities.
We use environmentally friendly products for dishwashing, laundry and general cleaning. These are always non-aerosol.
We use a vinegar solution or borax in some of the cleaning processes. Locally produced beeswax is used in polishing wood and washing soda is used to clean bright metals.
Complimentary soaps and shower gels are eco-friendly brands, and our rooms have containers of natural pot-pourri and our own lavender, which is made at the B&B.
The bedroom tray-papers, bedroom and toilet-tissues and disposal bags are made from recycled paper, and waste bins are lined with bags made from recycled plastic or paper.
We use Dyson vacuum cleaners, [which do not use disposable bags but have a bag-less system and lifelong filters] and we empty the contents into the composters.
Our local council is promoting large-scale recycling and provides us with a 2-bin system, collecting 'Green' items fortnightly from the B&B. We recycle approximately 4 times as much as we dispose of as rubbish.
Most of the furnishings in the house have been bought with eco-friendly issues in mind. For example, floor coverings are under review and we intend to gradually replace carpeting with Linoleum [not Vinyl] or expose the original floor boarding.
Foodstuffs
Uncooked organic waste [e.g. vegetable and fruit peelings and eggshells] is added to the compost.
Plastic, paper or cardboard packaging is recycled and we decline the use of packaging at suppliers wherever possible and use baskets and boxes to carry items home.
The B&B Garden and Beyond
In the summer months, the gardens are watered with rainwater, which has been collected from the roofs. The garden soil is supplemented by compost generated in our own bins.
We do not use pesticides and weed-killers but prefer to encourage song thrushes, hedgehogs and our toad to deal with slugs, snails and insects.
We are currently replanting the gardens and are concentrating on the use of native plants and items to encourage or help wildlife live here too. We have used Kilmarnock willow, oak, yew and hawthorn, amongst others. The new wild areas of the former playground have clover, bee-orchids and poppies.
Paving in the Courtyard is made of reconstituted stone and bricks from redundant storage heaters. Aconites, wild violets, pansies, wild strawberries and bluebells all grow in spaces between slabs and stones. The ornamental in-fills include ceramic and brick chips. [Recycled products, again.]
We minimise our use of cars for shopping by planning journeys and by walking or cycling to local suppliers. We are on the local bus route, which carries a reliable service and encourage the use of buses.
New soffits, fascias, gutters and down-pipes are uPVC replacements which will require no painting.
B&B Guest Participation
Our stationery is recycled paper but we use email whenever possible and appropriate. We estimate that in confirming bookings by email, we have saved £400 in telephone and postal costs in the past year and have allocated this to charity funds.
Thank you for your support and interest. If you can think of other ways to enable us to achieve our 'Green Aims', please let us know as we welcome your input.
Updated 11/04/08 by GKP
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