Eco-practices

BnBscape is committed to demonstrate the specialness of your County Inn and Bed and Breakfast. Eco-friendly practices and Ecotourism are gaining widespread popularity as a suitable strategy for the Bed and Breakfast experience. This trend is a perfect fit for small Inns and Bed and Breakfasts because they can easily minimize the impact of conventional tourism and build environmental & cultural awareness.

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1. Reduce (Waste) / Reuse / Recycle:

Modern societies produce an excessive amount of waste. The costs of doing so include the spreading of landfill sites as well as the damage to the environment caused by the manufacturing, distribution, and ultimate disposal of products.
The slogan "reduce, reuse, recycle", prescribes three strategies concerning solid waste management and, therefore, the reduction of the environmental impact associated with these materials. Environmentally aware consumers can produce less waste by practicing the three strategies or the “3 Rs: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle".
They buy products that are less toxic or contain less packaging, use reusable containers and other refillable items, maintain and repair appliances, participate in recycling programs, and prefer products made from recycled materials.
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2. Conserving Water:

Conserving tap water:
The average running tap uses approximately 10 liters of water every minute and dripping taps can use up to 90 liters of water per week.
_Mend any dripping taps with appropriate washers and ball-valves
_Don’t waste clean water on plants, put a bowl in your sink and use water from your washing up or cooled cooking water instead
_Don’t run tap water until it’s cold, use your fridge to chill water or purchase a specialist undersink chiller or water cooler
_Put a bowl in your sink or use the plug to avoid cleaning clothes, etc under a running tap

Conserving Water in the Bathroom:
Flushing a toilet uses up to 10 liters of water every time and accounts for a third of the water used in the home.
_Have a shower rather than a bath but don’t spend too long under the shower
_Don’t run water continuously when cleaning your teeth perhaps make use of a glass or mug
_Use a waste basket instead of your toilet to dispose of those small bits of rubbish that are often created in the bathroom

Conserving Water when using your Washing Machine:
Washing machines use a massive amount of water, on each cycle this can amount to as much as 70 to 120 Liters of water at a time. A full load uses less water than 2 half loads.
_Make sure that you machine has a full load before turning it on
_When buying a new machine make sure it is efficient as possible

Conserving Water when using your Dishwasher:
A Dishwasher uses up to 60 liters of water each time that it is used.
_Make sure that your machine is fully loaded prior to use
_Avoid pre-rinsing dishes and cutlery under a flowing tap

Conserving Water with proper Maintenance:
Maintaining your home or business premises can save you money and help conserve water.
_Maintain your plumbing systems and fix all leaks as soon as possible
_Insulate venerable pipes to avoid them freezing and bursting in the cold weather
_Make sure you know where your stop tap is so that you can isolate any leaks as soon as possible

Conserving Water in the Garden:
_Rainwater is a great natural resource which should be used where possible to fulfill some of the more basic requirements in the garden. Installing a water butt is the best way to harness this natural asset, and it’s a fact that rainwater is better for garden plants than tap water.
_Use waste kitchen water wherever possible to water your plants
_Water your garden during the evening or late afternoon when it’s cooler to help reduce evaporation
_Don’t use a garden sprinkler these devises are wasteful and unnecessary
_Reduce the size of your lawn and buy plants that require less moisture
_Water your lawn once a week only; this will help to preserve your water
_Mulch your garden with tree bark, coconut compost, etc, to prevent evaporation

Conserving Water by limiting Hosepipe:
_Clean paths and driveways with a brush not a hose
_Clean your vehicles with a bucket and sponge rather than using a hose
_When only a hose will do you can avoid wasting water by fitting a shutoff valve on your hosepipe

3. Energy Efficient Appliances:

Energy Efficiency:
Energy efficiency simply means getting the same amount of work out of a device without having to use as much energy. An excellent example of an energy efficient technology is a compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb, which is typically four times more energy efficient than a regular incandescent light bulb, but produces the same amount and quality of light.
Energy efficient technologies can cut home electric bills by 10 to 50 percent. These technologies include compact fluorescent light bulbs, high efficiency heating and air conditioning systems, and energy efficient appliances that have the Energy Star logo. Home energy efficiency can also be improved by sealing leaky duct systems and caulking windows and doors.
Conserving energy, by taking actions like insulating/weather-stripping your home and purchasing Energy Star certified (high efficiency) appliances, is usually the smartest, most economical and most potent environmental action you can take.
Cleaner, greener energy supplies may provide the cleanest supplies of needed electricity, but minimizing the energy we need is still the first step to take before selecting the cleanest, greenest supplies.
Whenever you save energy, you not only save money, you also reduce the demand for such fossil fuels as coal, oil, and natural gas. Less burning of fossil fuels also means lower emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), the primary contributor to global warming, and other pollutants.
You do not have to do without to achieve these savings. There is now an energy efficient alternative for almost every kind of appliance or light fixture. That means that consumers have a real choice and the power to change their energy use on a revolutionary scale.

Home improvements:

4. Air/Water Filtration:

Air Quality:
Choose Air-Friendly Products, many products you use in your home are made with smog-forming chemicals that escape into the air.

Water Filtration Systems:
In order increase water usability, water supplies have to be treated with many chemicals to prevent illnesses and bacterial diseases. The effects of chemically treated water have led to many health risks. From drinking to showering and swimming in our pools, chemically treated water has produced serious health risks. Researchers have determined that taking long hot showers has led to an increased exposure to dangerous chemicals. As well, Elderly, people with certain vitamin deficiencies, and people with heart and kidney problems are more susceptible to the toxic effects of fluoride.
With the growing data demonstrating chemicals in our water as a health hazard, consumers are looking for natural ways to purify their water. Using a house water filter can alleviate the effects of asthma and allergies by providing cleaner air to breathe in the home.

Water Filtration Systems - LINKS:

5. Bio-degradable Cleaners:

Soap - Baking Soda/Bicarbonate of soda - Washing soda - Borax - White Vinegar and Lemon Juice - Cloudy ammonia

Soap
Soap without synthetic scents, colors or other additives biodegrades safely and completely, and is non-toxic. Dissolve bars of soap more easily in hot water.

Baking Soda/Bicarbonate of soda
Baking Soda is a slightly alkaline mineral that cleans and deodorizes. Baking soda can be used as a gentle nonabrasive cleanser for kitchen counter tops, sinks, bathtubs, ovens, and fiberglass. It will eliminate perspiration odors and even neutralize the smell of many chemicals if you add up to a cup per load to the laundry. It is a useful air freshener, and a fine carpet deodorizer.

Washing soda
Washing Soda is a much more strongly alkaline mineral than its chemical neighbor Baking Soda. Washing Soda cuts grease, removes stains, disinfects and softens water.

Borax
Borax is an excellent disinfectant

White Vinegar and Lemon Juice
Vinegar and Lemon Juice cut grease and freshen.

Cloudy ammonia
This ingredient cuts heavy grease. It must be used with CAUTION because its toxic fumes can irritate eyes and lungs. Use ONLY with good ventilation and when other cleaners won't work.
WARNING! Never mix ammonia with bleach. It will produce highly toxic fumes!!!

6. Organic Food Ingredients:

There are differences between "Certified Organic Foods", "Organic Foods", "Made with Organic Ingredients", and conventionally produced food. These differences refer to the way food is grown, processed and labeled. These products may display the USDA Organic seal on the label.
On October 21, 2002, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) put into effect the national organic standards ensuring consistency for all organic products marketed in the U.S. Along with the new standards, the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has developed strict labeling rules to help consumers know the exact organic content of the food they buy.

"Certified Organic Food":
Raw products are allowed to carry the USDA's organic seal (Certified Organic Food) if they are 100 percent organic.
Certified Organic foods are grown without the use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers or sewage sludge and haven't been genetically engineered or irradiated. Organic farmers focus on soil improvement and rely on biological systems to produce high quality food and reduce environmental impact. The "certified organic" food label identifies food grown with practices that:

_ Don't use synthetic pesticides, herbicides and soil fumigants.
_ Don't use genetic engineering
_ Don't use sewage sludge as fertilizer
_ Do improve the quality and fertility of the soil
_ Do protect water quality
_ Do reduce soil erosion
_ Do rely on natural biological systems for pest and weed control
_ Do reduce the impact of agriculture on our environment
_ Do produce high quality, great tasting food

"Organic Food":
Processed products listed as "Organic" contains only 95 percent organic ingredients.
These products may include some minerals and vitamins that are not certified organic.

"Made with Organic Ingredients":
A product listed as "Made with Organic Ingredients" is processed food and contains only 70 percent of certified organic ingredients.

Conventionally Produced Food:
Foods without any organic label may be treated with pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge and may be genetically engineered or irradiated.

7. Organic Garden / Farm:
Organic gardening is growing in popularity as people increasingly see the need to avoid chemicals and synthetic products.
Organic gardens also provide protection form genetically modified organisms (GMO) in the garden.

Organic Garden Ideas:
_ Control pests with ladybirds (ladybugs). These little red insects with shiny black spots control aphids naturally and totally. You can order them from several organic garden places on the Internet. Until they arrive, spray every part of aphid-infested plants with well diluted soapy water. Rinse with clear water.
_ Plant guardian plants around and among tender vegetables. Marigolds make the organic garden border colorful, and ward off many pests. Onions and garlic are also great deterrents to pests that would like to break in and steal organic produce.

Sources for Organic Garden - LINKS:

8. Organic Linens:

Some Facts:

Organic linens and cloth are produced using a fiber crop (cotton, for example) grown without the use of pesticides.

Additionally, the fiber/yarn/cloth is not bleached with toxic chlorine. Cloth and thread is dyed using natural dyes, and garments are usually made with additional attention to environmental and health details like nickel-free snaps and buttons made of natural materials. Additionally, low-environmental-impact farming practices are followed.

Cotton uses approximately 25% of the world's insecticides and more than 10% of the pesticides (including herbicides, insecticides, and defoliants.).

Approximately 10% of all pesticides sold for use in U. S. agriculture were applied to cotton in 1997, the most recent year for which such data is publicly available. (ACPA)

Eighty-four million pounds of pesticides were sprayed on the 14.4 million acres of conventional cotton grown in the U.S. in 2000 (5.85 pounds/ acre), ranking cotton second behind corn in total amount of pesticides sprayed. (USDA)

Over 2.03 billion pounds of synthetic fertilizers were applied to conventional cotton the same year (142 pounds/acre), making cotton the fourth most heavily fertilized crop behind corn, winter wheat, and soybeans. (USDA)

The Environmental Protection Agency considers seven of the top 15 pesticides used on cotton in 2000 in the United States as “possible,” “likely,” “probable,” or “known” human carcinogens (acephate, dichloropropene, diuron, fluometuron, pendimethalin, tribufos, and trifluralin). (EPA)

It takes roughly one-third of a pound of chemicals (pesticides and fertilizers) to grow enough cotton for just one T-shirt.

9. Clean Energy Systems - LINKS:

10. Promote Nature:
_ Environmental information describing the adequate use of rooms amenities should be available for guests and visitors.
_ Information about your establishment's participation in any environmental program, should be displayed for the appreciation of guests and visitors.
_ Display Green Certifications in public areas.
_ Provide information and education about protected natural local areas to guests and visitors.
_ Promote local attractions while raising awareness of environmental issues affecting your area.