Le Marche self catering cottages, Italy
How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
Our Environmental Efforts...
We pride ourselves on being environmentally responsible and we have worked hard to keep our operations efficient and to limit our impact on the environment. We also understand we can't eliminate that impact, so we also work with other organizations to counter what we can't avoid.
One Tree Planted For Every Guest That Stays
For every guest that stays with us this Summer we will plant one tree! We spent a lot of time researching other options for offsetting our impact, including Renewable Energy Certificates, and feel like we've made the right choice. Lots of other companies are offsetting some of their energy use with RECs. At this point, however, the effectiveness of those certificates is unclear, and the purchaser's actual energy use is still almost entirely generated by greenhouse gas producing fossil fuels. If better REC options and/or new options for purchasing renewable energy become available to us, we will eagerly take another look.
In the mean time, the trees we're planting have a clear and cumulative effect on the environment and on greenhouse gas levels. The average tree inhales 26 lbs of carbon dioxide per year and exhales enough oxygen for a family of four for a year. Trees also reflect solar radiation back into space and increase cloud cover, both of which help counteract global warming. We have partnered with MokuGift and the UN Environment Program for this project. Planting trees through these groups has the added benefit of teaching sustainable agriculture in impoverished parts of the world.
Our Solar Energy & Geo Thermal Fields
You will see our solar panels in the field here are just some of the reasons we have invested in solar:
1. Solar energy is not only sustainable, it is renewable and this means that we will never run out of it. It is about as natural a source of power as it is possible to generate.
2. We can generate our own source of electricity via solar panels potentially enabling us to live off grid. In other words we need not be dependent on the public utility company to supply our power and we also wont be required to pay for out power.
3. They are a silent producer of energy. There is absolutely no noise made from photovoltaic panels as they convert sunlight into usable electricity.
4. Many governments around the world and locally offer generous rebates and monetary incentives to install solar panels and solar hot water systems. The governments of various nations understand the importance of the creation of electricity from renewable sources is to the entire world and are receptive to making it as attractive a proposition as possible for individuals.
5. Our solar energy and geo-thermal fields produce electricity regardless of whether the sun is shining or not making them sustainable and reliable electricity producers.
10. Solar electricity power plants and personal solar panels produce zero emissions and make no adverse mark on the environment.
Community
From the local produce included in our welcome packs, to promoting local agri-tourismos and family run restaurunts to our guests, we are commited to supporting our local community. We are planning to extend those partnerships to include guided nature walks, tours and events in 2012. Some of the things on offer next year will be wine tours, truffle hunting, cookery courses, pampering breaks and tailorded family celebrations all developed by the local community.
We have put together a comprehensive guide which include local attractions, places of interest, great walks, events and things to do. We also ask guests to add to our local guides in the properties, and as them to write about thier experiences, what they have enjoyed and the food they have sampled, so that new guests can experience the very best that is on offer locally.
Le Marche has tradionally been farming country and alot of the younger generations have now moved to larger cities. With the recent arrival of tourism and collaboration from local businesses, some of those younger people are starting to develop tourisn related businesses, which is keeping the family values alive in the region. We will actively support and encourage this though the development of SME professional networks designed to support young people in developing sustainable businesses in the region.
1of3
