Edinburgh guest house accommodation, Scotland
How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
Our Edinburgh guesthouse has the Gold Award for the Green Tourism Business Scheme. We are very proud of the award and we work very hard to ensure that our business maintains that standard. When it comes to green efficiency our guesthouse represents a good example in business of how energy and waste can be managed in a more eco-friendly way. The benefits from turning our business green go beyond savings on their electricity and gas bills. For example, we know that some visitors have chosen to stay at their guesthouse particularly because of its green credentials; several repeat visitors cite the business's commitment to the environment as the reason for their return.
Investment into energy saving light bulbs and thermostatic radiator valves has paid off considerably. Monitoring energy usage indicated that the initial energy saving devices installed saved 30% on their gas and electricity bills! Less energy use equates to less damage to the earth's atmosphere and a reduction in global warming.
Now we have installed a condensing boiler and upgraded our kitchen with even more efficient energy saving appliances. Energy-saving features for the business include: condensing boiler, showers in rooms instead of baths, small-sized kettles, A and AAA energy-efficient rated appliances, low energy light bulbs, adjustable valves on radiators (which indicate the ideal setting), light sensors and timers, flow restricting valves and insulation. Waste is sorted into paper, cardboard, plastic, tins and glass. Most food scraps are composted. Our breakfasts are cooked to order, thus reducing waste and providing our guests with the best quality food. Even at full capacity the guesthouse manages to limit waste to one domestic - sized wheelie bin which eliminates the need for business specific bins and pick-up. Normally the waste produced by up to 11 guests and our family less than that produced by the average family of four!
The green efforts of the guesthouse are not simply limited to energy and waste efficiency. We encourage our guests to use local public transport by providing easy to follow information in rooms on how to travel into the centre of Edinburgh by foot or bus. Bed and Breakfast prices include free bus travel throughout the city for guests during their stay. We also provide bird feed and water to enhance garden biodiversity. The guests appreciate waking up to the sounds of the birds in the garden. We have created a wildlife friendly pond in our the garden which is a watering hole for birds (large and small) foxes and squirrels. There are frogs and numerous insects at home there too. Recycled products are used where possible including recycled toilet paper in all of the bathrooms.
We encourage our guests to follow our environmentally friendly practices by proving them with a "Green Folder" in their rooms which informs them of our commitment to preserving the natural environment. In it there is information on what they can do during their stay to help towards our aim, as well as some suggestions of good practice which they might want to carry out once back in their own homes e.g. switching of lights, turning down radiators, checking taps are off, reusing leaflets and maps, reusing carrier bags etc. There are leaflets and maps to assist guests how to access various tourist attractions and natural areas around the city which have an environmentally friendly focus e.g. our local Nature Reserve, zoo, botanic gardens, beach and parks.
Community
The business is committed to using local products where possible. We buy local produce and so support small local businesses, which in turn allows us to provide the best quality food and toiletries for guests during their stay. We donate old clothes, bedding, furnishings and jumble to local charities so they can be redistributed in the community.
