Edinburgh guest house

We closely monitor our energy usage and we have changed our boiler to a condenser boiler which is more energy efficient. We have changed the light-bulbs throughout the house to low energy bulbs. Our kitchen appliances are A-rated. We use timers on lights for garden, front door, public areas, etc. We recycle paper, plastic, paper, glass and everything else that can be recycled. We have showers in all en-suites instead of baths cut down energy (and water) requirements. We have a compost bin which we use for every day kitchen and garden waste, e.g. vegetable peelings, fruit waste, teabags, coffee, crushed eggshells, plant prunings and grass cuttings, cardboard egg boxes, scrunched up paper, fallen leaves, etc.

We have a wildlife friendly pond in our back garden, which encourages birds to come for a drink or a bath. We also have a small water feature in the front garden for the same reason. The provision of menu choices on eve of breakfasts dramatically reduced food waste, since exact quantities are known for keeping fresh and control of preparation. We have switched to small pots for butter, jam and marmalade in dinning room saving on packaging. We inform all our guests via the “Welcome Pack” in the bedrooms that we are green and that their cooperation regarding the misuse of the towels, etc, is most appreciated. We also have a small sign on the bedrooms’ doors (at eye level) asking people to switch off the lights when leaving the bedroom saying “we are not mean, we are green.”

Old furnishings are donated to local charities to be redistributed among the community and towels and linen which no longer comply with our “four star” standard is donated to local homeless charity. We inform our guests of shared transport options from the airport, as well as encouraging them not to hire a car whilst visiting Edinburgh by supplying them with details of local public transport info including bus map. We support the charity Enable by donating money every year and by telling our guests about them. Enable campaigns for a better life for children and adults with learning disabilities and supports them and their families to participate, work and live in their local communities.