Environmental Policy
Here at Hill House Farm we try to do our bit for the environment by not replacing towels daily but to ask guests to leave used towels in the shower cubicles if they would like them changing. Some older toilets have a small brick in the water cisterns to reduce the amount of water used with each flush.
A number of low energy light bulbs have been introduced around the house, especially lights left on overnight on the landing for guests. When the loft had the floorboards replaced we increased the insulation. We also had our cavity wall filled with insulation and all our windows have been double glazed.
Stickers have been put on the televisions reminding guests to switch the televisions off not leave them on standby to help reduce electricity. We have recycled bottles, tins, paper, plastic and garden rubbish since before we opened as a bed and breakfast. Left over toast, vegetable peelings etc are 'recycled' back to the chickens along with the egg shells which I bake in the Aga overnight and feed them back as grit, and our dogs help with any breakfast leftovers!
A steam cleaner is used for ‘deep’ cleaning of bathrooms, carpets, upholstery etc, thereby reducing the amount of chemical cleaning agents we use. We purchase fair trade tea bags, coffee, sugar and bananas.
We purchase our meat from a local family butcher, our fruit and vegetables from the local farm shop, our business cards and other printed media from the local printers.
The new luxury cottage has a log burner downstairs and we have also purchased one for the guest sitting room which has been installed this summer, as we feel this is a greener and more economical form of heating.
We are constantly evaluating our home to see if there are any other simple changes we can do to help to make a difference.