Green Policy at our B&B

(Duntrune House is featured in the ECO section of The Guardian B&B Directory 2008)

Our observations of change in weather patterns, effect on wild life, flora and fauna, as well as destruction of landscape due to waste dumping and adverse effect on health of pollution, increase in allergies and general lack of appreciation of the world we inherited, made us question our own contributions to the situation and review our practices.

The Green Business Tourism Scheme has helped us focus on some ways that we can play our small part. We will continue to review and amend our practices.

We have at last completed insulating our very large attic.
We use energy saving light bulbs.
Our new household machines are A rated.
We recycle or compost nearly everything.
We buy Fairtrade goods.
We use eco friendly cleaning products.
We use recycled paper.
Our toiletries are chemical free.
We buy locally.
We grow our own vegetables organically in spite of the problem of the rabbits – they love our grass and plants and have spread the word among the rabbit population of the world. They, too, spend their (round the year) holidays here!
Encouraged by winter feeding and planting of the right trees and shrubs, the number and variety of birds has increased.
Our wet field is being made accessible to visitors to explore the wild life there.
Our clean River Tay has attracted dolphins.

Some thought provoking facts

Average household over a lifetime uses -

20,000 bottles and jars
10 tonnes of newspapers
30,000 cans
100,000 plastic bottles and containers
½ tonne hazardous waste

Households in UK create 6 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.
25% carbon dioxide emissions comes from energy used in our homes.
A car produces its own weight in carbon dioxide in 6000 miles.
.
Energy saved from 1 glass bottle recycled = 60 watt bulb for 4 hours / powers a washing machine for 10 mins / powers a computer for 25 mins.
1 tonne aluminium foil recycled = 1 kW heater for 624 days non-stop.
1 energy saving light bulb uses 80% less electricity than a conventional bulb