3 Steps to a Carbon Neutral B&B

By Dr Torill Bigg - Chief Carbon Reduction Engineer for Tunley Engineering

Awareness of global warming and the climate crisis is at an all-time high.

Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses trap warmth from the sun in the atmosphere around us and as that very same sun shines down on us, our thoughts turn to vacations.

Holiday makers are now seeking eco-savvy staycations more than ever and as customers increasingly expect environmentally responsible products and services, so do accommodation providers seek a way to provide it.

So do you increase your appeal to environmentally responsible holiday makers?

Step #1

You need to demonstrate your commitment to environmental responsibility by publicising your carbon reduction efforts.

Calculate your business's carbon footprint (measured in kg of carbon dioxide equivalents) from your use of energy (gas or electricity), water supply, materials you use and fuel used in transport.

The good news is that UK staycations offer low carbon alternatives to holidays abroad.

A typical stay in a UK hotel has a carbon footprint of 16kg a night.

One night in Spain emits 20kg of carbon – a planet saving 28kg of carbon for each week on holiday, which doesn’t even take travel into consideration!

Every 100 miles driven in the car instead of flown by plane saves 15kg of carbon emissions.

But the truly eco-conscious might travel by train, further minimising their carbon emissions.

Step #2

The next step is to reduce your carbon emissions, which requires you to evaluate your energy use, water consumption, transport choices and the food you serve.

If your B&B can offer ecofriendly transfers to and from the nearest train station this would allow guests to travel by train, a more eco-friendly option than driving.

Why not add solar panels to the roof of your building or to the top of an electric car port, allowing you to offer an environmentally friendly transport option?

In-room kettles could be replaced with one-cup kettles that hold a reservoir of water, but only boils enough for a single cup at a time, saving both water and electricity.

Consider buying low energy standby appliances – such as TVs that might be left in standby mode while your guests are out exploring.

Check the manuals for your appliances; Using a dishwasher on an eco setting could save you 500 w of electricity on each load - this could power a laptop for ten days.

You can also reduce your carbon footprint by offering vegan food. Pork has a carbon footprint that is five times that of a vegan sausage.

That is a carbon saving of 334g of carbon per veggie sausage.

Offer digital receipts and invoices to save paper, which has a carbon footprint of 900g for every kg.

Water use has a carbon footprint of a kilo of carbon for every cubic metre of water.

If you fit a water butt to collect rainwater, you can reduce your carbon footprint and your water bill by using the collected rainwater.

Other options for carbon reduction from water savings range from full-on grey-water systems to the more accessible low flush toilets fitted with hand sinks above the cistern so that the wastewater is used for the next flush.

Some businesses might even consider the ultimate eco loo and install a compost toilet.

Once you’ve measured your carbon footprint in kg of carbon, you will be able to publicise the carbon saving this change has made.

Step #3

Step 3 is carbon offsetting, which after emission reduction, is the route to net zero carbon.

There are commercial carbon offsetting schemes that you can buy into, ranging from tree planting schemes to low methane cattle feed.

But what can you do ‘in-house’ to offset your carbon footprint?

You can choose natural fibres for bed linens, carpets and curtains, or use natural materials such as wood, hemp or wool when conducting maintenance or refurbishments.

These will create a carbon store within your B&B, reducing your net carbon footprint.

Other options to offset carbon emissions include planting a wildflower meadow instead of a lawn which will sequester hundreds of kilos of carbon a year.

It will also be great for wildlife too. However you choose to address it, an appetite for low carbon holidaying is here and it’s time to get involved.

Bio:

Torill Bigg gained her PhD from Cranfield University researching an environmentally friendly reactor design to treat polluted water using low carbon-emission waste materials. She is a chartered engineer, an accomplished sailor - and a big fan of the staycation and of all things environmental. Dr Bigg is Chief Carbon Reduction Engineer for Tunley Engineering, offering carbon footprints for businesses of any size and carbon reduction engineering. www.tunley-engineering.com

Carbon Neutral Quiz - How eco-friendly are you?

5pts. - Eco-friendly transport from the nearest train station - cuts down on fossil fuels

5pts. - Solar Panels - if it replaces grid electricity

10pts. - Replacing water heating from a gas boiler

3pts. - eCar Charging station - for supporting & encouraging electric car usage

3pts. - One-cup Kettles - saves water and electricity

2pts. - Low energy standby appliances

4pts. - Vegan Menu - changing to a plant based diet is one of the biggest things we can all do to reduce our carbon footprints

3pts. - Grey-water system

3pts. - Low flush toilets

1pt. - Digital receipts and invoices - helps to save paper

3pts. - Wildflower meadows - saves carbon emissions & is a natural carbon store

3pts. - Offer transport to & from local train station so guests don’t have to drive

2pts. - Use natural fibres for linens, carpets and curtains - acts as a carbon store

3pts. - Natural materials for maintenance & refurbs - act as a carbon store even longer than soft furnishings

How did you score...?

1 - 10:

Carbon Guzzlers! Uh-Oh... Not great... In need of major changes asap! It's not too late to start implementing new practices, so act now!

11 - 20:

You're doing okay... But there’s still a LOT of room for improvement! Try and implement some of the ideas above to improve!

21 - 35:

Good work! You’re doing great & you’re on the right track, but still need a little push… What will you do next to become a champ?

36 - 45:

Eco Champions! Well done, keep up the great work! Keep your carbon neutral crown by continuing to help the environment!