Underwood Cottages Green Policy

“Underwood Cottages” has made a commitment to minimise its impact on the environment. It will work towards:

  • Ensuring that all relevant Environmental Legislation and Regulation is applied.
  • Reducing Energy Usage by increased energy efficiency.

So what does this mean in practical terms?

  • Re-using or recycling waste when possible.
  • Provide bins in each cottage with multiple compartments for recycling. We recycle glass, paper and cardboard as well as composting garden and kitchen waste. This reduces the amount of waste going to landfill.
  • We use phosphate and chlorine free cleaners. Eco cleaners generally bio-degrade quickly and completely and have minimum impact on aquatic life.
  • We use low energy light bulbs wherever possible.
  • We have very high levels of insulation in walls, around pipes and in the loft - saving energy.
  • Category A efficiency appliances are used throughout helping to reduce energy use.
  • We provide information on local food producers like butchers and local farmers markets. We encourage guests to sample the regional specialities as part of their holiday, cutting down on food miles and boosting the local economy. A welcome hamper will be provided upon arrival. This will be a key opportunity to encourage consumption of local produce. A food ordering service will be provided on-site so that if visitors don’t wish to travel to the shops, they can order local produce, organically sourced when possible and have it delivered.
  • We provide a wealth of information on walking and cycling in the area, which encourages our guests to be more physically active as well as enjoy the natural environment.

Sustainable development principles

Sustainability

Sustainability has been described as ‘Ensuring that the interests of future generations are not compromised by today’s decisions.

Underwood Cottages is managed in a way that is consistent with the sustainable tourism objectives as published in Sustainable Tourism – A framework for Wales, 2007 (www.visitwales.com). The aim of sustainable tourism is to encourage tourism behaviours that add to the local economy, promote the cultural heritage of the region whilst respecting the environment for future generations.

Environment

Part of our 55 acre site has been planted for commercial forestry and we aim to manage this as productive woodland in accordance with Forestry Commission guidelines.

Heating

Heating comes from LPG which has the lowest carbon emissions of all fossil fuels available in rural areas. LPG is clean burning, with virtually no soot and very few sulphur emissions. A leak of LPG vapour is unlikely to pose any significant ground or water pollution hazards – unlike an oil spill.