Carbon Neutral Hotel

In 2007, the hotel commenced its largest development in over 50 years - the construction of a state-of-the-art banqueting suite, The Garden Suite, which will be fully operational in December 2007.

During the discussions regarding the new facility, it was clear that the new building would increase the amount of electricity and gas used within the business as a whole.

It was decided that there was a need for additional measures required to assist in the monitoring of energy usage, and as important, the amount of CO2 emissions that were being created during the full operational activity over the year.

Working with The Carbon Neutral Company, the hotel undertook a full audit of its energy usage, not simply in terms of electricity and gas, but also the additional consumption, including business mileage (by car, train or airplane) and also fuels used in the up-keep of the grounds and gardens.

The result of this audit was that the business was generating 273 tonnes of carbon emissions annually (based on figures January 2006 to January 2007), and the offset cost, amounting to over £3000.00, would be invested into 3 projects, linked with Scotland and tourism. Rufflets officially announced Carbon Neutral status in June 2007, becoming one of the first Carbon Neutral Hotels in the UK and the first in Scotland to do so.

Reforestation Project:  South West Scotland - 20% of the offset will be invested into the re-forestation project currently under way in Dumfries. However, it is recognised that the full impact of this will not materialize for a few decades.

Energy Efficiency: Jamaica - a country that does not have its own natural resources, and imports vast quantities of diesel fuel to run generators, producing electricity for its main income stream - tourism. 40% of the investment will be used to help fund that drive to increase the amount of energy efficient programmes in the country, such as low energy light bulbs.

Renewable Energy: New Zealand - a wind farm project, certified as being Gold Standard, on the North Island, and is the first in the country to use the new megawatt-class machine!
 Basically, this means that each turbine can produce enough electricity to power 900 homes, giving greater diversity in generation, reducing greenhouse and other harmful emissions.

The owning partners of Rufflets have committed to continue to audit the emissions annually, with the main emphasis on reducing the current levels, but also to offset the amount of CO2 produced into new projects each year.

Carbon Neutral Objective:

It is accepted that the business will always use gas and electricity, and therefore produce CO2 emissions, but the initial aim is to reduce the overall usage, and the cost of the offset.

As the offset cost decreases year-on-year, the owners will use the monetary difference saved to re-invest into eco-business programmes, with the long term view to be recognised as showing 'best practice' within the industry.