Green Tourism at Rufflets

Green Business Enviromental Policy

Rufflets has adopted as policy the guidelines produced by The Green Tourism Business Scheme in a drive to establish best practice in developing its managing of eco-tourism matters.

The Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS) is an environmental accreditation scheme for Scottish tourism businesses, launched in 1998 by VisitScotland (formerly the Scottish Tourist Board). The scheme encourages tourism businesses to save money by improving their environmental performance and which helps to protect Scotland's key asset: the environment.

Since the conception of the Green Tourism Initiatives, Rufflets Country House has worked to adopt best practice by developing improved mechanisms to conserve energy, re-cycle waste, and to encourage the wild life, flora and fauna within its grounds.

Green Tourism Award

In 2004, Rufflets Country House Hotel's environmental practices were re-evaluated by the Green Tourism Business Scheme, and as a result of which, the hotel was awarded the Gold Standard Award, the highest level achievable.

The following are examples of the current practices adopted:

• Radiator thermostats have been installed in all bedrooms, public areas and offices so that individual room temperatures can be controlled separately.
• Insulation - all curtains are interlined to provide better insulation. This has been further improved by the installation of roller blinds in public rooms. Newer bedrooms benefit from double galzing to improve heat retention.
• Energy saving lamps have replaced traditional lamps in the vast majority of the building. Dimmer switches are also in operation in public areas.
• All external lights have timers or movement sensors.
• Smaller capacity kettles were introduced to guest bedrooms to reduce the amount of water being heated.
• Towels - the hotel promotes an option for guests to reduce the frequency of having their towesl changed by employing tent cards in bathrooms.
• Equipment purchasing practice includes the identification of low energy appliances when replacing existing equipment.
• Housekeeping staff are trained to switch off applainces, and to ensure that TVs are not simply left on standby.
• Timers have been installed for lighting and heating systems to prevent unnecessary use of energy.

Water

• Flow regulators have been fitted to taps throughout the building.
• Low flow replacement showers are being introduced to reduce the volume of water used.
• Water from the burn is pumped and used to irrigate the vegetable garden.
• When bedrooms are refurbished, smaller dual-flush cisterns are installed in all new bathrooms to reduce the flow of water in toilets.

Waste

• Contracts have been taken with local companies to uplift various types of waste, from glass, to cardboard, to waste paper. Investigations are currently underway to indentify a local contractor who will collect plastic waste.

Purchasing

• Where possible, the business seeks to purchase from local suppliers, therefore reducing the transport costs of the raw materials.
• When the option exists, the business aims to select suppliers who have good enviromental practices in place.

Departmental Objectives

Each department has been set objectives in line with our Environmental Policy.

Some of these are as follows:

Housekeeping:

Cleaning Chemicals

Promote the use of green cleaning products through Ecolab.

Investigate the developments in improvements of 'green' chemical products.

Dosage Systems

To control the usage and dilution of chemicals used, reducing the amount of packaging used.

Washing Machines: Only used for full loads, and run at reduced temperature whenever possible.

Re-cycling

Old sheets, towels and soaps are given to local charities for use.

Purchasing:

Where possible, the business seeks to purchase from local suppliers, reducing the transport costs of the raw materials.

Food and Beverage:

Re-cycling

• Re-cycling of glass, paper and cardboard is in operation.
• Currently, there is no arrangement in place for the collection of metal and plastic waste and a contractor is sought for this.

Cooking Oils

The business currently employs a contractor to collect and dispose of  cooking oils used in food production.

Grounds and Gardens:

Rufflets is fortunate in having extensive formal gardens, as well as a vegetable garden, wild' garden and woodland, providing cover for a variety of birdlife.

Vegetable Garden

The hotel employs one full time and one part-time gardener, who are tasked with providing produce for use in the kitchen (to a certain extent organic), as well as fresh flowers for the hotel.

Wild Garden

There is an established wildlife area, with woodland and streams, in which many different types of wildlife exist in a natural environment.

Planting of native plants is used throughout, with a regular rotation of plant types.

Nesting boxes are not used, as the woodland and hedgerows already provide natural nesting sites.

In June 2007, the hotel announced Carbon Neutral status, becoming the first hotel in Scotland to do so.