the summer house is an eco-friendly lodge and we are committed to green, sustainable eco-tourism. We are proud that as long ago as 2002 we were the first Bed and Breakfast in the world to be GREEN GLOBE benchmarked which measured our environmental performance against world wide best practice.
In 2009 we have been assessed for environmental performance by Qualmark and have been awarded Enviro-Gold the highest category. Qualmark is the N.Z. tourism quality assessment authority. We are very involved in local habitat restoration and organise the growing of 20000 native plants each year to support community initiatives. Without compromising our guests' enjoyment or comfort we give regard to environmental and social as well as financial considerations. We recognise our business impacts on the wider natural and social environment in which we live and upon which we ultimately all depend. - The Summer House is purpose designed and built on energy conservation principles
- Our water heating is solar powered and where practical energy efficient lights are used
- 10% of our property is planted in native forest as a bird habitat and carbon sink which absorbs 42% of our CO2. With all our plantings we are better than carbon neutral.
- We use filtered rain water for domestic purposes
- Our own waste water system recycles purified water for garden irrigation
- Our household cleaners are biodegradable and our citrus orchard and garden are cared for semi-organically.
- We serve organic coffee and tea. Our home grown citrus juice and other sub tropical fruit is spray free and much of our fresh produce is purchased at the local farmers market
- We use 100% chlorine free recycled printer paper, compost our vegetable waste, recycle most other waste, and have reduced our solid wastes to less than 250 grams per person per year.
- We employ local goods & services and participate in local nature conservation.
- Rod is passionate about conservation, the environment and green issues in Northland and its history and can talk about these if you are interested.
Share our commitment to, conservation and our wide knowledge of Northland's natural environment.
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