Green Checklist - Tourism North East

Being Green & Sourcing Locally

Home / Business Toolkit / Being Green & Sourcing Locally / Green Checklist

Green Check List - How Green is Your
Business?

There are many measures you can take to green your business and some very sophisticated tools for monitoring and benchmarking your progress. There is a lot of information about going green and it is easy to get bogged down or feel overwhelmed at the size of the challenge. However small steps are better than no steps and the measures you take will be inspiring and motivating to your visitors and your staff.

The following list is by no means exhaustive but it offers some simple suggestions to get you going.

You can treat this as a checklist - work through the list and tick the sections that you already do. You can then use this list as a guide to help improve the 'greenness' of your business.

Do you?

Purchase environmentally friendly goods and services including:

Locally and sustainably produced food and drink
Ethical banking
Consider the whole 'life cycle' of goods when you buy them, choosing those which are made from the most sustainable raw materials, run most efficiently, last longest and finally can be recycled or dismantled with the least environmental damage when they reach the end of their life. These might be white goods, textiles, printed material or furniture

Reduce carbon emissions by lowering the amount of fossil fuel used for electricity production and heating:

Change to a renewable energy supplier
Use low energy light bulbs
Reduce the time lighting is in use, which may involve the use of improved lighting controls or just encourage visitors and staff to turn off lights - and tell them why!
Turn off electrical equipment such as TV and computers - a TV left in standby mode uses at least 60% of the electricity that would be used if you were watching it
Consider installing Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs) on radiators to allow for better control of heating within different areas of the building
Replace your old, inefficient appliances with goods carrying the E.U. energy label and save energy and money
Insulate the loft, hot water tanks, walls and floors
Use small kettles in guest rooms

Help your visitors reduce car use:

Provide information on walking, cycling and public transport

Practice waste minimisation, ("Eliminate, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle") where possible and encourage guests to do the same:

Provide recycling and compost bins in self catering accommodation
Look into supplier take back agreements. This is where the suppliers of certain goods such as some computers, electrical goods, drinks containers and carpets will take goods back and recycle them instead of them going into landfill sites
Choose goods with minimal packaging

Save and manage water by:

Installing toilets with low flush and duel flush systems (or consider composting toilets for camp sites and outdoor attractions)
Using water savings devices in older cisterns
Using low consumption appliances such as washing machines with water economy programmes
Collecting rainwater, in water butts to water gardens
Consider gardening methods which reduce water use such as mulching and drought resistant plants
Encouraging visitors to take short showers instead of baths - explain why!

Encourage wildlife and biodiversity by:

Wildlife gardening to encourage native species
Providing nesting boxes
Providing information and interpretive materials for nature walks

Communicate with customers, suppliers and your local community to get across your Green message:

Involve others
Celebrate the changes you make
Get recognition and promotion by signing up to the Green Tourism Businesses
Award Scheme
Produce a green policy or statement. Promote this along with any accreditation and credentials on publicity and communications

Back to the Top

Quick Links

Wildlife Case Study – Old School B&B: 141 Kb; Wildlife Case Study – Old School B&B has won awards in the Winner of the North East B&B of the year as well as a Gold Award winner in the Green Tourism Business Scheme - for its Hedgehog Hospital.
Local Produce Case Study - Grindon Cartshed: 153 Kb; Local Produce Case Study - Grindon Cartshed have a passionate commitment to the environment and are particularly strong on supplying local produce, cutting out food miles and the middle man, supporting the local economy and introducing guests to a real taste of the North East
Green Business Case Study - Firwood: 176 Kb; Green Business Case Study - Firwood has achieved a Green Tourism Business Scheme Silver award through general good practice in most areas, with particular focus on energy, water and waste.
Re-use Case Study – Ninebanks Youth Hostel: 144 Kb; Re-use Case Study – Ninebanks Youth Hostel has gained a Gold Award for their excellent environmental practices. They are particularly strong on re-use: their extension was built from reclaimed stone, one set of their tables and chairs came from the national gallery and even their curtain have been reclaimed.
Combined Heat & Power Case Study – Gisborough Hall: 111 Kb; Combined Heat & Power Case Study – Gisborough Hall have a range of energy conservation measures and a Combined Heat and Power System which is up to 85% efficient which together have earned them a Silver Award.
B&B Case Study - Saughy Rigg: 165 Kb; B&B Case Study - Saughy Rigg. How one B&B earned a Silver Award through extensive use of renewables (solar, ground source and biomass) and good use of local produce.
Greener Purchasing Case Study – West Coates BB: 400 Kb; Greener Purchasing Case Study – West Coates Bed and Breakfast is a GOLD winner for their overall excellent environmental practices. Not only is local sourcing a key part of their green strategy but local producers are promoted on their breakfasts menus and the proprietor gives cookery lessons to promote local ingredients and local dishes.
Green Building Case Study – County Durham Tourism Partnership: 131 Kb; Green Building Case Study – County Durham Tourism Partnership have won a Gold Award for the construction of their new offices. Features include rammed earth construction, wood pellet fed biomass boilers and rainwater collection for toilet flushing and irrigating the buildings sedum roof.
Light Pollution Case Study – Border Forest Caravan Park: 157 Kb; Light Pollution Case Study – Border Forest Caravan Park is on the edge of the Kielder Forest. As a large rural park they were very aware of the effect their external lighting was having on the local night sky. Their efforts to shade lights and reduce light pollution has won them a Silver Award.
Guest Information Case Study - Pasture Cottage: 134 Kb; Guest Information Case Study - Pasture Cottage is a Silver Award winner for overall very good measures. It scored well across the whole GTBS scheme and provides particularly good wildlife information for guests.
Greener Purchasing Case Study – Killhope: 175 Kb; Greener Purchasing Case Study – Killhope Lead Mining Museum is a GOLD award winner. They have an excellent overall range of measures but the case study focusses particularly on their green purchasing strategy for the museum shop which includes a wide range of ethically sourced and recycled products.
Car Free Case Study – Argument Cottage: 127 Kb; Car Free Case Study – Argument Cottage have won a Silver Award. The owners have excelled in providing the resources to allow their guests to give the car a holiday. They have produced an 8 day itinerary of suggestions that provide details of interesting places to visit in the local area.
Solar Hot Water Case Study – 8 St Aidens Park: 140 Kb; Solar Hot Water Case Study – 8 St Aidens Park has installed solar thermal to generate hot water for their 4 diamond bed and breakfast.
Marketing Case Study - Wansbeck Caravan Park: 153 Kb; Marketing Case Study - Wansbeck Caravan Park has attained a bronze award through a range of basic environmental measures and particularly through good communication with customers.
Renewable Energy Case Study – Whitelee Cottages: 173 Kb; Renewable Energy Case Study – Whitelee Cottages have won a Silver award for their outstanding use of renewable energy. They have a 2.5kw wind turbine, solar water heating, solar photovoltaic panels and two ground source heat pumps.
Green Building Case Study – The Hytte: 163 Kb; Green Building Case Study – The Hytte has won a Gold Award. It is a luxury norwegian inspired log construction with a turf roof and ground source heat pump.
Hotel Case Study – Dustanburgh Castle Hotel: 179 Kb; Hotel Case Study – Dustanburgh Castle Hotel is a GOLD award winner for their overall excellent green measures.
Energy Saving Lighting Case Study – Haggerston Castle: 129 Kb; Energy Saving Lighting Case Study – Haggerston Castle have earned a Silver Award having replaced the light bulbs in their main entertainment complex with energy saving units which will save around £600 of electricity per year.
Eco-Products Case Study – Low Urpeth: 146 Kb; Eco-Products Case Study – Low Urpeth have earned a Silver Award having introduced a range of eco-cleaning materials and water saving systems.
Biomass Case Study – Strathmore Barns Woodchip: 168 Kb; Biomass Case Study – Strathmore Barns have won a Silver Award for good practice including a 100kw woodchip boiler powering 51 radiators and 9 bathrooms which runs on waste from a local kitchen manufacturer.
Green Business Case Study - Northumberland Cottages: 178 Kb; Green Business Case Study - Northumberland Cottages are a letting agency who are aiming to become a Green Business. The business may join the GTBS through a stepping stone approach known as Going Green “Committed to the GTBS”
Insulation Case Study – Boot and Shoe Cottage: 151 Kb; Insulation Case Study – Boot and Shoe Cottage have a Silver Award through a range of good environmental practices which include sheeps wool loft insulation.
Greener Purchasing Case Study – Polemonium: 216 Kb; Greener Purchasing Case Study – Polemonium Plantery is a GOLD winner. This case study focuses on their outstanding commitment to local sourcing, particularly of local organic milk delivered in re-usable glass bottles
Composting Case Study – Newt Cottage: 144 Kb; Composting Case Study – Newt Cottage have earned a Gold Award for features including the use of sheeps wool insulation, use of eco paints, a heat pump, solar panels, use of green energy tariffs and low energy lighting. The owners supply homegrown organic produce, use fair trade items, recycled products recycling facilities such as composting systems as well as provide excellent walking and wildlife information. One of the most novel features in the development is the option to use a COMPOST TOILET.
Appliances Case Study – West Longridge Cottages: 137 Kb; Appliances Case Study – West Longridge Cottages
North East Farmers' Markets: 81 Kb; A PDF factsheet of the dates of Farmers' Markets throughout North East England
Self-catering Case Study – Springhill Farm Cottages: 166 Kb; Self-catering Case Study – Springhill Farm Cottages has won a Silver Award through a range of green methods - including a reed bed waster water system.
Green Gardening Case Study - Birkheads Secret Garden: 135 Kb; Green Gardening Case Study - Birkheads Secret Garden hold a Silver Award. The owner is a qualified garden designer and many different techniques have been employed in the garden to minimise the impact the operations are having on the environment.
Ground Source Heat Pump Case Study – Deneholme: 143 Kb; Ground Source Heat Pump Case Study – Deneholme use solar water heating, solar panels and a 37kw ground source heat pump to heat the Edwardian mansion. Other measures include a rainwater harversting system for flushing the toilets.
Biodiversity Case Study – East Briscoe Farm Cottages: 138 Kb; Biodiversity Case Study – East Briscoe Farm Cottages have won a Gold Award for their biodiversity. These self-catering cottages have a strong focus on managing their woodland and surrounding grounds with a sensitivity towards the flora and fauna.
Composting Case Study – Simonburn Tearooms: 177 Kb; Composting Case Study – Simonburn Tearooms have earned a Silver Award having reduced their general waste by 90% following the introduction of a three bin recycling system.
Pub Case Study - Twice Brewed Inn: 157 Kb; Pub Case Study - Twice Brewed Inn has won a Silver Award for a range of measure which include local produce, recycling, environmental cleaning, a display case for local artists and planting hundreds of trees in a ten acre plot.
Special Diets Case Study - The Byre Vegetarian B+B: 147 Kb; Special Diets Case Study - The Byre Vegetarian B+B is an all round green B&B, serving only vegetarian food. There is a sound environmental principle behind vegetarianism - meat production requires significantly more land area per product.
Habitat Case Study – Low Cornriggs: 171 Kb; Habitat Case Study – Low Cornriggs self catering is a Silver Award winner. The farm is managed in a traditional way and there are parts which are designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest. These are species rich upland hay meadows and the business is involved with the AONB Hay Time project. They are working closely with the AONB to ensure the preservation and enhancement of this rare habitat.
Self-catering Case Study - Durham Cottages: 161 Kb; Self-catering Case Study - Durham Cottage has won a Bronze Award for their overall green approach which includes recycling, green housekeeping and maintenance and excellent guest information on walking and cycling.