INVERNESS VALLEY INN SUPPORTS THE EARTH WITH GREEN PRACTICES

A major goal in our management of the Inverness Valley Inn is to create a rewarding and memorable guest experience while minimizing environmental impact. We feel that vacations can be high on natural luxuries such as beautiful natural settings without being high on conspicuous consumption. Since 2006, we have made many changes here that promote energy and water conservation, re-use, and recycling while eliminating toxic products and reducing solid waste. Guests who stay here can have a pleasurable but eco-friendly vacation or retreat. We would like to think that the eco-friendly lodging practices here will one day be standard and expected everywhere.

The details of our efforts to minimize the environmental footprint of IVI are enumerated below. The overall impact of our efforts, however, are dependent on the cooperation and participation of our guests in our efforts to run a “green” inn. As a guest, you can help by maintaining thermostats at 68 degrees F or less, closing windows and doors when running the heater, turning the heat and lights down or off when away and at night, hanging up and reusing towels, using your recycling bin, and using only water that you need. If you are interested, please ask us how you can participate in our chicken composting effort.

Energy Conservation
We have installed a roof-mounted 10.2 Kw photovoltaic system that produces more than one-half of the electricity used at the Inn. Energy conservation measures include replacement of traditional light bulbs with fluorescent and LED, 4 new tankless gas water heaters, Energy Star washing machines, solar alarm clocks, replacement of all-night outdoor lighting with motion-detector units and solar lights, replacement of gas fireplaces with more efficient models, turning off hot tub when not in use, and using goats and sheep in place of tractor and mower where practical.

Water Conservation
Our Inverness town water is limited, as its sole source is three surface streams, which have very low flows during the long dry season. All plumbing fixtures and washing machines are of the low-flow variety. We use only water from our irrigation well for watering the landscape.

Re-Use and Recycling
We separate out the recyclable materials from the running of the inn. We have installed recycling bins in each guest room with instructions on what can be recycled. We feed compost, weeds and cut grass to our chickens, brush trimmings to the goats and sheep and encourage guests to save their compost for the chickens.

We have installed dispensers with biodegradable body wash, liquid hand soap, shampoo, and dishwashing liquid in each room to reduce plastic waste. Wherever possible we reuse, repair and restore furnishings rather than throwing out and buying new items.

We recharge batteries multiple times then dispose at a special landfill. We have finally found a source of bulk recycled toilet paper and paper towels for the guest rooms.

Reducing Toxic Waste
We use only natural nontoxic fertilizers (i.e., goat, sheep and chicken manure) and no pesticides on the landscape. Biodegradable laundry detergent, body wash, shampoo, hand soap, and dish soap are purchased in bulk and put in dispensers. For cleaning we use vinegar and baking soda, glass cleaner, Simple Green, and earth-friendly enzyme spot removers, carpet shampoos, and glass cleaner. And our guest room kitchenettes are stocked with organic fair-trade coffee and teas.