Ways to Reduce the Carbon Footprint of Your Villa

Living a greener lifestyle can often seem like a bit of a minefield – recycling alone so many rules and regulations that can be a little difficult to follow. So, when it comes to making sustainable changes within your property it’s no surprise that you may immediately think it’s going to be hard work. But we’re here to tell you it doesn’t have to be. 

There are so many small steps you can take to reducing your carbon footprint, including the use of energy-efficient appliances, insulating your home to reduce heating and air conditioning costs, and providing guests with information around how to eat and shop locally throughout their stay. All of these changes add up to make a big difference, and we’re here to help you on your sustainability journey.

In 2019, we started working with ecollective, an independent consultancy in London focused on helping businesses to become more sustainable. They helped us come up with a list of recommendations that will drastically reduce the carbon footprint of a home, without having a huge impact on the day-to-day runnings of your business.

1. Switch to a renewable energy provider

This is one of the simplest but most effective ways of reducing your C02 emissions. For instance, with Bulb Energy (covering UK, France, Spain and the USA) they will carry out the switch for you and cover any cancellation costs. If you’re based in the UK, find out more information here, otherwise follow these links for France, Spain and the USA. 

2. Use solar panels for water heating or electricity

It may be one of the more costly ways of reducing your energy use in the first instance, but the long-term reduction in bills will certainly be worth it. If this isn’t a feasible change for you, think about installing a smart meter so you can see exactly how much you and your guests are using, and actively work to reduce that number. Most energy providers will be able to help you with installing one, and some even do it for free.

3. Heat pumps

Another way to cut costs long term is by using heat pumps for heating the house and swimming pools. Not only are they energy-efficient, but they’ll also help you reduce the costs of running your pool/home. 

4. Recycling

Everyone knows by now how important it is to recycle, but it can be hard to continue doing so when you’re on holiday. What colour bins are for what, and is that pizza box really recyclable here? Make it easy for your guests by leaving instructions, and also consider food composting onsite.

5. Chill out on the air conditioning

We know how tempting it is to wack on the AC when you’re on holiday, but as sustainability becomes an even bigger topic, it’s worth encouraging guests to use it more economically during their stay. We’ve created a handy PDF on how to be more sustainable while on a villa holiday, so feel free to print this out and showcase it in your property. 

6. Small changes that matter

• Switch to eco-friendly cleaning products and toiletries
• If you offer a welcome hamper to guests, ensure it is filled with local produce
• Install a plug near the parking area so that guests can use electric cars
• Encourage customers to visit your favourite local bars, restaurants and shops to ensure money is going directly into the local economy
• Provide bicycles for to reduce the need of a car
• Don’t use single-use plastics within your property
• Install low-energy LED lightbulbs
• Grow a vegetable garden to encourage cooking with seasonal foods

As part of our mission to #LiveALittleGreener, we decided to create a sustainable villa collection to showcase all the properties where owners are actively reducing their carbon footprint. You can check out some of our case studies of properties who’ve made small and impactful changes here and see how you could become part of the collection too.

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