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The concept of environmentally friendly and sustainable living has gained a lot of attention in recent years, with more individuals attempting to minimize their environmental footprint and impact the environment by adopting conscious decisions.

Adapting your holiday cottage to be more environmentally friendly and contribute to a sustainable future could help you save money while also improving the appeal of your holiday rental property to visitors.

According to Visit England, 58 per cent of individuals would choose to stay in a sustainable and eco-friendly cottage in UK!

Making a few modifications to your holiday home may make a huge difference. We have compiled a list of some of our favourite energy-efficient ideas that you can use to reduce your carbon footprint in your holiday let property.

Use water carefully

Reducing water waste from your holiday cottage benefits the environment and can also help you save money on your utility bill.

Here are a few ideas for reducing water use and preventing waste:

• Install a dual-flush toilet. A dual-flush toilet uses two separate flushes: one for waste and urine. Dual-flush toilets use less water and save money on your water bill because they only utilize the water you need.
• Install a flow restrictor on your shower. Showerheads that use less water can save you up to 40% on your water bill, while lower-flow taps might save you more than 70%. The more water you save, the less energy it will take to heat.
• Find and fix any leaks or dripping taps.
• Ask your guests to use the economy setting on their appliances, such as dishwashers and washing machines. Setting the water level to 25 per cent and lowering the temperature by 10 degrees Celsius is considered "eco." It may mean that the wash cycle will be longer, but it should be as effective.
• Use a water butt as a source of water for your gardening. Collecting and utilizing rainwater that would otherwise be lost will reduce your water usage and expenses.

Provide a Variety of Recycling Options

When suitable waste disposal containers are available, guests are far more inclined to recycle. It is worth mentioning that various regions have different regulations, so make sure you provide clear instructions regarding what your city council requires to recycle waste properly. Provide clear instructions for what trash to put where. Many people would want to recycle, but if they do not know where they are or are not made aware of it, it will be too easy for them to throw everything in one bin. Signs above each container stating what may be placed inside will make it much simpler for your visitors to recycle waste effortlessly.

Invest in Energy Efficient Appliances

According to Which? refrigerators and freezers account for 20% of the energy consumed by a typical household. Can you improve the energy efficiency of your holiday home's appliances?

If you want to purchase electrical products, look for those with a high energy rating. It's also important to look at consumer feedback to see whether it's still a good product.

Eco-Friendly Products

Using eco-friendly products is an excellent method to let your visitors know about the green strategies you took to create your eco–friendly holiday home. Many cleaning chemicals are harmful to the environment, and, in addition, their packaging ends up in landfills. Many eco-friendly alternatives are now on the market with as much cleaning power as their chemical counterparts. At Come and Stay Ltd, some of our house owners provide an eco-friendly cleaning starter pack for visitors wrapped in a reusable cleaning cloth to minimize waste.

Use Energy Saving Light & Bulbs

Installing energy-efficient LED light bulbs as a step to making your property more energy-efficient and lowering your holiday letting's carbon emissions is easy and quick. LED light bulbs are more durable and produce comparable or even better light quality than traditional lighting. LEDs use 75% less energy and last 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs.

Encourage Guests to Shop Locally

Encouraging guests to buy local produce and foods is an excellent way to introduce them to local culture and enhance their holiday experience. Fresh, local ingredients make vacations exceptional, so provide visitors with information on local stores that sell them and farmers' markets and organizations that offer seasonal organic food boxes. Small steps towards conservation can go a long way toward making your holiday home environmentally friendly while lowering long-term expenses and providing a distinct selling feature.

Generate Your Power

Invest in solar panels or ground source heat pumps for your holiday let property. Installing solar panels is a more considerable investment, but it will improve your image as an environmentally responsible holiday let landlord. After a few years, you will be able to see how much money you have saved because your energy bills should go down considerably.

Encourage Guests to Use Reusable Shopping Bags

Most people have reusable shopping bags, but they leave them home on holiday. Offer reusable eco-friendly bags, so they don't have to use single-use plastic bags when shopping.

Improve Heating System

The biggest consumer of energy in any home is heating. There are various methods to make eco-friendly heating systems part of your house, ranging from low-cost options to more expensive ones. People have reduced energy consumption by introducing intelligent heating controls, which may help you be more energy efficient. It eliminates the worry of guests leaving the heating on once they have gone. Still, it lets you check that the heating is on low during a severe cold snap to avoid frozen pipes - a fantastic method to keep winter maintenance hassle-free.

Encourage Your Guests to Use Public Transport

How about providing details of any public transport timetables or local bike hire schemes in your welcome pack? This encourages visitors to leave their polluting cars at the holiday home and travel by train, bus, or bike.

Check Your Windows

Double glazing is an investment that can help keep your home warm. You could also take more simple steps, such as making sure window and door seals work well enough to prevent drafts into the house or office from outside sources like Letter Boxes. You could invest in good quality curtains, which will make rooms feel cosy during those chilly winter months without sacrificing sunlight levels.

Conclusion

Small steps towards sustainability may go a long way toward making your vacation home more environmentally friendly while reducing long-term expenses and providing a compelling selling point.

There is no better time to reduce your property's carbon footprint and start a sustainable holiday let business than now, as tourists increasingly choose to holiday more ecologically.

Many guests will appreciate your effort, and you may see a boost in your business.

If you are interested in making your property eco-friendly, or if you would like to know more about the benefits of investing in a holiday let property, please do not hesitate to contact our team. We will be happy to provide you with all the advice and support you need to make the best choices for your business.