It's Beautiful Here Help Us Keep It That Way
Just like you, we love to be inspired and rejuvenated by Devon and Cornwall. Our landscape and coastline are both stunning and timeless - but, like natural environments all over the world, are also fragile and under threat from ordinary people - like you and me!
We all know that one of the pressing issues facing our beautiful planet is how we can find ways to live sustainably, into the future. A commonly asked question is ‘what difference can one person or company really make? Well the answer is, a lot. At Brend Hotels we have been working behind the scenes for a number years to reduce our environmental impact and to keep Devon and Cornwall beautiful. We are proud to be a family business, and we are passionate about making sure this beautiful place is here for all to enjoy, for generations to come. We want to be sure you have the perfect stay with us, happy knowing that your holiday environment is being cared for by us in as many ways as we can. Read on a bit further to find out what we have been doing and the people we work with.
What We Are Doing
Buying locally
We source our fish, meat, cheese, vegetables, wine and even tea as locally as possible to reduce food miles and to support local farmers and suppliers.
Swimming pools
We use ‘heat saver’ an innovative liquid pool cover to help keep the heat in.
Low energy lightbulbs
We are continually researching and finding new better quality low energy LED lights. Our latest find, is an LED candle bulb for chandeliers that you can dim - it’s the end of a long search and we are very happy with them!
Renewable Energy Solar & Biomass
We have a solar power installation at the Barnstaple Hotel that reduces our day time use. The Saunton Sands Hotels is now functioning on 70% renewable energy with our Biomass woodchip boiler, installed March 2013
Recycling
We have diverted 80% of our waste from land fill. All our hotels recycle metal, glass, plastic, card, paper and all food waste is collected and converted into electricity.
Making Common-sense change
We've reduced our total energy use and Co2 emissions by 15% since 2006 by making, common-sense changes, such as lighting & boiler upgrades, insulation and oil to gas projects.
Resource Management Teams
Each of the hotels in the Brend Group has its own unique Environmental Action Plan, which is constantly reviewed and updated.
Sustainable Tourism
We were thrilled to be finalists in the 2007 Devon Environmental Business Initiative Awards (DEBI). 2009 International Silver ‘Green Apple’ award winners and 2011 Cornwall Sustainability Award finalists.
Training
Our environmental policy is at the heart of staff training and inductions.
Leadership
We have our own a full-time environmental team, that work to coordinate our Resource Management Teams, drive initiatives and continually monitor our energy use with AMR ‘on line automated metering and monitoring system’.
What You Can Do To Help
What you can do to help... at home as well as on holiday
Switch off lights
Please switch of all the lights when you leave your room.
Turn the TV right off
Use the on/off when not in use rather than leaving the TV on stand-by.
Hair Dryers
When you are able to, you can towel dry or part dry hair it all adds up!
Mobile phone chargers
They use electricity all the time they are plugged in - so please unplug them when they are not being used.
Close the windows
It sounds obvious but you'd be surprised! Close the windows when the heating is on.
Teeth time
Turn the tap off when you are cleaning your teeth rather than leaving it running.
Bath or shower?
Remember a shower only uses a third of the water that a bath does.
Careful of kettles
Only boil enough water in the kettle for your needs.
Thank you for helping us to help the environment. Please enjoy your stay.