We're Red, but we're Green

Being a responsible, Green business has never been about press releases and marketing for us.   From the very beginning (1999) we began green initiatives to improve the operation of our business and to lighten the load on the environment.    We began our green initiatives quietly and have carried them on consistently throughout the past decade.   Here's what we've done:

• Installed an energy efficient heating system for the entire building (1999).   A major expense then that has paid for itself many times over, and is still considered a very efficient system after 10 years of use.
• Instituted company policy of never spreading fertilizers or weed killers on the lawn in order to protect ground water sources (1999).
• Began voluntary towel reuse program to save on unnecessary laundering of guest towels and sheets. (2000)
• Replaced all incandescent light bulbs in the entire building, over 275 of them, with energy saving compact fluorescent light bulbs.   We did this back when they we not quite as inexpensive as they are now.  (2000-2001). 
• Using local hazardous waste collection options for disposal of fluorescent light bulbs, old smoke detectors, batteries, air conditioners, and other hazardous wastes.
• Instituted a company policy of buying recycled and green products whenever possible. (2003)
• Placed recycling containers in guest rooms (2005) and began recycling huge amounts of recyclables for the entire business.   This alone reduced our trash going to the landfill by one third.
• Installed water saving equipment throughout the building (2009).  This will save an estimated 65,000 gallons of water per year, plus a significant amount of heating oil will be saved through conserving hot water.

There's always more to do, and we'll keep on it.