Archive for the 'Green Living' Category

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If you are interested in owning a bed and breakfast or inn in Vermont, perhaps you’ve wondered how to have your business be certified as a ‘Green Hotel’. Green Hotels in the Green Mountain State is a wonderful program providing assistance to innkeepers looking to reduce their environmental impact and to satisfy and attract customers looking for environmentally conscientious lodging. With Vermont being one of the “greenest” destinations, it only makes sense that inns and b&bs look to join the growing trend.

In their own words,
“A Green Hotel is any Vermont lodging establishment that solidifies its commitment to environmental excellence by achieving a set of environmental standards. Although each property achieves these standards uniquely, each conducts an environmental opportunity assessment, adopts environmentally preferable practices, and develops an environmental management plan that guides its efforts to continually reduce the environmental consequences of its operations. This statewide voluntary, environmental technical assistance and business recognition program, part of the Vermont Business Environmental Partnership, is designed to promote and recognize the work of Vermont lodgers who demonstrate daily that environmental and economic goals can be achieved simultaneously.”

There are two levels of participation with the program: the first is as an Environmental Partner, meaning the business adopts a core environmental standard using new and existing initiatives, and the second is as a Green Hotel in the Green Mountain State, which requires a higher level of commitment to pollution prevention and exemplary environmental stewardship.  More information is on their “Becoming a Green Hotel” page.

While you look at lodging properties in Vermont, consider the benefits of joining the Green Hotels in the Green Mountain state program for the benefits it will provide your business with, the peace of mind it will bring to your customers and the positive impact it will have on our beautiful state.

The Churchill House Inn, located in Brandon, VT, was honored by the State of Vermont’s Agency of Natural Resources for it’s “demonstrated commitment to preserving Vermont’s environment” and bestowed upon it the title of Brandon’s first green hotel. This property, which is for sale, can be purchased alone or with the Premier Vermont Touring Company as well.

With a plethora of year-round attractions just miles from this property, there will never be a shortage of activities, not to mention hiking, skiing and biking, for guests to experience. The property has been updated by it’s current owners who have installed modern heat and purchased new beds for the eight guest rooms, as well as replaced the roof, water heaters and windows.

There is an organic garden on the property where many of the vegetables and herbs used for the inn’s meals are grown. I also hear they also have a stellar pancake recipe (available here) which was featured in Gourmet Magazine!

This is a truly wonderful business and property. If you have any questions, please contact Christine and John. They would be happy to hear from you!

The Birdseye Building Company, based in Richmond, Vermont, is entering it’s 25th year as one of Vermont’s finest creators of luxury properties. With a staff able to complete a project from it’s conceptual design stage to the finishing touches of interior design and landscaping, Birdseye continually provides an outstanding level of service to it’s clients. In their own words,

“Our design philosophy is to create buildings that are beautiful to behold, healthy to live in and efficient to own. The artful integration of the built and the natural landscape provide the Architectural cornerstones for buildings that celebrate texture, color, light, proportion and scale.Our designs strive to provide an atmosphere that is elegant and joyful and helps to sustain and nurture the human spirit in daily life.

Each Birdseye home represents the finest in Architectural design and building innovation. Our passion is reflected in the creative energy we devote to each project, combining the varied elements of lifestyle, environmental considerations and financial constraints. Our commitment to our client’s needs and the awareness of our increasingly fragile environment inspires the creation of buildings that embrace beauty, practicality and sustainability.”

Birdseye Building Company’s dedication to sustainable and green building earned it the cover story in the Spring 2009 issue of Green Business Quarterly. You can learn more about some of their renewable energy projects from their blog. As members of the US Green Building Council, they are experienced in geothermal heating and cooling systems, solar thermal hot water systems, wind power, and construction waste control.

I invite you to browse through their project gallery, as well as their woodworking, metal, glass and landshaping galleries. The beauty of their projects, along with their environmentally conscientious approach to building and design truly makes Birdseye Building a valuable resource. For more information, visit their website.

Image by jimmywayne22 via Flickr

I’m sure you’ve heard about the organic garden planned for the White House, but have you heard any talk about a similar garden right here in Vermont? I had not until earlier today when reading Carl Etnier’s blog for Vermont Commons, Relocalizing Vermont. In his post today, he mentions that “a group formed as part of Transition Town Montpelier is now in advanced discussions with state officials about planting a food garden on the State House lawn this year.”
This is so wonderful! Especially considering another new fact I learned in a recent Times Argus article – that, according to Lee Blackwell, owner of Blackwell Roots Farm in Cabot, Vermont imports 90 percent of it’s food. If state officials agree to use the lawn for garden space, Vermont would be the first state to use their State House lawn for growing produce. Let’s hope in a few weeks I can post pictures of our new state garden!! Until then, enjoy this wonderful, almost-Spring weather!

With the “green” building movement gaining popularity worldwide, one may wonder if it is better to build from scratch or remodel an existing building. As Robert Lockard mentions in his latest LuxuryRealEstate.com magazine article “Seeing Green”, remodeling an existing building is an ultimate way to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Remodeling a home that already exists saves on materials and transportation, as well as offers an opportunity to invest more in eco-friendly upgrades than one might not otherwise afford. Lockland presents a balanced overview of what it means to own or create a “green” property, as well as helps define just what exactly “green” means.

Here in Vermont, the Vermont Green Building Network focuses on “promoting the environmental, financial, community, and health benefits of green design, construction, and building operation practices” Their website has myriad resources on how to and the benefits of building green.

If you are interested in remodeling a property, the Department of Planning and Development in Seattle, WA has put together a great site on how to remodel in a ways that are environmentally conscientious. Check it out here.