Only 40 of Vermont's 1,365 lodging establishments have been certified by the State of Vermont as Green Hotels as of 2007.  To achieve the coveted designation as a Green Hotel in the Green Mountain State, we requested an audit of our facility and environmental practices shortly after we bought the inn in 2005. Based on that audit, we invested over $75,000 in improvements to this historic structure to make the following changes, which exceeded the State’s requirements for attaining the Green Hotel certification:

• Created our organic vegetable and herb garden to supply the kitchen with fresh local produce
• Replaced a 35-year old hot-air furnace (which heated only the first floor) and 10 space heaters on the second and third floors with a modern, ultra-efficient central hot water heating system, with a thermostat in each guestroom controlling a separate zone of heat
• Replaced two 30-year old household-size hot water tanks which were always on “highest” setting with three state-of-the-art Rinnai tankless on-demand water heaters for unlimited EnergyStar-certified hot water supply
• Replaced 24 single-pane double hung windows with new triple-pane replacements
• Replaced the aging roof with a new standing-seam roof, adding sheathing and insulation
• Instituted composting and recycling at the inn
• Practice dishwashing by Health Department approved high-temperature sanitizing, eliminating the use of harsh chemicals (bleach)
• Attained membership in the Vermont Fresh Network, a farmer-chef cooperative encouraging use of local produce at Vermont country inns & restaurants
• Supply 8oz (rather than 1oz) bottles for shampoo, conditioner, and lotion
• Installed 2 new EnergyStar clothes washers and 2 new EnergyStar clothes dryers
• Developed our environmental policy statement
• Instituted use of biodegradable laundry detergent
• Began voluntary towel re-use program with cooperation of guests
• Installed 80+ new compact fluorescent light bulbs, replacing incandescents

We are committed to continuous monitoring and improvement of our environmental practices.