Give clear instructions to help your guests recycle their rubbish


Green light


Looking for ways to incorporate eco- friendly practices at your French holiday home? Cherie Harlow advises


A


s a property manager, I have seen fi rst-hand how the tourism industry


is beginning to prioritise environmental sustainability. For my part, I encourage my clients to adopt eco-friendly practices at every opportunity in the French holiday homes I manage on their behalf. Adopting these practices not only contributes to the


preservation of the beautiful natural landscapes of France, but will increasingly attract eco-friendly travellers who value sustainable living.


Turn down the air-con to save energy


ENERGY EFFICIENCY Improving a second home’s energy effi ciency is one of the best ways to lessen its impact on the environment. Even a seemingly insignifi cant change, such as switching from incandescent to LED light bulbs, can have an impact. Investing in a smart thermostat to regulate temperature and save energy when the property is unoccupied may be worthwhile depending on the heating and hot-water system at the property. Off ering guests clear reminders and instructions on how to turn off lights, appliances, and heating, ventilating and air-


56 FRENCH PROPERTY NEWS: September/October 2023


conditioning systems when not in use is a no-brainer.


WASTE REDUCTION Implementing waste reduction measures is crucial in creating an eco-friendly environment. It’s simple to set up a recycling system that allows guests to easily separate recyclables from general waste. I provide clearly labelled recycling bins and information on what can be recycled locally. Minimising the use of


single-use plastics can be done by off ering alternatives such as cloth shopping bags, reusable water bottles and refi llable toiletry dispensers. The bags I now use were introduced to me by our daughter, who had the pool toys from her wedding party made into totes when they got punctured! The fabric bags can be washed between guests and are hard wearing, however, any recycling system or reusable tote is great.


ECO-FRIENDLY CLEANING PRACTICES Switching to eco-friendly cleaning products is an excellent way to minimise the impact of chemicals on the environment and to ensure a healthier indoor air quality


Make your own cleaning products


for guests. There are more and more biodegradable, non-toxic products available made from natural ingredients. I make my own cleaning solutions using simple ingredients like vinegar (don’t worry about your home smelling like vinegar, the smell disappears when it dries), bicarbonate of soda, lemon juice, salt and essential oils. I use and suggest the use of washing balls or eggs that are fi lled with tourmaline and mineral beads for clothes washing, as they are friendly to fosse septique systems too.


SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION I always include information on public transportation routes in house guides and guest information packs so that


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