• Do you have a written environmental or social sustainability policy?     YES

If yes, please attach.

• Do you have a written environmental management system?              NO

If yes, please attach.

• Describe the property – aim, size, facilities, amount of land owned and leased  (150 words max)
  Faasai Resort and Spa is a garden resort with many types of unusual trees and herbs to provide a haven for wildlife as well as interesting cuisine and spa treatments for the guests. Around 50 species of birds have been observed at he resort as well as wildlife such as squirrels, lizards, gekkos and frogs. It is tucked into a forest covered hill called Springwater Hill and is about 300 metres from the beach of Kung Wiman. The property looks towards the Cardamon Mountain range on the border of Thailand and Cambodia and consists of approximately 3 acres, with most of the land in open garden space. There are 15 guest rooms, a spa, restaurant and swimming pool as well as fishponds. The resort is eco-friendly with water solar heating panels and many energy saving measures however it also has modern facilities including satellite television channels and wifi. It is an independent family owned resort and the land is freehold.

• Describe the location, including distance to nearest town and size of town (100 words max)  The resort is at Kung Wiman Beach in the province of Chanthaburi. This is on the southeast coast of Thailand about 220 kilometres to Bangkok and 26 kilometres to the town of Chanthaburi. It is about one and a half hour’s drive to the well known resort island of Ko Chang and about two hour’s drive to another popular holiday destination Pattaya.

• Describe WHY you made the decision to develop an eco resort (100 word max)

Bronwen and Surin Laopha are nature lovers with a keen desire to help the environment. The resort is in a beautiful unspoilt area. We wish to do all in our powers to preserve the area and the way of life of the local people, while also providing money to the local community in the form of wages, spending by our guests and supporting local institutions such as the temple and school.

Introduction to the Butterfly Club’s Eco Rating

The Butterfly Club Eco Rating has five equally-weighted categories:

• Energy;
• Water;
• Recycling and waste;
• Land and nature conservation; and
• Community.

Each category has five levels, designated by one to five butterflies.  Through self assessment, resort operators completing this rating will determine their own levels within each category based on their responses to items listed below.  

Two categories – energy and water – have similar rating systems with Levels 1 and 2 addressing conservation of existing resources, and Levels 3, 4 and 5 addressing creation of renewable energy or capturing water. 

Level five in every category also requires written sustainability policies or environmental management systems to: (1) monitor and record consumption; (2) test and apply additional conservation methods; and (3) work towards specific targets.   We require a copy of your policies if you achieve level 5 in any category.

Energy

Levels 1 and 2 - conservation: Check all that apply:

_yes__  offer natural air circulation and fans as well as air conditioners
_yes use natural light during the day
_yes  minimize use of fossil-fuel powered vehicles, machines and equipment
__yes use “on demand” or solar heating for hot water
_yes air dry clothes/linens
_yes   wash dishes by hand
__yes use energy efficient appliances and electronics
__yes  use low wattage fluorescent light bulbs
___yes change linens, tablecloths, napkins upon request (but also when dirty! Change every couple of days in the rooms)
yes___  switch off lights when not used
Other energy conservation activities? Please list:
The design of the buildings is to conserve energy – generous use of insulation, choice of materials, use of cross ventilation to cool the rooms, overhanging eves to cool rooms, encourage guests to come to the resort via bus, use LPG in our own resort van. Automatic cut off of air conditioning when guests leave the room
 
Level 1 = four or fewer energy conservation activities

Level 2 = five or more energy conservation activities

Levels 3, 4 and 5 - renewable energy: Indicate proportion (%) of energy from each source:

_40%__  solar
__0%_  wind
___0%  hydro
___ 0%  generator
___ 60%  public utility
Other energy sources? Please list:

100% TOTAL
How were these proportions developed?
All of our water heating except for one room (the penthouse) is from solar energy. Our electricity bills are very low. The proportion is an assumption we have made based on our costs before and after installation of solar heating. We monitor and track our energy consumption. Per guest our energy consumption is extremely low.

Level 3 = renewable energy is employed and is less than 1/3 of all energy

Level 4 = renewable energy constitutes 1/3 – 2/3 of all energy

Level 5 = renewable energy constitutes 2/3 or more of all energy.  In addition, there are written sustainability policies or environmental management systems to: (1) monitor and record energy consumption; (2) test and apply additional energy conservation methods; and (3) work towards specific energy targets.  

Attach a copy of your policies if you achieve Energy Level 5 (required).

Your Energy Level (select 1 – 5) =   4

Water

Levels 1 and 2 - conservation: Check all that apply:

yes__  low flow faucets and showerheads
_yes  low water use toilets
_yes change linens, towels, tablecloths, and napkins upon request
_yes use table mats that can be wiped and not laundered
__yes  use biodegradable laundry detergent, dish soap and hand soap
__no treat swimming pool with chlorine-free processes (but carefully monitor and through regular cleaning and filtration we minimise the use of chlorine)
Other water conservation activities?  Please list.
Have bought wetlands and lake, stream for nature reserve to prevent exploitation by developers. This site is the most important local water catchment area at Kung Wiman. It was a small lake in earlier times but was mostly filled in for rice farming.

Level 1 = three or fewer water conservation activities

Level 2 = four or more water conservation activities

Levels 3, 4 and 5 – capture and treat fresh water and manage waste water. Capture water: Indicate proportion (%) of water from each source:

_90%__  spring
___0%  river
___ 0%  rain
___ 5%  reuse gray
___ 5%  public utility
Other water sources? Please list.
We have our own water reservoir and use that for watering our nearby orchards and gardens.
100% TOTAL

Fresh water treatment: how is captured fresh water treated?
100%___  naturally.  Indicate method: charcoal, ultraviolet light, other? List:       gravel filter for water supply to rooms and charcoal for drinking water                           
___  chemically.  List chemicals used:

Waste water management:
100%___  septic tanks
___  cesspools
___  other? List methods: septic tanks are regularly cleaned out by contractor.

Level 3: Water is captured (from springs, rivers, rain or prior use) and constitutes less than 1/3 of water from all sources.  Water is treated chemically.  Water disposal does not minimize damage to coral reefs and rain forests

Level 4:  Captured water constitutes 1/3 to 2/3 of all water.  Water is treated naturally. Water disposal minimizes damage to coral reefs and rain forests

Level 5:  Captured water constitutes more than 2/3 of all water.  Water is treated naturally. Water disposal minimizes damage to coral reefs and rain forests.   In addition, there are written sustainability policies or environmental management systems to: (1) monitor and record water consumption; (2) test and apply additional water conservation methods; and (3) work towards specific water targets.  

Attach a copy of your policies if you achieve Water Level 5 (required).

Your Water Level (select 1 – 5): 5

Recycling and waste

Check all that apply:

_yes__   use durable service items, e.g. cups, glasses, dishes, tableware, storage items
___yes  buy fresh and local to reduce packaging and emissions from transportation
___  yes purchase in bulk to reduce packaging
___ yes  recycle paper, glass, plastic, aluminum
___yes   minimize emissions from fossil-fuel powered vehicles, machines & equipment      
___ ??  zero waste in the kitchen (we compost kitchen wastes)
___ yes  serve local water (but some guests request bottled water)
___ yes  cleaning products are biodegradable
___ yes  compost organic matter
Other methods to recycle waste? Please list.
Well over 90% of waste is recycled – food wastes are composted and other wastes are sold to recyclers. Staff sort the rubbish from the guests and keep the proceeds of the recycling which includes tins, plastics, glass, metals, cardboard

Level 1 = four or fewer recycling activities

Level 2 = five recycling activities

Level 3 = six recycling activities

Level 4 = seven recycling activities

Level 5 = eight or more recycling activities.  In addition, there are written sustainability policies or environmental management systems to: (1) monitor and record recycling and waste; (2) test and apply additional recycling and waste conservation methods; and (3) work towards specific recycling and waste targets.  

Attach a copy of your policies if you achieve Recycling and Waste Level 5 (required).

Your Recycling and Waste Level (select 1 – 5): 5

Land and nature conservation

Check all that apply:

_yes__   minimize tree removal when building
__yes_   use only botanical (plant-based) herbicides & pesticides in garden & grounds
__yes_   maintain organic gardens as food source for resort
___yes   use biodegradable cleaning products
___yes   minimize external illumination
___yes   take additional specific actions to preserve the local habitat.  Please list actions and projects:
We are restoring wetlands area as habitat for wildlife and to protect water sources which will be available for community use if required in the future
We are planting many rare and endangered plant species on our land
We are planting heritage species of plants used for traditional medicines and in our spa and cooking
We are planting species for food for wildlife
We are supporting projects to help the endangered dugong that visit our local bay
 
Level 1: one or two land and nature conservation activities

Level 2: three land and nature conservation activities

Level 3: four land and nature conservation activities

Level 4: five land and nature conservation activities

Level 5: six or more land and nature conservation activities.  In addition, there are written sustainability policies or environmental management systems to: (1) monitor and record land and nature conservation activities; (2) test and apply additional land and nature conservation methods; and (3) work towards specific land and nature conservation targets.  

Attach a copy of your policies if you achieve Land and Nature Conservation Level 5 (required).

Your Land and Nature Conservation Level (select 1 – 5):

Community

This category addresses policies and activities regarding staff, guests, suppliers and other members of the community. 

Check all activities that apply:

_yes__  hire staff residing near the resort          100___% local nationals
__yes_  use local suppliers                                90___% purchased goods produced locally
yes___  re-invest resort income locally            _150__% income re-invested locally! We are still investing our own money and haven’t taken anything out.
_yes__  pay above local prevailing wage
__yes_  pay into local social security
yes___  provide health insurance or coverage
__yes_  use regular staff meetings to educate staff about sustainable processes throughout the resort, in the garden, with waste disposal, etc
___yes  provide educational awareness programs for staff, guests, suppliers and other members of the local community
__no_  provide sustainable transport to work for staff (they all have their own motorcycles)
_yes__  take additional specific actions to support the local community. Please list actions and projects.
We support the local school and temples and universities and local festivals, attend all community events and, indeed, assist every local project where we are requested to help financially.
Level 1: one or two community activities

Level 2: three to five community activities

Level 3: six to seven community activities

Level 4: eight to nine community activities

Level 5: ten or more community activities.  In addition, there are written sustainability policies or environmental management systems to: (1) monitor and record community activities; (2) test and apply additional methods to support the community; and (3) work towards specific community targets.  

Attach a copy of your policies if you achieve Community Level 5 (required).

Your Community Level (select 1 – 5): 5

YOUR OVERALL ECO SCORE (add your level for each category and divide by 5and enter the result with the decimal point, e.g. 3.6): 4.8

We have three final questions which are not part of the eco rating: 

• Please describe your single most important eco achievement:

The protection of rare plant and wildlife species that are part of the unique heritage of the area and are gradually disappearing as neighbouring properties clear-fell their land, use herbicides and pesticides etc. Not only do we protect what is there but we are planting more.

• Indicate additional sustainable practices that you plan to institute within the next 6 months.

We are engaged in an ongoing project to try to improve the fertility of the soil (please see attached article on effective microorganisms). Our biggest project over over the next six months is the restoration of the wetlands which is a massive planting effort. So far we have over 2000 trees both at the resort and in our other nearby land – which is part of our effort in terms of global warming – together with the protection of the springs and wetlands which also help to absorb CO2

• Is there anything else you would like to add to this eco rating?

I am also an educator about the environment and the author of a Squidoo lens on being a green entrepreneur. The lens is called greentrepreneur.