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

If yes, please attach.

• Do you have a written environmental management system?              YES

If yes, please attach.

• Describe the property – aim, size, facilities, amount of land owned and leased  (150 words max)
  

Black Sheep Inn aims to provide a comfortable, educational experience for guests, teaching them about the local area, local customs and Permaculture, while contributing to and improving the local community and the natural environment. The goal is to be a leader in environmental stability and ecotourism.

BSI is a small eco-lodge (10 rooms) and permaculture demonstration site (10 acres) high in the rural Ecuadorian Andes.  The lodge and guest facilities are in harmony with the land, contributing to its biodiversity and sustainability.  The property has 9 adobe buildings, 10 composting toilets, gray-water recycling, organic gardens, ponds, a wood-fired sauna and hot-tub, a greenhouse, a treehouse, zipline cable-swing and the solar-powered waterslide.  Animals include: llamas, guinea pigs, geese, ducks, chickens, dogs, cats, and of course a flock of black sheep.  Guests learn about ecotourism, enjoy fantastic scenery and experience intercultural exchanges while day hiking, horseback riding or cycling in the area.

• Describe the location, including distance to nearest town and size of town (100 words max)

BSI is located high in the rural Andes at 10,500 feet in elevation, less than ½ km from the small village of Chugchilán, Cotopaxi Province.  The unique location provides access to several microclimates in a 10 kilometre radius including: Rio Toachi Canyon, Laguna Quilotoa Volcanic Crater Lake, Andean Humid Forest (or Cloud Forest) of the Iliniza Ecological Reserve and the high grasslands of the Paramó. 

BSI is approximately 3 hours (90 km) from the Pan American Highway and 5 hours (180 km) southwest of Quito, Ecuador’s capitol. 

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

We ‘discovered’ Chugchilán as backpackers in 1992.  There was no hotel so we stayed with a local family for two weeks.  We were surprised when the family offered to sell us land.  We went back to the USA to save money to start a backpacker’s hotel in rural Chugchilán.   

This was the first time in our lives that we ever owned land, so we knew that if we wanted the land to sustain us we must care for it including: composting toilets, grey-water systems, organic gardens, reforestation, erosion control, water-harvesting, building with local native materials and integrating with the community.

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:

__X_  use natural air circulation and fans, not air conditioners
__X_  use natural light during the day
___  minimize use of fossil-fuel powered vehicles, machines and equipment
__X_  use “on demand” or solar heating for hot water
__X_  air dry clothes/linens
__X_  wash dishes by hand
__X_  use energy efficient appliances and electronics
__X_  use low wattage fluorescent light bulbs
__X_  change linens, tablecloths, napkins upon request
__X_  switch off lights when not used
Other energy conservation activities? Please list: 
Guests are asked to conserve energy in room booklets and signs posted around the property.  Path and corridor lights have several switch locations to facilitate ease in turning lights on and off.
 
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:

_4%__  solar
_0%__  wind
_57%__  hydro -60% of Ecuador’s electricity is produced by hydro power
_0%__  generator
_39%_  public utility -40% of Ecuador’s electricity is produces by generators
Other energy sources? Please list: passive solar, firewood, propane for cooking and on demand hot water heaters.
100% TOTAL

How were these proportions developed?
Black Sheep Inn uses 96% of its electricity from the public utility, but the public utility produces 60% of its power from hydro.  Black Sheep Inn uses an average of 12 kW per day.

We have two 85-watt solar panels that are used for direct water pumping (no batteries). We also have a mini solar garden light system for our hot tub which is heated via a thermal siphon in a woodstove is also used to heat the sauna.

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:

__  low flow faucets and showerheads – we have tried them and they do not work with the low water pressure that we have here  
_X_  low water use toilets – we have NO WATER composting dry toilets
_X_  change linens, towels, tablecloths, and napkins upon request
_X_ use table mats that can be wiped and not laundered
_X_  use biodegradable laundry detergent, dish soap and hand soap
_X_  treat swimming pool with chlorine-free processes – Hot Soaking Pool
Other water conservation activities?  Please list.
Collect rainwater; reuse grey water, composting toilets

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:

_8.8%_  spring
___  river
_7.8%_  rain
___  reuse gray
_83.4%_  public utility –is 100% spring water and Andres is the president of the town water committee
Other water sources? Please list.

100% TOTAL
I am the current President of the town water committee.  I have been on the committee since 2004 and previously been an avid supporter of the local water system often collaborating with labour, materials and financial aid.  The public water utility is 100% spring water that comes from a higher elevation above the village.  Water is funnelled to a large reserve tank and purified with a drip chlorination system.  BSI has donated chlorine for several years.  From this tank water is distributed via gravity to 85 households whom have water meters and in theory pay a monthly water bill. 

There are 3 tourist accommodations in Chugchilán whom pay a commercial rate for water.   50% of the entire town’s water bill is paid for by the three local hotels, yet the hotels only use approximately 30% of the available water.

Here I need to explain the various water systems on BSI property:

83.4% of water comes from the public utility.  Of this water 76.5% is used for showers, cooking and cleaning, 19.7% is used for laundry (hand washed and line dried), 3.8% for gardens and hot tub.  We have water meters installed to measure where water is being used. 

8.8% of water comes from another spring.  This water is primarily used for the owners’ house and as a back up supply.

7.8% of water comes from either rain and/or a solar powered pump and is used for irrigating gardens. 

On average the BSI uses 2500 litres of water per day: divided by an average of 14 guests per day, 10 fulltime staff (5 people permanently on the property) and 2 owners, totals - 21 people: less than 120 litres person per day.  

There are 6 grey-water systems on the property.

There are several micro roof water collectors that provide water inside bathrooms and for hand washing.  Solar pump provides water for waterslide, fountain and animal watering troughs. 

Fresh water treatment: how is captured fresh water treated?
__X_  naturally.  Indicate method: charcoal, ultraviolet light, other? List: Ozone
___  chemically.  List chemicals used:

Waste water management:
___  septic tanks
___  cesspools
__X_  other? List methods: grey-water: settling tanks, charcoal filters and reed beds

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:

__X_   use durable service items, e.g. cups, glasses, dishes, tableware, storage items
__X_   buy fresh and local to reduce packaging and emissions from transportation
__X_   purchase in bulk to reduce packaging
__X_   recycle paper, glass, plastic, aluminium
___   minimize emissions from fossil-fuel powered vehicles, machines & equipment
__X_   zero waste in the kitchen
__X_   serve local water, not bottled water
__X_   cleaning products are biodegradable
__X_   compost organic matter
Other methods to recycle waste? Please list.

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:

__X_   minimize tree removal when building
___   use only botanical (plant-based) herbicides & pesticides in garden & grounds
__X_   maintain organic gardens as food source for resort
__X_   use biodegradable cleaning products
__X_   minimize external illumination
__X_   take additional specific actions to preserve the local habitat.  Please list actions and projects: planting native trees in terraced swales, initiating a village native tree nursery.  We do not use any herbicides on the grounds.  We do occasionally spray for flies in the composting toilets.

 
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): 5

Community

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

Check all activities that apply:

__X_  hire staff residing near the resort          100% local nationals
__X_  use local suppliers                                80% purchased goods produced locally
__X_  re-invest resort income locally            45% income re-invested locally
__X_  pay above local prevailing wage
__X_  pay into local social security
___  provide health insurance or coverage
___  use regular staff meetings to educate staff about sustainable processes throughout the resort, in the garden, with waste disposal, etc
__X_  provide educational awareness programs for staff, guests, suppliers and other members of the local community – we have sponsored several workshops
__X_  provide sustainable transport to work for staff – they all walk to work
__X_  take additional specific actions to support the local community. Please list actions and projects.  See Appendix E – Broad Community Effect

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): 4

YOUR OVERALL ECO SCORE (add your level for each category and divide by 5): 4.6

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

• Please describe your single most important eco achievement:

When giving tours explaining to people our eco practises on the property, I often say that having a composting toilet, an organic garden, building with local natural materials or recycling are all good things to do on their own, but that linking them together makes them better - more sustainable and resilient, and that is a principle of permaculture.  People love our composting toilets, but it is our philosophy to grow and change, linking things together that is our most important eco achievement.

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

BSI is a work in progress that always has room for improvement.  I would like to enlarge our greenhouse and go off the grid, but I know it won’t happen in the next 6 month.  We are currently finishing the deck in front of the Yoga studio, working on training massage therapists, building a quirky gymnasium with homemade weights, repainting guest rooms, working on the native tree nursery at the recycling site, adding storage space on the property, digging a new grey-water trench, getting the pick-up truck repaired, adding more recycling stations to the village, building new picnic tables, the list goes on and on…