About You and the Property

• Do you have a written environmental or social sustainability policy?     YES/NO

If yes, please attach.

In the process of being written in Spanish for the CST program of the Costa Rican Tourism Ministry, I will translate it and send it to you.

• Do you have a written environmental management system?              YES/NO

If yes, please attach.

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

El Remanso is a family run sustainable rainforest lodge which includes a 180 acre reserve. The land was put into a “National Refuge” 12 years ago to ensure constant protection. The founders, 2 Greenpeace volunteers, bought the land 20 years ago and started the lodge in 1999. From the very beginning the operation was organized with the aim to reduce as much as possible the ecological impact.
El Remanso now counts a total of 5 cabins, 1 group cabin and 1 house with 6 separate and independent bedrooms. The total capacity lies between 28 and 32 people.
The lodge has its own restaurant for guests, a swimming pool, bar, internet service (via satellite) and offers a series of activities inside the reserve, such as guided hikes, waterfall rappelling, zipline and tree climbing.

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

El Remanso is located on the Osa Peninsula, 22km away from the closest town, Puerto Jimenez, which has its own airport. The lodge is inside the “biological corridor” of the nearby National Park of Corcovado and 90% of the property is in primary rain forest.

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

El Remanso is a family run lodge in its “second generation”. Belen and Joel Stewart, the founders built the lodge 9 years with the intention of sharing this untouched rainforest with people from all around the world in an environment-friendly way. As former Greenpeace workers they believed that doing an “eco” or “sustainable” lodge was the only responsible way of doing a lodge / hotel in this special place, the Osa Peninsula.

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
___ X minimize use of fossil-fuel powered vehicles, machines and equipment
___  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:
The lodge runs ENTIRELY on our own hydroelectric system, no diesel generator. 100% of the appliances are highly efficient, from lights, refrigerators to computers, etc.

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:

___  solar
___  wind
__100%_  hydro
___  generator
___  public utility
Other energy sources? Please list:

100% TOTAL
How were these proportions developed? Hydro is the only power source we have at the hotel. 2 independent micro hydro plants provide constant electricity for the lodge and one serves as “back-up” of the other one if any of these fails to work.

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) =   5

Water

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

__X low flow faucets and showerheads
__X  low water use 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
Other water conservation activities?  Please list.

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:

_80%__  spring (we have 3 springs in our property, but only use one)
_20%__  river (for garden)
___  rain
___  reuse gray
___  public utility
Other water sources? Please list.

100% TOTAL

Fresh water treatment: how is captured fresh water treated?
__X_  naturally.  Indicate method: charcoal, ultraviolet light, other? List: water is captured directly at the spring and brought 400 meters down to the lodge. Water analysis are done at least once a year and results are of drinking water quality.                           
___  chemically.  List chemicals used:

A study was conducted with a local engineer to analyze possibilities of capturing water but due to El Remanso’s position with cabins being too far apart and with too much vertical drop between them it was judged counterproductive. Furthermore, the amount of water taken from the springs is less than 10% of the actual waterflow so the environmental impact is minimized.

Waste water management:
__X_  septic tanks
___  cesspools
___  other? List methods:

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, aluminum
___X   minimize emissions from fossil-fuel powered vehicles, machines & equipment      
___X   zero waste in the kitchen (compost for garden, recycling of glass and plastics)
_X__   serve local water, not bottled water (no bottled water bottle can be purchased)
__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).

Some of the recycling activities at El REmanso:

• natural compost for all organic waste
• plastic and metal food cans are recycled
• Glass bottles are separated and brought to the local recycling facility
• All beer, soda and juice bottles are returnable
• As far as possible, food is bought in bulk containers to reduce waste.
• Providers are chosen also considering their ecological practices (one example: eggs are bought from the only one of 3 providers that does NOT use plastic to wrap eggs in)
• Fossil-fuel powered vehicles are regularly maintained to avoid any unnecessary pollution and minimize gas consumption. Only 4-stroke engines in the machines (less consumption and less noise)

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

Land and nature conservation

Check all that apply:

_X__   minimize tree removal when building
_X__   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:

• All buildings where built on already cleared areas on top of one central ridge of the land. The lodge uses less than 2% of the land, the rest is untouched and some parts continuously re-forested with trees from our tree nursery.
• All building materials were chosen to minimize the impact on the environment. Some of the buildings use certified fallen timber wood from the lodge property, otherwise plantation timber (pine and teak) is used for the buildings. To avoid any type of fumigation the use of thatched roofs is avoided. The restaurant structure is entirely built with local bamboo from the Peninsula.
• No dangerous chemicals or chlorine is used at the lodge, only biodegradable products.

 
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): 4

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 from Puerto Jimenez or other towns nearby
__X_  use local suppliers                                _95__% purchased goods produced locally (except some alcohol purchased in San José, everything else is purchased in Puerto Jimenez)
__X_  re-invest resort income locally            ___% income re-invested locally
__X_  pay above local prevailing wage
___X  pay into local social security
__X_  provide health insurance or coverage
___X  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
___  provide sustainable transport to work for staff
___  take additional specific actions to support the local community. Please list actions and projects.

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 5and enter the result with the decimal point, e.g. 3.6): 4.6

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

• Please describe your single most important eco achievement:

Running 100% on renewable energies. Since the beginning (with only 3 cabins) El Remanso has never used any fossil fuel generators. Although it meant an important economic and work investment, the lodge has maintained this policy throughout its expansion process to its current capacity.

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

Install the first solar hot water heaters. The idea is to be totally solar for water heating by the end of 2010.