• 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.  – What is this?

• Describe the property – aim, size, facilities, amount of land owned and leased  (150 words max)   Six ½ acres with seven villas for rent (land is owned).  The aim is to introduce simple living to many travellers and thereby introduce simple living into their lives when they return to their homes.  Eco-friendly practices are used each day during their vacation and these habits are taken home after the vacation.
  

• Describe the location, including distance to nearest town and size of town (100 words max)   Close to beaches, three miles from town.
• Describe WHY you made the decision to develop an eco resort (100 word max)  Noticed the degradation to the ocean and the rest of the planet’s habitat and became concerned.  The villas that already existed on this property had originally been designed to blend into the environment.  It was the perfect use for the lodgings.

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:
UV Filtered water is available to reduce the purchase of bottled water.  Recycled bottles are used to provide the drinking water.

100 % Recycled  plasticware is used for all events.  It is washed and re-used for all events (Preserve tableware).  Recycled paper products are used (napkins and paper towels).  Dish cloths are used instead of sponges.  These are re-used until they become rags.

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:

_10%__  solar
___  wind
___  hydro
_5%__  generator
85%___  public utility
Other energy sources? Please list:

100% TOTAL
How were these proportions developed?  Based on usage in 2008

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) =   3

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
__  treat swimming pool with chlorine-free processes
No swimming pool
Other water conservation activities?  Please list.
Use rainwater as water source.
Use high-efficiency washing machine.
Do not water gardens but use rain barrels or dishwater to hydrate plants.
Use laundry water on plants. 

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:

___  spring
___  river
_75%__  rain
_22%__  reuse gray
___  public utility
Other water sources? Please list.
3% Well for washing clothes at times.
100% TOTAL

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

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
_x__   serve local water, not bottled water
_x__   cleaning products are biodegradable
_x__   compost organic matter
Other methods to recycle waste? Please list.
Make furniture from fallen branches or downed trees.
Purchase 100 % recycled and recyclable plasticware for events.

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
_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:   
Guests clean up beaches three times a year.
Northside Valley involved in Recycling Association on St. Croix
Northside Valley corporation donates to various environmental groups:
St. Croix Environmental Association
            Seven Generations Ahead
            TIES
            UVI
           
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                                _75__% purchased goods produced locally
_x__  re-invest resort income locally            _75__% income re-invested locally
_x__  pay above local prevailing wage
___  pay into local social security
___  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
_x__  take additional specific actions to support the local community. Please list actions and projects.
Hire local musicians for events
Hire local caterers for events.
Hire local seamtress for reupholstering all furniture in all 7 villas.
Hire local furniture maker to build tables from fallen wood.
Host wellness seminars for local community (3 events so far)
Arrange shuttles for guests to attend local community events

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 5):  4.6

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

• Please describe your single most important eco achievement:

Building furniture from fallen trees to reduce resource and energy consumption.

• Indicate additional sustainable practices that you plan to institute within the next 6 months.  Adding passive hot water heating to all villas (will account for 30% or more of existing energy use).

• Is there anything else you would like to add to this eco rating? Yes, although we do not use a lot of technology in alternative energy we do have so many energy saving devices that we are using very little fossil fuels to run our resort.  In 2008 our kWh usage for nine houses averaged less than 127 kWh per month per house.  This is extraordinarily low and because of our simple energy saving techniques.