About You and the Property

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

If yes, please attach.           This is in process

• Do you have a written environmental management system?              NO

If yes, please attach.       This is in process

• Describe the property – aim, size, facilities, amount of land owned and leased

Tiri Villas is vying to be an eco- friendly tourism property in the Fiji Islands. Tiri Villas has 14 units/bures, a restaurant and bar, a freshwater swimming pool and a multi-purpose hall for workshops, conferences, weddings etc. Tiri Villas nestled in the mangroves and is located at the mouth of Deuba River on a 17 acre freehold property. Tiri Villas also boasts the natural marine habitat, flora, fauna, and the wildlife birds that are present on the property; these are just a few of the attractions here.

• Describe the location, including distance to nearest town and size of town (100 words max)  Tiri Villas is located 3 kilometres from the main Queens Highway, 8 kilometres from Pacific Harbour with a population of 2000 and 8kms from Navua with a population of 4000. Pacific Harbour and Navua are not officially towns but fall under the rural authority.

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

There were already a few accommodation properties in and around Pacific Harbour area but none were geared towards an eco friendly type. Since we were developing a new property it was easier to accommodate the new type of environment conscious travellers. We had to be extra cautious because we were developing in a property surrounded by mangroves, flora, and fauna. 

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
__x_  use “on demand” or solar heating for hot water( we use LP Gas on demand water heaters, solar not too effective)
___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: Our employees use outdoor wood stove for their cooking and tea/coffee making. Mostly dried firewood used. Employees are car pooled for shift works because we are 3kms from the main road.
 
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
___  hydro
___  generator is for back up only
__100%_  public utility (this is the cheapest form of energy to use here at present, other sources are very costly to set up for a small resort of our size)
Other energy sources? Please list: firewood for staff cooking.

100% TOTAL
How were these proportions developed?

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
___use table mats that can be wiped and not laundered (we do not use table mats bare wooded tables easy to wipe off)
_x_  use biodegradable laundry detergent, dish soap and hand soap
__  treat swimming pool with chlorine-free processes
Other water conservation activities?  Please list. Collect rain water to supply our toilets for conference centre because the roof is big enough.

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 (salt water river)
_5%__  rain
___  reuse gray
__95%_  public utility
Other water sources? Please list. We dug a well but water was unsafe to use to the area we are located in. We are in the planning stages to provide storage tanks to collect rain water and to be used for toilet flushing

100% TOTAL

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

Waste water management:
__x_  septic tanks
___  cesspools
___  other? List methods:  We will be using a 3 tier filtered tanks in the coming years to upgrade from Septic systems. The water from the above system will be gray and can be let out onto the property. This will be an Australian product. Cost is a big factor to upgrade to these types of units

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): 2

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 (we try to but the collection company??????)
_x__   minimize emissions from fossil-fuel powered vehicles, machines & equipment      
__x_   zero waste in the kitchen (almost zero waste, food is fed by chickens, ducks, dogs, etc. some food is fed to the fishes.
__x_   serve local water, not bottled water (but sell bottle 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): 4

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 (20% at present mostly herbs, the rest bought from local farmers)
__x_   use biodegradable cleaning products
__x_   minimize external illumination
__x_   take additional specific actions to preserve the local habitat.  Please list actions and projects: We had only cut down what ever was necessary for building eg. Mangroves.

 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 we could be 5 but do not have any written policies yet.

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                                _100__% purchased goods produced locally
__x_  re-invest resort income locally            _80__% income re-invested locally
___x  pay above local prevailing wage
__x_  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 (monthly not recorded but will try and document for future)
___  provide educational awareness programs for staff, guests, suppliers and other members of the local community (this is in the works)
__x_  provide sustainable transport to work for staff
__x_  take additional specific actions to support the local community. Please list actions and projects. Provide school fees to local schools for deprived students. Host picnics for the disabled children etc.

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): 3.4

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

• Please describe your single most important eco achievement:

Developing the property on an environmental friendly platform. Conserving the mangroves and giving back to the community through local staffing and purchasing of local fruits and vegetables.

• Indicate additional sustainable practices that you plan to institute within the next 6 months. We plan to construct a wooden boardwalk through the mangroves to offer guests an educational tour about the purpose, the types, and the varieties of Mangroves that surrounds the property. By constructing a boardwalk we will not disturb the marine life that exists on the floor.

• Is there anything else you would like to add to this eco rating? Maybe an addition of building codes like the one stated in Green Globe benchmarks. We wish there were more involvement of local authorities to assist in disposal of waste and recycling. Also there should be a subject called eco-tourism that can be taught in schools to educate the young about ecological and sustainable tourism, since Fiji depends a lot on tourism. Please do keep us in mind of any articles or reading material that may come your way that could help us here to be more ecological and sustainable in what we are doing eg. Reuseable energy sources waste water management etc.