Eco Rating Tubagua

Name of property	The Ecolodge at Tubagua Plantation Village
Person completing this form	Tim Hall
Position	Prop
Address of property	Km 18 Luperon Hwy, Tubagua, Puerto Plata
Country	Dominican Republic
Phone number including country code and area code	809 696-6932
Web site	Tubagua Plantation Eco Village Retreat
E-mail	[email protected]
Type of property	Ecolodge
Number of rooms or cottages	10
Maximum number of guests	30
Eco memberships	–
Eco ratings, certifications, awards	Eco Tropical Resorts Eco Rating: 3.6 out of 5.

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

If yes, please attach.

We are guided by this simple principle:

“To live, not from the equity rather from the interest of mother earth, and to strive to put back in every way possible”

• 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)

This is a mountainside ecolodge situated 1000 above sea level on the first inland ridge looking over the ocean and north coast of the Dominican Republic, 15 minutes from the city of Puerto Plata. Tubagua Plantation Village was built with the specific objective of providing an authentic Dominican rural experience to groups visiting the country as “voluntourists” – to conduct service projects, medical missions, educational trips,

Currently sleeping 10 couples in relative privacy or up to 30 in shared quarters, the ecolodge occupies a half-acre of land within the 12-acre property where it is situated.  Once completed it will house 100 people and is expected to run 80% on solar energy by that time. As a small property, Tubagua has yet to develop detailed written policies and for the time being operates under the simply policy of living on the “interest” and not from the “equity” of mother earth.

• Describe the location, including distance to nearest town and size of town (100 words max)  See 3

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

As Honorary Consul for Canada in Puerto Plata, the proprietor has been long involved with local development and specifically chose this location in order to support sustainable development along the scenic mountain highway that runs between Puerto Plata and the city of Santiago.

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.

Eco Rating Tubagua Energy

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

>  use natural air circulation and fans, not air conditioners
>  use natural light during the day
>  minimize use of fossil-fuel powered vehicles, machines and equipment
___  use “on demand” or solar heating for hot water
>  air dry clothes/linens
>  wash dishes by hand
>  use energy efficient appliances and electronics
>  use low wattage fluorescent light bulbs
>  change linens, tablecloths, napkins upon request
>  switch off lights when not used
Other energy conservation activities? Please list:

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
20%  generator
80%  public utility
Other energy sources? Please list:
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) =   2

Eco Rating Tubagua Water

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

__  low flow faucets and showerheads
>  low water use toilets
>  change linens, towels, tablecloths, and napkins upon request
> use table mats that can be wiped and not laundered
>  use biodegradable laundry detergent, dish soap and hand soap
>  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:

100%  spring
___  river
___  rain
___  reuse gray
___  public utility
Other water sources? Please list.
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:
>  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): 4

Eco Rating Tubagua Recycling and waste

Check all that apply:

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

Eco Rating Tubagua Land and nature conservation

Check all that apply:

>   minimize tree removal when building
___   use only botanical (plant-based) herbicides & pesticides in garden & grounds
>   maintain organic gardens as food source for resort
___   use biodegradable cleaning products
>   minimize external illumination
>   take additional specific actions to preserve the local habitat.  Please list actions and projects: tree planting

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

Eco Rating Tubagua Community

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

Check all activities that apply:

>  hire staff residing near the resort          100% local nationals
>  use local suppliers                                90% purchased goods produced locally
>  re-invest resort income locally            95% income re-invested locally
>  pay above local prevailing wage
>  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
>  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. Improvements to local schools, medical and other neighborhood operatives, workshops, donations by guests of medical and school supplies, clothes, sporting equipment

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):  3.6

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

• Please describe your single most important eco achievement:  preservation and distribution of local spring water source; tree planting events with guests and local students.
• Indicate additional sustainable practices that you plan to institute within the next 24 months: additional improvements to local schools, installation/donation of bio-sand water filters in local households; installation of solar panels on property; installation of solar panels in local schools to enable night classes; development of certified organic produce coop among the local subsistence farmers.
  • Is there anything else you would like to add to this eco rating? This ecolodge will soon be running weeklong sustainability workshops for north American collect students and adults in continuing education / as well as daytime workshops for tourist visiting this region