Eco Rating Tranquilseas

• 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)
  full ownership of the land by a British family

Please refer to Environmental report for land sizes and our aim is to be able to give our guests a relaxing vacation, natural surroundings in an environmental and sustainable environment.

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

Tranquilseas is located approx 20minutes from the main ferry terminal, approx 10minutes from the international airport the closest town in called West End village where the hustle and bustle of bars, restaurants and dive shops can be found.

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

Having volunteered with Coral Cay Conservation and fell in love with Roatan, whilst spending time on Roatan, I travelled to Rio Dulce and was inspired by a place called Casa Perico.
I returned to Roatan with new found energy and decided to try and convince my father and friend to invest in my dream. A few months later we decided to invest…then the fun began…….more info upon request!

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 Tranquil seas Energy

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

_Ö_  use natural air circulation and fans, not air conditioners
Ö_  use natural light during the day
_Ö  minimize use of fossil-fuel powered vehicles, machines and equipment
_Ö_  use “on demand” or solar heating for hot water
_Ö_  air dry clothes/linens
_Ö  wash dishes by hand
_Ö_  use energy efficient appliances and electronics
_Ö_  use low wattage fluorescent light bulbs
_Ö_  change linens, tablecloths, napkins upon request
_Ö_  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 coming in 2010!
___  wind
___  hydro
_Ö__  generator
_Ö__  public utility
Other energy sources?  Inverters/battery back systems

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

Eco Rating Tranquil seas Water

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

_Ö_  low flow faucets and showerheads
_Ö_  low water use toilets
__Ö  change linens, towels, tablecloths, and napkins upon request
_Ö__use table mats that can be wiped and not laundered
__Ö  use biodegradable laundry detergent, dish soap and hand soap
__  treat swimming pool with chlorine-free processes (still using chlorine products)
Other water conservation activities?
We catch all available rain water……

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:

__Ö_  spring
___  river
_Ö__  rain
__Ö_  reuse gray
___  public utility
Other water sources?  Drilled well. 95ft deep

100% TOTAL

Fresh water treatment: how is captured fresh water treated?
___  naturally.  Indicate method: charcoal, ultraviolet light, other? List:
_Ö__  chemically.  List chemicals used:
DE Filter (changing to sand next month)
chlorine granules, chlorine tablets, PH+ PH-, water clarifier,

Waste water management:
Ö__  septic tanks
We have installed Pirana treatment systems

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

Eco Rating Tranquil seas Recycling and waste

Check all that apply:

__Ö_   use durable service items, e.g. cups, glasses, dishes, tableware, storage items
_Ö_   buy fresh and local to reduce packaging and emissions from transportation
_Ö_   purchase in bulk to reduce packaging
_Ö   recycle paper, glass, plastic, aluminium
_Ö_   minimize emissions from fossil-fuel powered vehicles, machines & equipment
_Ö_   zero waste in the kitchen (depending on kitchen staff)
_Ö_   serve local water, not bottled water
_Ö   cleaning products are biodegradable (when available)
___   compost organic matter – UNDER DEVELOPMENT
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

 

 

Eco Rating Tranquil seas Land and nature conservation

Check all that apply:

_Ö_   minimize tree removal when building.  WE MOVED 30 year old COCONUT TREES!
_Ö_   use only botanical (plant-based) herbicides & pesticides in garden & grounds
_Ö_   maintain organic gardens as food source for resort
Ö__   use biodegradable cleaning products
_Ö__   minimize external illumination
_Ö__   take additional specific actions to preserve the local habitat.
__Ö_   Landscaping with native plants
Please list actions
and projects:  I am a qualified Landscape designer

Level 1: one or two land and nature conservation activities

Level 2: three land and nature conservation activities
Growing local avocado trees and giving them away to locals
Growing/replanting endangered red mangrove trees
Growing local mango trees and giving them away to locals
Giving indigenous animals a safe place to live….;Belted kingfisher’ & Roadside Hawk, garden snakes, hummingbirds, selection of finch birds
Making artificial homes for lobsters, crabs, fish under our dock

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

Eco Rating Tranquil seas Community

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

Check all activities that apply:

Ö___  hire staff residing near the resort          100% local nationals
_Ö__  use local suppliers                                _65% purchased goods produced locally
__Ö_  re-invest resort income locally            _85% income re-invested locally (construction of new cabanas & additions to our resort)
___Ö  pay above local prevailing wage
__Ö_  pay into local social security
_Ö__  provide health insurance or coverage (to a  reasonable limit, when ill we pay medical bills + wages)
___Ö  use regular staff meetings to educate staff about sustainable processes throughout the resort, in the garden, with waste disposal, etc
__Ö_  provide educational awareness programs for staff, guests, suppliers and other members of the local community
__Ö_  provide sustainable transport to work for staff (bicycles)
__Ö_  take additional specific actions to support the local community. Please list actions and projects.
Support the Roatan Marine park. They carry out educational programs fro children & adults, both life style  (sustainable life style) and marine programs
__Ö_  Have enrolled your staff in any personal green training/certification schemes such as ecohelpline.com green leaf certification.

I was apart of Coral Cay Conservation for nearly 2 years practicing Coastal Resource management, studying/serveying marine ecoogy and have worked closely with a local Envirometal consultants. ( luna consultores ambientales) I helped introduce the Pirana septic system into Honudras and Luna consultores to central america.
I try my best to educated my staff, taking them out  ‘hands on’ programs seems to work the best.

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 5and enter the result with the decimal point, e.g. 3.6): 4.4

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

• Please describe your single most important eco achievement:

Helping to resurrect the Roatan Marine Park
Helping to introduce and install the Pirana septic systems here on Roatan.

2.Indicate additional sustainable practices that you plan to institute within the next 6 months.
I will be completing the first installation of battery/inverter power backup system
I will be installing additional pirana septic systems
I will be acquiring new bridgeable cleaning products to use within the resort
I will be completing the composting system
I will be researching alternative treatments for swimming pools
I will installing solar panels (8 – 12 month depending on finanacs)

• Is there anything else you would like to add to this eco rating?

This is my first one so it seems pretty comprehensive, but as you know the industry is always changing. So when I have new proactive ideas I will be sure to share them with you.