The Exchange Country Accommodation

Our Eco Friendly, Environmental  and Sustainable Practices and  Achievements

 Here at The Exchange, we are passionate about our responsibilities towards the Planet, the land, the environment and our guests.  We are committed to playing an active part in providing a clean, safe and healthy environment for all of us.

 In October 2009, we had our Ecological Foot Print assessed by the Far North Environment Centre.  They measured our household’s footprint in Global Hectares.  The New Zealand Average Household footprint in Global Hectares is 57.5.  Our household’s footprint in Global Hectares is only 27.8.   Although we have made a good start, we could still do more and we will.

 Our challenge with three properties, Bush Cottage, The Lodge and our house was to maintain their original character, but provide our guests with welcoming, warm, eco friendly accommodation throughout the year.

 What we do:

ü     We recycle all glass, paper, cardboard, plastic and tin.

ü     We compost all our waste including the contents of the composting toilets.

ü     We use local contractors where ever possible and reasonable to reduce our carbon foot print.

ü     We only shop twice monthly to reduce our petrol consumption.

ü     We only use Eco Friendly cleaning products, this includes the washing powder and the hand soap and shower gel in the cottages.

ü     We are the custodians of 27 acres of mature native forest and subtropical gardens including regenerating Kauri Trees.

The Lodge – Our sustainable and environmental practices and achievements:

ü     We have renovated and extended this property using only recycled doors and windows.

ü     We used Eco Ply from sustainable forests, when building the new extension.

ü     We used Pink Bats silver insulation in the roof, walls and under the floor.

ü     We have installed an energy efficient gas water heater which only heats the amount of water required.

ü     We have laid a layer of insulation under the new flooring in the original older part of the Lodge.

ü     We have installed a composting toilet.

ü     We use only Eco light bulbs.

ü     We have lined all the curtains to retain as much heat as possible.

ü     We provide a recycle bin for our guests to use.

ü     We provide a composting bin for food waste for our guests to use.

ü     We capture all rain water off The Lodge roofs, and double filter it for drinking water.

ü     We capture water off the covered deck to water garden plants around the building.

ü     We use and supply only Eco Friendly cleaning materials.

Bush Cottage – Our sustainable and environmental practices and achievements:

ü     We have laid a layer of insulation under the new flooring.

ü     There is a composting toilet.

ü     There is an energy efficient gas water heater which only heats the amount of water required.

ü     We use only Eco light bulbs.

ü     We have lined all the curtains to retain as much heat as possible.

ü     We provide a recycle bin for our guests to use.

ü     We provide a composting bin for food waste for our guests to use.

ü     We use and supply only Eco Friendly cleaning materials.

ü     We supply logs which are grown on the property for the Log Burning Stove.

ü     We capture water off the covered deck to water garden plants around the building.