With Earth Day right around the corner and with the upcoming "Greenerborough" event happening in Peterborough this weekend, we thought it would be a good time to take inventory of some of the things we do to help reduce our in impact on our planet.

• Compact fluorescent light bulbs in many of our light fixtures
• Programmable thermostats in common areas and owners' quarters (Guest rooms each have their own heat control and are adjusted daily when guests are out.)
• Composting fruit and vegetable scraps, grass clippings, leaves, etc.
• Recycling, recycling, recycling! (For guest convenience, we have placed a small recycling container next to the wastebasket in each room.)
• Provide environmentally-friendly amenities for guest use (Liquid products are manufactured with no animal testing, are 100% biodegradable, contain no toxins or dioxins and use minimal preservatives. Bar soaps are made from 100% vegetable base.)
• Liquid hand soap provided in dispensers in guest rooms so guests don't have to open a bar of soap just to wash their hands
• Minimize printed correspondence by using e-mail for confirmations and receipts as much as possible
• Switched from a gas-powered lawnmower to a man-powered reel mower (Bonus: it is much quieter too!)
• Energy Star appliances (refrigerator, dishwasher, high-efficiency washing machine, etc.)
• Low VOC paints used throughout the house
• Active member of our local Freecycle Network finding new homes for still-good items
• Renovations included replacing old windows with energy-efficient ones, improving insulation, and upgrading furnace/boiler to a more efficient model
• Member of Daloz Farm CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) - providing us with freshly harvested, Certified Organic vegetables from May to October... and a real sense of community

And we'd like to do more!  We'll definitely be at the Greenerborough event on Saturday looking for more ways to do our part.