We are overjoyed to have recently been awarded SILVER by the Green Tourism Business Scheme after our first assessment visit in August 2011.  This is a tremendous achievement for us and we can only thank all our staff who have helped us achieve this award.  We aren't complacent however and have lots of ideas in the pipeline to decrease our environmental impact - we'll keep you updated on our progress on these pages.

                                       Environmental Policy Statement

 Introduction and aim

The Tayside Hotel is a family run small hotel located in the village of Stanley in Perthshire, Scotland. Our main business is
the provision of accommodation, food and bar services to both residential and non-residential customers. We recognise that our operations result in emissions to air and water, and the generation of waste. It is our aim to comply with legislation and other requirements, continue to reduce the environmental impacts of our business and operate in an environmentally responsible manner. This policy describes how we will achieve our aim.

Responsibility

This environmental policy applies to all Hotel operations including management and administration, catering services, 'Front
of House', accommodation and maintenance. Neil Hardy, Joint Hotel Owner, is responsible for ensuring that the policy is implemented. However, all employees understand that they have a responsibility in their area to ensure that the aims and objectives of the policy are met.

Resources

We will ensure that resources are available to enable us to achieve our objectives and targets.

Objectives & Targets

During 2011 and 2012, we aim to:

• reduce the amount of 'air' energy wastage (heating) by the installation of new windows across the whole ground-floor of the hotel (Dec '12);
• reduce the generation of food waste (on-going);
• replace all Guest Room kettles with small capacity more efficient kettles (Dec'11)
• work with suppliers to reduce delivery packaging and convert to re-usable cartons (on-going);
• complete the installation of a Biomass Boiler at the Hotel (Aug '11)
• to become more proactive in the reduction of energy usage by making use of evolving technologies where cost efficient to do so (on-going)
• inform all customers and suppliers of our commitment to reducing our environmental impact (Dec '11)

Monitoring and auditing

Progress against these objectives will be monitored through regular management meetings.

Communication

This environmental policy is available on request. If you wish to obtain a copy or would like to discuss our progress
against our objectives, please contact the Hotel direct and speak with the person named below.

click to download this statement in adobe pdf format

click here to download our Responsible Visitor Charter to see how you can help us achieve our goals

      

Here at the Tayside we are committed to doing our bit to cut waste in every form.  In turn this means we keep our waste costs down and thus keep down the costs you pay to stay with us.

Some examples of ways in which we have reduced our waste and energy usage:

• waste food is composted for our own use or sent to food recylcing
• all waste is sorted within the hotel and collected by dedicated lorry to ensure that everything that can be is recycled appropriately (cardboard, glass, plastics, etc, etc)
• Our empty drinks cans are collected by Perthshire based charity 'Can-able' who sell on the cans for recycling while raising funds at the same time.
• all our bar fridges are on timers so that they are only 'on' and using electricity when required. - the same goes for our cellar beer chillers as well
• all computer monitors are set to switch off completely after 5 minutes of inactivity
• all fridges and freezers are on a 2 month defrost cycle to prevent ice build-up and to ensure that they are running at their most efficient
• all kitchen freezers are set to run at -18 degress Celsius and no colder - this is the optimal temperature for frozen food storage and is also the most economical temperature too
• we have had 'water misers' installed in both sets of Gents toilets to reduce down unnecessary flushing of the urinals
• all toilet cisterns have been adapted to reduce the amount of water held and where replacements have been installed these offer a 'dual flush' system
• Our housekeepers switch off televisions and equipment chargers when they carry out room services
• where appropriate we have installed flourescent, low energy or LED lighting
• the majority of our suppliers come from within a 50 mile radius of the Hotel - thus helping keep down our in-direct contribution to carbon emmissions
• our boilers are serviced regularly to ensure that they are running at peak efficiency
• new double glazed windows installed on the first floor (completed June 2010)
• Lighting on the 2nd floor has been fitted with occupancy sensors so that they only come on when someone is in the corridor (completed December 2010)
• sensors fitted to the lighting on the first floor so that the lights only come on when someone is in the corridor (completed May 2011)
• printer paper is now 100% recycled from a Green Office Supplies company (August 2011)
• Guest Room toilet paper is now Nouvelle branded which is 100% recycled (September 2011)

What Can You Do To Help?

As a Guest here at the Tayside you can help us by carrying out some very simply things:

• only put your towels for washing when you feel they need it - this cuts down on washing costs and water usage as well as unncessary visits by our laundry company
• switch off lights - when you leave your room or when you are not using your bathroom make sure lights are switched off
• chargers - please don't leave chargers plugged in when you go out for the day.  Even when not connected they use electricity!
• switch off your television when you leave your room for the day or to come down for dinner
• don't over-fill your kettle - only boil what you need!
• don't leave taps running unnecessarily

Don't worry if you forget some of these things - our Housekeepers are trained to check every room for energy wastage as part of their daily tasks

Plans for the future.....

We have several plans in place for works to be carried out that will further reduce our carbon footprint and our energy waste:

• water-butts to capture rain water from the Hotels' roof to be re-used for watering the gardens
• toilet lighting to have occupancy sensors installed so that lights only switch on when required
• all roof spaces to be insulated to current recommended standards
• a 'bio mass' boiler to be installed before the end of 2011 which will produce both heat and hot water using sustainable sources of fuel