Enviro Gold Award

ENVIRO GOLD - for Heritage and Sustainability

Enviro Gold - How to bring a heritage guest house into the Green Zone:

Offering a blend of modern amenities while maintaining historical values has been a major feature of the restoration of Cotter House - one of New Zealand's foremost iconic historic houses.  Cotter House's achievement  in obtaining an Enviro Gold rating - the highest granted by Qualmark in New Zealand, showcases efforts undertaken to blend heritage and sustainability.

Cotter House, as a heritage accommodation retreat,  has undergone a remarkable eco-friendly conversion and is dedicated to reducing its carbon footprint. This commitment to heritage conservation and recycling started with major renovations undertaken over a period of 15 years, using original timbers, architraves, and lovingly retaining all architectural features.

As one of Auckland's oldest and most prestigious heritage buildings,  Cotter House has made the commitment to run an eco-friendly business , reduce its impact on the environment  and is implementing green policies throughout all areas of the retreat.  From wealthy clients who agree to have their sheets changed less often,  to 19th-century chandeliers using low-energy bulbs,  we  are working to offset our carbon footprint.

Our guests are an integral part of the process and their contributions to sustaining our 'Green Image', are highly valued.  These combined efforts have been recognised with Qualmark's top Enviro Gold rating. 

BREAKING NEWS - August 18, 2011.

 Welcome to The instep Newsletter

The instep newsletter is designed to

•      keep you in touch
•      inspire you to take part and
•      be aware of

the sustainability events and activities in and around New Zealand and the world.  We will gather information from various sources and email it to you. We hope you find this information valuable and informative.
 f you have been forwarded this  e-newsletter and would like to receive it direct please contact: info@getinstep.org

CONGRATULATIONS             Gold   ACHIEVERS!

BEAUTIFUL COTTER HOUSE ACHIEVES GOLD

For the past three years Ms Gloria Poupard-Walbridge, the owner of  the luxurious boutique lodge Cotter House of Remuera, has been actively taking actions to reduce the impact the lodge has on the environment. 

Despite the challenges of running a heritage building, Ms Poupard was successful in reducing energy, water and fuel consumption, as well as increasing waste minimisation, and implementing green policies throughout all areas of the retreat. Ms Poupard also actively participated in conservation projects such as Motuihe Island reforestation project and Trees For Survival, encouraging students thorough environmental awareness development programmes.

Located in the leafy suburb of Remuera, Cotter House is ideal for romantic getaways, functions and corporate meetings. This luxurious accommodation offers modern facilities in a Heritage building. Contact Gloria today to make a booking.

Kiwi Green Regeneration -  Offsetting your carbon footprint

• WATER - We are conserving water at Cotter House

• We save Water every year, with our laundry management system:
• We offer a towel  and bed linen reuse program in our guestrooms which ensures you are helping the environment by reducing energy and water use.
  
• We use only low flow faucets in guest bathrooms
• We use only low flow shower heads in our guest bathrooms
• Our guest bathrooms are equipped with low flow toilets
• We use only water efficient laundry washing machines and dishwashers
• We are regulating garden watering by the use of sensible planting practices
  

• ENERGY - We are reducing our demand on energy
  
  

  • We regularly update our appliances to energy efficient star rated equipment in our Kitchens and laundry facilities
  • We use programmable thermostats for our heating with automatic temperature adjustment
  • We use energy efficient motion sensor outdoor lighting (100%)
  • We use high energy efficient lighting (fluorescent)
  • We have an energy management system that involves appliance Hibernation
    
  • We switch off lights when you are out
    
  • Lights are turned off after meetings are over and when the space is unoccupied
  • Our chosen energy supplier buys from renewable generation resources like wind, hydro and geothermal.
  • We offer guests bicycles for local touring, walking guides to local attractions, and information on carbon-neutral transport.
  • We buy local produce where possible to reduce transport emissions
    

  WASTE - We are reducing our waste at Cotter House
  
  

  • We offer our guests dedicated wireless laptops to enable them to get news online and recycle all newspapers
  • By not printing unnecesary emails and printing on recycled office paper.
  • We give our guests the opportunity to recycle their rubbish.
  • We offer to lend them environmentally friendly shopping bags to reduce packaging
  • We reduce packaging to a minimum by  dispensers for high quality toiletries, buying quality products in bulk, replacing disposable items with reusable ones.
  • We sort our waste to minimise rubbish sent to landfills by recycling glass, aluminum and plastic, and composting organic waste.
  •  We buy local produce where possible to reduce transport emissions
    
  • We buy only from producers who offer environmentally-friendly packaging options in returnable containers where possible
    
• POLLUTION -  We are reducing pollution of waterways, noise, air and light:
  
  

  • We use only cleaning products that have earned the KiwiGreen Environmentally friendly Seal of approval. (All-Purpose, Glass Cleaners and Bathroom Cleaners) biodegradable and non-toxic .
  • We wash our vehicles on permeable surfaces so cleaning products don’t enter drains.
    
  • We have Noise-insulated our premises with heavy curtains and of course the brick walls/
  • We regularly tune our vehicles to help reduce carbon emissions.
    
  • We use only natural/low or non-allergenic toiletry products.
    
  • We source our materials from local or Fair Trade producers.
    
  • We are sending batteries and fluorescent bulbs for recycling/safe disposal.
    
  • We are measuring our carbon emissions and offsetting where we can’t reduce.
  • We are training in emission-reducing techniques , such as buying locally,  and encouraging our guests to “walk the city” and use efficient public transport.
    

  RECYCLING  - At Cotter House
  
  

  • We have recycling  and re-use systems in place for cardboard, office paper, glass, plastic, metal, aluminum, used batteries and computer equipment
  • We utilise where possible recycled paper goods
  • Recycle containers are provided to guests when requested
  • We do not use "throw-away" containers or paper napkins and limit the use of kitchen paper towels.
  • Our linen is antique:  from our antique French embroidered bed linen, to embroidered tablecloths and napkins which .we present beautifully starched
  • Any usable items left over from meetings, such as pads, notebooks and binders are donated to local schools.
  • We have a "Hibernation" policy which allows us to turn off appliances in the rooms when not in use. 

  CONSERVATION and Responsible Purchasing  initiatives at Cotter House:
  We are supporting heritage conservation, regeneration of  native and renewable forests by:
  
  

  • Ensuring all printed material and products are sustainably sourced where possible.
    
  • Use of organic products and supplies from our very own farmer markets.
  • Supporting regeneration of native New Zealand forest and wildlife conservation by involvement in  community reforestation projects with
  • Trees for Survival - as Board member
  • Motuihe Island reforestation project
    
  • Heritage conservation projects
  • through the creation of the "Auckland heritage Trust" - as main trustee
  • through Committee membership of the Historic Places Trust
    
  • through Rotary initiatives - as a member of Rotary Club of Remuera
  • through School environmental  awareness development programmes