Environmental Statement

OUR AIM

At Penbontbren we endeavour to maintain the balance of reducing our impacts on the environment and the local community, whilst still providing guests with the highest quality service possible. Our policies ensure that we seek to minimise our environmental impact given the constraints of running a small family business in converted farm building.

TO ACHIEVE OUR AIM

To minimise our environmental footprint we have invested in:

• Roof insulation and double glazing
• Thermostatic showers installed in all bathrooms
• On site composting of garden waste and most food waste, for use on our vegetable garden. Other wastes sent for recycling
• Solar panel for the heating of water.
• Wood burning fires/stoves utilising wood sourced from sustainable source within our grounds.
• Use low energy light bulbs, timers for lighting installed in guest corridors
• Thermostatic valves on radiators
• Lighting and equipment only switched on when necessary
• Computers switched off at night
• Tent cards in guest bedrooms to encourage re use of towels
• We monitor our boilers with timers for heating
• Communicate with guests where ever possible by E-mail for confirmations and newsletters

To help the local community:

• We seek suitable local producers and suppliers for the majority of our food and beverage as displayed on our menus and web site
• We seek local contractors for the on-going maintenance of buildings and gardens
• We seek local people to provide our staffing needs
• We are committed to our staff and seek to provide equal opportunity in all our aspects of our operation

To encourage Bio-diversity we:

• Provide bird tables and regular feed
• Manage our River bank
• Provide planting and areas for wild life in our gardens and preserve our ancient woodland areas.
• We intend to enter awards to increase the profile of Ceredigion to attract more visitors
• Work closely with the tourist associations to help promote Ceredigion and the surrounding area
• Support local schools, clubs and churches
• Refer guests to National Trust, Heritage properties and local attractions

How YOU our guests can help
In working together to achieve our aims we ask our guests to consider the following:

• When you leave your room please turn off the lights and do not leave the portable electric heater on
• Please do not open the windows and leave the heating on
• Please only leave essential lights on during the night
• Switch the television off at the switch and do not leave in stand by mode when not in use
• Utilise local services whilst you stay to help the local community that you came to visit
• Leave no litter in the countryside or market towns
• Consider taking a shower rather than a bath, have the towels and sheets only changed when necessary
• Separate your newspapers for recycling
• Try at least one day of your stay without the car, walk locally, or take a bus. We are happy to arrange a picnic for you

Thank you for your help. Together we can all make a difference