Siting and design

Local stone from the river below is used all over the place; clay from a seam across the hill was used to waterproof the roof (old tradition); lime used to wash walls; reeds from river (dehusked by hand) used for ceiling cover.

Distemper used (Pintura al Templar) on all the walls, furniture second hand, garden landscaping from river stone, plants all from cuttings. Insulation is all soil and stone - although insulation in this part of the world is more against the sun rather than to keep heat in.

Cleaning the rooms

Whenever they buy cleaning products, it's plant-based. Guests do leave thing like washing up liquid behind sometimes, which they then use to avoid waste, but they never buy the chemical stuff themselves. It's cold water clothes washing.

Power

There aren't many lights, as this would drain the solar batteries - solar photovoltaic panels power all lights and plugs. A solar hot-water (thermal) system is the next project - water is currently heated by gas bottle. There is no on-site wind turbine and the payback time is just not good enough and it's too expensive.

There is a biomass boiler - not a sophisticated system, but both casitas have wood burning stoves and no other heating.

The pool is powered by a generator for a few hours each day - they converted the generator from diesel to compressed gas, which is far less offensive. It's one of the only blots on their otherwise pretty spotless record sheet.

Reducing/recycling waste

Have instructions out for guests re what to do. Plus a compost container in each casita for guests to use. Sadly, all waste has to be driven to the local town (except organic waste). There is a very simple pit system for solid waste. Grey water (shower, sinks) goes down to irrigate the trees and garden below the casitas.

Water usage

There are low-flow taps and shower heads? and dual-flush toilet cisterns. There's no guttering on these ancient roofs, so it's not possible to harvest rainwater. They have an allowance, from the local water system that was built by the Moors, of so many hours per week that they can take. The system of channels is overseen by a local committee to make sure the use is fair.

Have they taken any other measures, not mentioned above, to reduce and manage their water use, and to minimise their demands on local water sources?

Water here is a MASSIVE issue - the whole area of Spain feels dessicated. The oddity, therefore, is the pool. But this was here before they bought the place (built by a Dutch couple who planned to do up the rest of the place, then ran out of money) and is one of the few obviously un-green elements.

Conservation and wildlife

The couple don't use any chemicals on their olive groves at all, nor on their gardens. They used a natural phosphate olive fly insecticide instead of the usual spray.

Social responsibility

This is a tricky one. They aren't really integrated into the local community - they barely speak Spanish though clearly want to learn (she's planning a Rosetta Stone course this winter) and seem to refer mostly to English friends. So, though their life is massively low impact, environmentally, they make a minimal contribution to the community.

Food

Not so relevant for a self-catering place as they tend not to provide stuff for guests. But they had their own kitchen garden last year producing lots of salad and veg. All organic, of course. And they're signed up for the WWOOF scheme (Willing Workers on Organic Farms), though haven't yet taken the final step to receive their first workers.

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