5 simple ways to make your home more “green and sustainable”
May 13, 2021
You really don’t have to have a complete eco-home in the forest to be able to label yourself as a ‘green house’. More and more guests are looking for rental accommodations that, like themselves, think about the environment and keep their ecological footprint as small as possible. This can be done in many ways, from an apartment close to public transport to an accommodation that is cleaned with products without chemicals.
Why do travelers choose a sustainable Airbnb home?
Many travelers make this choice to support a company that values the sharing economy and communal consumption, the first step to “green” travel. Two years ago, airbnb launched a special initiative promoting local, authentic and sustainable tourism. The results of a survey conducted showed that 88% of landlords do “something green” in their rental accommodation. This includes things like using green cleaning products, recycling waste, encouraging guests to use public transport, providing bicycles and installing solar panels.
Eco travelers want:
Reduce their ecological footprint;
Reduce their energy and water consumption;
Choosing green options for transport;
Continue to maintain this during their vacation.
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What can you do to make your rental apartment or home greener and more sustainable
You really don’t have to spend a fortune on organic cotton sheets and energy-saving appliances to attract eco tourists. Below are a few relatively inexpensive ideas to get you started:
Recycling and / or compost bin
Almost every municipality nowadays has a recycling service. Make it easy for your guests by clearly marking the different waste bins with, for example, a color (brown for paper / cardboard, yellow for plastic & tin, green for glass and gray for residual waste). Some properties have space for a small compost bin for guests to dispose of their vegetable and fruit waste. If you offer the latter, make sure guests know where to empty it to prevent it from stinking or attracting insects. You can also choose to make your own compost bin in your garden of course.
Example of separate waste collection
Environmentally friendly lamps
LED lamps are relatively cheap to purchase and are also better for the environment. In addition to a longer lifespan, which saves on having to change lamps, your energy bill is also lower.
Energy-efficient LED lighting for your Airnbnb home
Environmentally friendly products
Eco Tourists really appreciate it! Products that are used that are free of chemicals so that they are better for the planet and at the same time also cause fewer skin disorders or allergies. You will now find a large stock of environmentally friendly products in almost every supermarket. So on your next visit, check out the eco-friendly toilet cleaners and soaps.
Example of ecological care products for the home
Stock trays
It may seem too simple, but having simple resealable containers in your kitchen will certainly accommodate guests. This makes it easier for them to store their food and they don’t have to use plastic wraps to store leftovers.
Resealable trays and dishes for the kitchen
Shopping bag
Help reduce plastic bags by leaving a shopping bag for guests to use during their stay. Also nice to promote your local neighborhood supermarket or give each guest a linen bag as a souvenir of their stay with your logo. A small gesture, but this will certainly stay with guests.
(brown for paper / cardboard, yellow for plastic & tin, green for glass and gray for residual waste). Some properties have space for a small compost bin for guests to dispose of their vegetable and fruit waste. If you offer the latter, make sure guests know where to empty it to prevent it from stinking or attracting insects.
Have a cotton shopping bag available for your guests
