Ideas For Sustainable Holiday Homes And Holidays

Ideas for sustainable holiday homes and holidays are at the front of many holiday makers’ minds in these times of growing environmental concern about the future of the planet. Also, the very real needs of the local people and economies where holiday homes are situated must feature in any ideas about sustainability. Here, we have attempted to list a few ideas to make your holiday making plans as sustainable and eco-friendly as possible.

An environmentally friendly home

Taking a few simple measures to make your holiday home more environmentally friendly can not only reduce your carbon footprint and produce less waste in general but can also save you money in the medium to long term.

Energy efficiency

A well-insulated, double or triple glazed holiday home is a good start when looking at sustainability in terms of energy efficiency. Keeping heat in for longer is a sure way to reduce energy consumption. The Energy Saving Trust reckons cavity wall insulation can save between £75 and £255 per year on your energy bills, depending on your home. Loft insulation can save between £125 and £315 a year.

Sustainable energy sources for your holiday home

Solar panels and air source heat pumps are also well worth looking into. In both cases the cost and payback period in terms of savings made will have to be calculated according to your own particular circumstances. If you are letting your holiday home, it is important to remember that it is estimated that one in three people consider the eco credentials of the place they are looking to stay.

Solar panel technology is advancing all the time and becoming more efficient. Combined with better heat storage technology, they are well worth considering depending on your circumstances. Those typical grey British skies are not the barrier they used to be to getting the most out of solar energy.

Air-source heat pumps can operate down to -15 degrees centigrade and are a fit-and-forget technology. They remove the need for solid fuels and transportation to deliver fuel and so the knock-on benefits for the environment multiply. They can also help to maintain a good ambient temperature in your holiday home when it is unoccupied and so help to reduce potential cold and damp damage. This means less maintenance and repair costs in the long term, again reducing your holiday home’s environmental footprint.

Recycle and Re-use

Minimising single-use plastic and other disposable consumables is the first step to making your holiday home more sustainable. Investigate local refill stations and packaging-free outlets for detergents and other such products.

Recycling schemes are run by every local council now and are easy enough to join in with. A little extra time spent separating and bagging your waste appropriately can go a long way to help the environment. Some holiday parks also run their own recycling services.

Holiday closer to home

Depending on where you are from, there is a possibility that within two hours travelling, there is a very suitable spot to regularly take a break. This can make your holiday more sustainable by greatly reducing its carbon footprint.

Wherever you choose, consider public transport routes to get you there. It can help to keep your holiday home stocked with the bulkier items you use while you are there like outdoor clothing, sports equipment and bikes, so that the need for a car is further reduced.

Cycle or walk on your holiday

Reducing use of your car if at all possible is another sure way to make your holiday more sustainable and reduce your carbon footprint. Cycling and walking while on holiday is a great way to explore the area and to keep fit, while doing your bit for the environment.

Shop local

Rather than turn up with a vehicle laden with your favourite things, use the local shops and amenities as much as possible. Try to strike up relationships with local businesses and tradesmen, particularly if you are letting and need maintenance and other services. This can all go to helping the local economy and offset the effect that holiday homes can sometimes have.

Offer special deals for locals

Another way to make your holiday home sustainable and to foster friendly relations with the local community is to offer special deals to locals particularly in the off-peak seasons. Weekend breaks in a beauty spot close by can often sell very well to local people and do wonders for your relations with them.

This is a marketing article from My Holiday Home Insurance, a specialist provider of insurance for holiday homes, leisure homes, holiday lodges and static caravans. Our team of experienced advisers are always happy to help, so for more information call our Northampton office on freephone 0800 988 0890.

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