Taupo DeBretts Environmental Efforts
The environmental initiatives at the Taupo DeBretts are
many and varied - everything from worm farms to water use
regulators. And the best part is that none of them have
impacted on guest safety and enjoyment or service
quality.
These include:-
- Kitchen waste, lawn clippings and garden cuttings
going into bins which produce rich compost for use around
the entire 7.75 hectare property and act as home to
thousands of soil-improving earthworms. Even lint (fluff)
from the clothes driers goes into the compost bins.
- Herb gardens - the produce from which is used in
catering at the on-site cafe
- Use of tree lucerne to enrich the poor pumice soils
found in what is New Zealand's biggest volcanic zone, the
Central North Island
- Trees and shrubs planted - 18,000 so far - and
extensive landscaping undertaken in what was, two decades
ago, an almost derelict facility long devoid of any
tender loving care.
- Development of an on-site plant nursery, which many
different varieties are propagated from seed for use
around the entire site
- A switch to on-demand water in urinals, substantially
reducing use and saving electricity for pumps
- Reduction in water flows from showers and a move to
on-demand hot water using gas, rather than electricity.
This has resulted in a 40% reduction in water use in this
area of the operation
- Movement to a new, regimented regime for use of
chemicals and cleaning agents, with no harmful effects on
the environment now
- Assignment of individual baskets to each member of
the housekeeping staff, with pre-mixed cleaning materials
and logging of who is doing what
- Automatic dispensing of liquid cleaners into washing
machines for guest laundry, with a significant cost
reduction and better result.
- Adjustments to washing machines, with a subsequent
saving of 16 minutes per cycle - without any negative
impact on the cleanliness and hygiene of the laundry
- Replacement of petrol-driven golf buggies used for
client servicing with battery-powered machines
- Introduction of energy-saving security lights
throughout the site - all equipped with motion
sensors
- New accommodation facilities all feature double
glazing on windows and glass doors and the latest
insulation materials, keeping noise levels down,
providing cooling in the summer and retaining warmth in
the winter.
- Conversion of all accommodation units from oil-fired
heaters to electric heat pumps, with significant savings
in electricity use
- Use of gravel on the campervan sites, replacing
traditional concrete. This is more in-keeping with the
physical environment of the Volcanic Zone.
- Replacement of old traditional light bulbs with new
energy-efficient lighting
The whole site of the Taupo DeBretts Spa Resort lends
itself to providing a unique New Zealand experience and
these environmental initiatives - and those that will be
introduced as part of an on-going enhancement process - are
now firmly entrenched in our company's operating
psyche.
We have a geothermal valley which is very special in terms
of its people, its environment and its location. It is a
very natural place and we are treating it with the
environmental protection it deserves. We are taking a
multi-tentacle approach to everything we do here because,
like nature itself, everything is inter-related.
We see this as part of an environmental journey and it's
exciting to keep thinking of new ways to further these
aims, which are not only good for us as a business, but for
the future of the planet.
© Taupo DeBretts | Privacy Policy Website by the Collectif | 2010