Hotel Mocking Bird Hill’s eco credentials have grown and their carbon footprint decreased by the recent addition of a further 18 solar panels & 6000-watt inverter system now installed at the eco-boutique. These new additions mean that 65% of the hotel’s energy needs are now provided by the cleanest source possible that is available in abundance to Jamaican hotels.

This was provided by the Caribbean Trade and Private Sector Development Programme (CTPSDP) funded by the European Union, 9th European Development Fund for CARIFORUM Countries in 2010.

ENVIRONMENTAL BEST PRACTICES AT HOTEL MOCKING BIRD HILL
Climate Change, Carbon emissions and protection of Air Quality of the Hotel:

1. Since its inception the hotel has operated as an eco-boutique hotel offering green but gracious ambiance to minimise the impact while providing high quality service and experience to the guests. The focus has always been on simple elegance and the belief that “small is beautiful” based on the belief that one can operate in a caring, responsible manner without compromising comfort if we consume less and share more.

2. The hotel ensures that no waste is burnt that could contribute towards air pollution nor do they use any products that could emit toxic fumes.

3. Sign requesting drivers to switch of their engines while waiting to pick up guests. This also reduces noise.

4. Employees are engaged that live close to the work place within a radius of ... km ensuring short commutes. Many live in the neighbouring village of Drapers and walk to the work thus reducing carbon emissions generated by travelling to and from work.

5. Company car is serviced regularly to help improve gas mileage and improve efficiency with clean filters, properly inflated tires etc. – thus helping to place less CO2 into the atmosphere each year.

6. All employees use public transport for commuting to work saving gas and CO2.

7. Fruit, vegetables, fish, meats, dairy and other products are sourced from local farmers and providers close to the hotel to reduce “petroleum miles” – and provide great taste!

8. Reducing paper usage by banking and paying bills online as well as paying employees directly online not only helps save trees but reduces car trips into town and resulting fuel consumption as well as helps curb green house-gases emissions.

9. Had an audit conducted to establish carbon footprint of the business.

10. Purchased offsets for carbon emissions generated through the hotel’s operations.

11. A second audit will be conducted now that various improvements and steps to change energy source have been implemented.

12. Offer guests the possibility to offset carbon emissions generated through their travel by contributing either towards a local programme offered in conjunction with the J.C.D.T. (Jamaica Conservation Development Trust) in terms of re-forestation of the National Park in the Blue Mountains or contributing to the programme My Climate.

13. The hotel plants a tree for every couple that gets married or celebrates their honeymoon at the hotel.

14. The hotel offers green weddings using only locally grown, seasonal flowers and giving a local touch with handmade paper invitation using recycled paper or other gifts made by various community projects.

15. Planted a bamboo fence as it is one of the best plants for absorbing CO².

16. Planting trees in a tropical region is proven to be very effective to mitigate climate change. We have been planting trees in the garden to not only replace trees lost during storms and hurricanes but to also add more and thus improve habitat for fauna.

ENERGY MANAGEMENT:

TAPPING SUSTAINABLE RESOURCES AND ENSURING ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION

• Hot water is provided by a solar hot water heating system. This significantly reduces electricity requirements.
• Without reducing the comfort of the guests, the management has chosen not to install equipment that is high in energy use in the rooms. The buildings have also been planned to maximise on natural ventilation. Given the advantage of the hillside location, the rooms receive cool breezes. Fans that use far less electricity than air-conditioning enhances the natural ventilation. Mini-bars and televisions are not provided in the room. Television is available in the lounge, but generally most guests enjoy the natural vistas and the twinkling lights of Port Antonio.
• Notices in the rooms request guests to assist the management in their efforts by turning off lights and fans, etc. when leaving the rooms.
• Motion detectors regulate all security lighting that is operated on solar energy. Energy saving light bulbs is installed in all areas where lighting is required for extended periods of time. We are now starting to replace the energy saving lights with LED’s.
• Increased use of energy efficient equipment.
• Electricity usage monitored daily.
• Equipment regularly maintained and serviced to ensure optimal performance.
• Solar water heating.
• Laundry dried in the sun.
• Coffee machine has thermos pots so that machine can be turned off between brews and coffee remains hot.
• Natural cross ventilation instead of air-conditioning.
• The use of large windows allows the maximum use of natural light and keeps the use of electrical lights to a minimum.
• By reducing the amount of laundry, (details are listed under water management) the electricity consumption is also reduced. As this is a small property we are able to manage without laundry dryers. The dryer is seldom used, for the most part only on cloudy, damp days.
• The public areas and rooms are tiled rather than carpeted thus avoiding the need for vacuum cleaning and the resulting energy use. Guests encouraged to use towels and linen more than once to reduce laundry.
• Napkin pouches with room numbers so that napkins can be re-used.
• Table mats rather than tablecloths used in the restaurant to reduce laundry.
• Office moved from ground floor to a new upper level furnished entirely of recycled materials, has more ventilation and daylight reducing electricity use.
• Two air-conditioned storerooms fully insulated with re-used Styrofoam from packaging.
• Automatic door closers installed on the storeroom doors to ensure that doors are not left open when persons go into the storerooms.
• Pool pump operates on solar power.
• Energy for 4 rooms and 2 offices as well as outside lighting is supplied by renewable source (solar) to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Solar panels have been installed to provide energy for 4 rooms, the Gallery (including managers’ residence) and most of the outside lighting, which amounts to 51% of all lighting. Installed LPG generator to help augment public electricity supplies. LPG is cleaner and less noisy than the diesel generators.

For more information, contact:

HOTEL MOCKING BIRD HILL

PO Box 254, Port Antonio, Jamaica
Tel 001-876-993 7267
Fax 001-876-993 7133
Skypename „mockingbirdees“
mockbrd@cwjamaica.com
info@hotelmockingbirdhill.com
www.hotelmockingbirdhill.com