Climate Change - Mitigation and Adaptation Measures at Hannah's Cottage B&B

As you may be aware, South Australia is the driest state in the driest continent on earth!

At Hannah's we do not have access to town water so are reliant on collecting rainwater during the few months when it does actually rain!

We really believe that our daily actions have an impact far beyond our fences yet, at the same time, we are only a very small business so can not always afford to do everything that we would like to. It has to be a balance. This does not mean that we are "green washing" but that we are merely realistic.

One of the ways that we can lessen our impact and bring about real change is through changing our behaviour. If everybody just made small changes this would multiply to make a big difference. However, this means taking responsibility for our actions.

As guests at Hannah's you might like to consider what you can do and perhaps even apply this in your own home on your return. Australia has committed to a 5% reduction of 2000 emissions by 2020. One way to do this is to plant more trees.

If you would like to lessen your carbon imprint we would like to offer you an opportunity:

For just $10 you can purchase and plant an indigenous tree or shrub on our property.

Another way to lessen our carbon footprint is to do some of the following when you stay at Hannah’s:

• Rinse and recycle all bottles by placing in the enamel pail by the barbeque
• Recycle paper waste by placing in the wicker basket by the television
• Use dimmers provided on the lights
• Turn off lights when not in the room
• Run the dishwasher only if it is full
• Have short showers
• Share the spa or do not have one at all
• Re-use your towels
• Use the air-conditioner only when really necessary
• On hot days keep the curtains closed to keep the heat out
• On cold days keep the curtains closed to keep the heat in.
• Run the air-conditioner at the optimum temperature of 21 degrees
• Turn the air conditioner off when you go out. It takes only minutes to respond on your return
• Purchase and plant an indigenous tree on the property

You may challenge our aims because we also run a few head of cattle but they are there for pasture control. We occasionally give them dry feed but that is purchased from our neighbour so transport fuel and costs are negligible. By keeping the pasture grazed the steers are reducing the fire hazard. If we had to use the tractor instead we would use up a lot of fuel thus using non-renewable resources and polluting the lovely clean air. We feel that this is more damaging to the environment that the methane produced by four steers!

We do the following either at the cottage or in our own home or both:

• Purchase products with a high star rating for efficient energy use - E.g. refrigerator, microwave and dish washer. Did you know that a plasma screen uses 50% more energy than an LCD?
• Regularly maintain and check electrical and farm equipment
• Provide toilet paper made from recycled paper
• Recycle all bottles and paper waste
• Email letters of confirmation and encourage guests to read on the screen
• Recycle food scraps by composting and use this on the vegetable gardens
• Grow some of our own vegetables using no pesticides
• Use herbicides and chemicals very sparingly
• Use environmentally friendly cleaning products where possible
• Paint walls in a light colour. Dark colours absorb light thus increasing the need for more lighting.
• Use motion detectors for outdoor security lighting
• Switch off lights and appliances when not in the room
• Provide dimmers on all lights
• Gradually replace light globes with more energy efficient ones
• Use quality insulation
• Use 10ml glass in the windows to reduce heating / cooling
• Use the air-conditioner only when really necessary and turn it off when we go out
• Keep doors and windows closed when heating or cooling is in use
• Provide quality curtains to maintain room temperature
• Provide verandahs and shading to prevent heat gain
• Run the air-conditioner at the optimum temperature of 21 degrees
• Collect and use rainwater, using refillable bottles
• Run the dishwasher only if it is full
• Use wood from our woodlot - we have not purchased wood in all the years that we have lived here.
• Grow and plant trees local to the area
• Collect and recycle animal manure
• Rotationally graze the paddocks to better manage the pastures
• Mulch the gardens in Summer
• Buy in bulk to decrease packaging
• Purchase local products - less fuel used to provide the items
• Use local trades people - less fuel to provide the service

Let’s work together to leave our planet a better place for those who will inherit it.

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