Green/efficient building construction/energy use

To carbon offset the Lodge and Cottage by contributing money to Native Energy. 6 tons of carbon for the cottage and 8 tons for the lodge. 50% goes to support wind-powered projects and 50% goes to power methane-powered projects.

1. Over 90% of the wood used in our structures (Lodge and Cottage) was timbered, weathered and milled locally by the nearby Amish.
2. The 2 large retaining walls at the Lodge are made from recycled local sandstone foundation stones.
3. The siding at the Cottage was locally timbered and milled. The siding at the Lodge is made from recycled cementatious fiber board with a 50 year warranty.
4. The walls and ceilings at the Lodge are constructed of thick paneled walls which provide a very efficient insulation.
5. The heating system at the Lodge is designed to convert between Gas and Heat Pump depending on the outside temperatures and which is more efficient.
6. Thermal Pane windows allow for efficiency, but also allow ample light into the Lodge so that very few to no lights are needed many times during the day.
7. When possible high efficiency compact fluorescent light bulbs are used for lighting.
8. All of our water fixtures are low flow fixtures.

Lawn care/treatment

The lawn is only mowed every 2 weeks to save on energy and cut pollution.
We never water our lawn or plantings.

Business items

1. We use only 95-100% recycled paper and envelopes for letters, brochures. For note taking and planning we use the back side of paper.
2. We use a Green/Socially Responsible credit card that donates a percentage to green/socially responsible causes.
3. We use a Green/Socially Responsible cell phone that donates a percentage to green/socially responsible causes.
4. All Printer Cartridges Recycled.

Cleaning/toiletry items

1. All cleaning products are all natural/organic/biodegradable
2. All laundry detergent, stain remover is all natural/organic/biodegradable
3. All toilet paper and garbage bags are recycled
4. All dish detergent, dishwasher detergent is all natural/organic/biodegradable
5. Our bar soaps are ESA, environmentally sensitive
6. Our liquid hand soap is all natural/organic/biodegradable
7. We only use rags for cleaning, not disposable paper products such as paper towels

Kitchens items

1. 95% of kitchen cook and serving ware is made from glass or metal, not disposable chemically laden plastics
2. Our coffee filters are all natural and made from recycled fibers
3. Our coffee is organic and fair trade
4. Our tea is organic
5. We have a Kinetico water filter at the Lodge (even the ice cube maker in the fridge filters the ice cubes). At the Cottage we provide a Brita Water Filter. We encourage our guests not to bring bottled water, but instead use the purified water on-site.

Furnishings

Most of the wood furniture at the Cottage and Lodge are recycled or reused pieces. Most of the wall hangings are pieces that the owners already had in their possession or were purchased at a second hand store.

Recycling

We require recycling for the following items and educate our guests upon arrival. We accept the following items:  glass (brown, clear, green), plastics, paper, newspaper, magazines, paperboard, cardboard, aluminum, tin. The majority of the items we bring to the Hocking County Recycling Center. Some items such as green glass and other plastics not accepted at this center are brought to Columbus for recycling.

Education

A large part of our mission is to educate our guests on environmental and socially responsible issues that we face as a nation and as a world. We subscribe to certain literature and books pertaining to these topics to further educate and open doors for our guests. We want to encourage people to take a bigger step towards making the world a better place.

We promote responsible use of nature while guests visit our property and the Hocking Hills. We focus on helping our guests to appreciate the real reason for coming to the Hocking Hills–to appreciate nature, to grow spiritually to find physical and emotional well-being, to be refreshed and rejuvenated by all that nature has to offer. Additionally, we support the cultural and historical arts of the area. See our Cultural Arts Retreat Page.

"We offer hopeful solutions to the problems of the world." We are here to educate and motivate our guests to learn more about how to heal the planet.

We support Cultural Creatrive Lifestyle – creativity, justice, sustainability.

Memberships

We are members and supporters of Friends of Earth (FOE), National Resources Defense Counsel (NRDC), Waterkeeper Alliance, National Wildlife Federation (NWF), Heiffer International and other organizations.

Travel with Ethics

1. Protect and enhance natural environment.
2. Protect Local cultures and provide tangible benefits to host communities.
3. Be educated and enjoyable traveler.

We are proud to refer you to other organizations who share a common philosophy for improving the world in which we live:

Co-op America  www.coopamerica.org

Crown Point Ecology Center  www.crownpt.org

Stratford Ecological Center  www.StratfordEcologicalCenter.org