Energy Rating: ★ (1)
Staff Comment - We use energy saving lightbulbs throughout, as well as in our own part of the house. There is no electric heating, air con or fans in the room. A small kettle is provided to ensure that people don’t overfill.

Water Rating: ★★★★★ (5)
Staff Comment - The biggest water-saving practice is the compost toilet, which economises around 40% of water. We have also installed a shower instead of a bath to reduce water use by our guests. We use only natural products to clean the room (vinegar, bicarbonate of soda and home-made soap). The water from the bathroom is directed to the garden where it can be re-used. In the garden we use permaculture techniques such as mulching which minimise the need for watering, even in the vegetable patch. We plant native plants in the garden, including 400 native hedge plants which are planted around the perimeter to ensure no run-off of water from the land. We collect rainwater for the garden and for our chickens. We only change linen/towels once a week. We have no sprinkler or other irrigation systems using mains water.

Disposal Rating: ★★★★★ (5)
Staff Comment - We compost all our organic waste (including clothing, newspapers, etc) and have installed a compost toilet. We also compost waste from the local restaurant. We do not burn any of our garden waste – material that is too bulky to be composted (branches, etc) are left to rot naturally in a designated area and thus provide a habitat for many insects and hibernating animals etc. We avoid all use of disposable items (eg disposable wipes, etc) and recycle everything we can at the municipal recycling bins. Guests are welcome to use the recycling bin. We also re-use items in the garden (such as bird-scaring wind chimes from old tomato puree tins.) The rubble that was produced during building works has been used to create the visitor parking area, etc.

Eco-Active Rating: ★★★★ (4)
Staff Comment - The takings from our B&B go directly into a charity which has been set up in order to create an educational garden where people can learn about sustainable development, rural heritage and permaculture. Guests are welcome to talk to us and the volunteers about any aspect of eco-friendly living; and we’re happy to demonstrate the compost toilet system, etc. In the vegetable and fruit garden we have planted almost exclusively heritage plants. We plant trees to offset our carbon emissions and we are happy to plant trees on behalf of our guests (donation of 10 euros per tree). We hire out bikes so that guests can explore the area instead of always using their car. We make available documentation about all the ‘nature’ events that go on in our area.

Protection Rating: ★★★★★ (5)
Staff Comment - We live in the heart of a “regional natural park”, which is an area of remarkable cultural, historical and natural heritage. We have a full range of tourist documents about the area and we also have interesting books and local maps which guests can borrow. We buy from local producers and have a list of local farms where guests can buy direct from farmers. The 400 hedge plants which we planted where approved by the local council hedge-planting scheme.

Contact Details

Name:
Les Rayers
Address:
61400 Reveillon,
France
Telephone:
0033 952419746
0033 633283381
Website:
www.lesrayers.com
E-mail:
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