our commitment to sustainability
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Join us for a delightful, meat-free holiday at our home! Whether you're a committed vegan, a vegetarian, or simply curious about trying something new, we welcome you. Our goal is to inspire you to enjoy delicious and satisfying meals without the need for animal products. Come and experience the joy of a compassionate and sustainable holiday with us!
”LEAD researchers [also] found that the global livestock industry uses dwindling supplies of freshwater, destroys forests and grasslands, and causes soil erosion, while pollution and the runoff of fertilizer and animal waste create dead zones in coastal areas and smother coral reefs. There also is concern over increased antibiotic resistance, since livestock accounts for 50 percent of antibiotic use globally, according to LEAD.” Read more here -
We use a rainwater tank for the irrigation of our garden.
Rainwater is the plants' preferred source of hydration. It is free of chemicals and salts that are typical of any treated water. These chemicals alter the chemical composition of the soil which has a direct effect on plants. Additionally, rainwater has a balanced pH that is required by the plants.
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We banned use of gas from our property.
Gas hobs can produce carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide, which can linger in the home. Gas cooking appliances can also leak pollutants when not in use, including methane (a potent greenhouse gas) and benzene (a known human carcinogen).
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Most of the furniture and building materials in our home is reused, repurposed, recycled or dead stock. From vintage, found or repurposed furniture to dead-stock tiles in the bathroom to reused and/or repaired showers – we are trying to save the resources and money with this approach. And it’s a big win: for our wallet and for the authenticity of our eclectic interior.
Reducing, reusing and recycling helps save landfill space by keeping useful materials out. The amount of energy and natural resources needed to produce or collect the raw materials and manufacture the product are reduced.
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We started with a full insulation of the little house and the rooftop terrace – good insulation is a must for energy efficiency. Next step are the walls of the house… But also: keeping the doors and windows closed and the rooms dark during the hot summer days also reduces the use of air-conditioning.
These simple tricks keep the house cold in the summertime and warm in the winter.
By reducing the need for natural gas, propane, fuel oil, and electricity to heat and cool buildings, insulation benefits the environment in the form of reduced emissions of pollutants such as carbon dioxide, sulfur oxide and nitrogen oxide, among others.
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We are living on an island with poor access to water and finding building of pools irresponsible. Also, you are at the sea side – the crystal clear sea is literally one minute away.
Swimming pools consume significant water, chemicals, and energy, making them environmentally unfriendly. They lose thousands of liters annually through evaporation and backwashing, wasting a precious resource. The average pool loses 15,000 to 50,000 gallons yearly, which adds up across numerous pools.
The chemicals used for sanitization, like chlorine and algicides, can contaminate groundwater if they leak or spill, causing toxic runoff into local waterways. Even in low concentrations, these chemicals can be harmful.
Heating pools also requires substantial energy, mostly from fossil fuels, especially in cooler climates where pools are heated more frequently. Additionally, running pumps, filters, lights, and heaters consumes a lot of electricity, making pools energy-intensive.
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Did you know: Besides using around 19 billion cubic meters of water annually, washing machines emit an estimated 62 million tonnes of CO2-eq greenhouse gases each year.
This is why we committed to changing of sheets and towels in the bathroom once a week so we don’t use the washing machine more than 2 x a week. We also invite you to use the machine mindfully.
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We have air conditioning in two of the warmest spaces of our house. Please use them only if the temperature exceeds 26 degrees Celsius.
Remember, you are staying in South of Dalmatia. It can get really warm here. Ask for environmentally-friendly options of cooling off. We will meet you with some great tips.
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We collect food waste in a compost bin and use it as natural fertilizer for our garden. We also share the compost with our neighbors who have olive trees and vineyards.
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A few times a year, we team up with our wonderful neighbor to organize a beach cleanup. You wouldn’t believe the things we find—items left by tourists, debris washed ashore by winter waves, and even underwater trash discarded by locals or construction workers. During your stay with us, we’d love for you to join us in this rewarding effort to keep our beach beautiful.