Environment, Conservation and Cumbria House...

We have always tried to think of the consequences of how we live and how this affects the environment for future generations. We will follow on from our predecessors, Cathy and Barry, and do all we can to minimise our impact on the environment in the following ways:

• In order to reduce "Food Miles" we purchase the great majority of our provisions in Keswick and as far as possible from local producers.
  
  
• We recycle all glass, cans, paper, cardboard as well as plastics and polythene.
  
  
• To reduce "Water Miles" we encourage our guests to fill their water bottles from Lakeland tap water kept chilled in the 'fridge rather than buying expensive bottled water.
  Guest towels are not changed on a daily basis, only when they are obviously dirty or wet. Similarly sheets and pillowcases are changed only if the stay exceeds 4 days, obviously more frequently if dirty.
  
  
• Where appropriate we have high efficiency fluorescent light units and, where not, dimmer switches. During daylight hours only low wattage lights are used in the hall, stairs and landings (around 40 W total).
  
  
• The central heating is usually turned off after breakfast until late afternoon and again overnight unless the weather is especially cold. If you are in during the day and feel chilly, please let us know and we can either turn the heating on or provide you with a fan heater - also useful for cooling if it gets too hot in the summer!
  
  
• Hot water is provided by a pumped system controlled by a timer. This operates for a couple of hours first thing in the morning and from late afternoon to mid evening during which times the water should run hot more or less instantly. At other times it might take only a little longer - please be patient.
  
  
• All hot water and central heating pipes have been lagged with insulation - over 200 metres in all!
  
  
• To reduce flushing volume, WC cisterns contain 'Hippos'. Parents are asked to warn their children not to lift the cistern lid to check as they may bite!
  
  
• With the exception of a few speciality teas and infusions all beverages, whether for breakfast or in the "hospitality baskets" in the bedrooms, are FAIRTRADE, some are organic as well. Jars of loose instant coffee, hot chocolate and sugar, rather than sachets, are provided in the rooms and are topped up from a larger container. Be assured that they are Fairtrade and well within their use by dates!
  
  
• Please do not feel obliged to order the full English breakfast if you don't feel you can eat it all. Breakfasts are cooked individually to order, and we would like you to have the choice of any items from the menu.

We are Gold Supporters of The Tourism and Conservation Partnership Ltd, a non profit making organisation that brings together tourism, businesses, conservation groups to fund and help preserve and enhance the natural beauty of the Lake District.

We operate an 'opt-out' levy scheme which adds the princely sum of £1 per person to your bill (£2 for stays of 4 days or more), unless you request otherwise. You may of course contribute more, or directly into the collection box!!

In order to encourage environmental awareness, we will give a 5% discount to guests who arrive in Keswick by public transport, bicycle or on foot, and 2% discount to those who, having arrived by car, leave it unused in our car park for the duration of their stay (but only if the stay is 4 days or more). We expect you to leave your car keys with us to ensure you don't cheat!

We welcome any suggestions for improvements to our environmental policies.