Our Green Scheme identifies holiday cottages where the owners have taken extra steps to be kinder to the environment. We’ve established our new Green Cottages scheme by identifying holiday homes with features which help them make less impact on the environment. We encourage our owners to think sustainably, but we also make sure cottages remain warm and comfortable. We look at the impact on the environment of each cottage with regards to energy, pollution, information, water, wildlife and landscape, purchasing and promote beneficial features, such as renewable energy.

The owners which have taken part in this scheme have completed our online self-assessment, looking at things like helping save energy with extra insulation, A-rated appliances, recycling and promoting recycling to customers, and the provision of information about local facilities and car-free days out. We give practical advice to holiday home owners on how to make small improvements for a greener future.

Every property in the scheme must meet our green criteria.

Below is an overview of what that criteria involves.

• Energy: efficient use of lighting, heating and insulation, appliances and renewable energy use.
• Waste: minimisation of waste and pollution by the recycling of glass, metals, plastics, paper and cardboard, and the encouragement of reusable shopping bags. Registering for paper free notifications.
• Water: efficiency – good, low consumption appliances.
• Purchasing: Information and encouragement for customers to use local shops and farmers' markets.
• Social and environmental: Information provided to encourage guests, where possible, to use local transport, walk, cycle, and itineraries with things to do with minimal use of the car, including local nature reserves. Providing bird boxes, bee shelters and wildlife habitats to encourage native wildlife within the cottage grounds.