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Ellis House Bed & Breakfast is striving to be an environmentally-friendly establishment, caring for the environment and, at the same time, your well-being.
 
Reduce (Waste) / Reuse / Recycle:
Modern societies produce an excessive amount of waste.
The costs of doing so include the spreading of landfill sites as well as the damage to the environment caused by the manufacturing, distribution, and ultimate disposal of products.
"Reduce, Reuse, Recycle"; prescribes three strategies concerning solid waste management.
Environmentally aware consumers can produce less waste by practicing the three strategies:
The “3 Rs: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle".
Buying products that are less toxic or contain less packaging
Use reusable containers and other refillable items
Maintain, repair or replace appliances
Participate in recycling programs
Prefer or recommend products made from recycled materials
Eco-practices
Ellis House has instituted the eco-friendly motto of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle whenever possible.
Eco-friendly practices and Ecotourism are gaining widespread popularity as a suitable strategy for the Bed and Breakfast experience.
This trend is a perfect fit for small Inns and Bed and Breakfasts because they can easily minimize the impact of conventional tourism and build environmental & cultural awareness.
Plastic silverware and plastic/styrofoam bowls have been replaced with glass bowls and stainless steel silverware.
Ellis House now has dedicated bins for the recycling of plastic, glass, paper.
Niagara Falls has a fantastic recycling scheme where we are able to ensure that the majority of our garbage can be recycled.
Ellis House has recently introduced the following "ENERGY CONSERVATION"Measures:
Energy Efficient Windows (Energy Star Windows)
Compact flourescent light bulbs
LED light bulbs
Low Flow Shower Heads
Low Flow Toilets
Ceiling Fans
Energy -saving Air Conditioners
Reduction of Lawn Space by 70%
Plants that are drought tollerant (Desert Plants)
Rain Barrels - (to water flowerin plants)
Mulch Flower Beds
Replacing our appliances with Energy Star Appliances.
Insulation
Lagging pipes
Energy-saving mechanisms
Our Guests Rooms
Our guests are given the choice of whether they desire to have
their bed linen and towels changed on an everyday basis. By using
their same linens it helps us to conserve and reduce water
consumption and energy. Energy Efficient Air Contioners have been installed in each suite.
Guests are requested to turn OFF air conditioners when not utilizing suite.
Every suite has its own Air Conditioner; ONLY the rooms being used are air conditioned; thus saving on Energy!
Toiletries & Ensuite Jacuzzi Whirlpool Tubs
By offering you toiletries in the bathrooms; we can avoid lots of cartons and wrappers ending up in landfill.
The products are biodegradable and packaged in recyclable containers and/or made out of recycled materials.
Health regulations requires Ellis House to use of a low concentration of bleach to sanitize jacuzzi whirlpool tubs after every use.
Laundry
Ellis House washes in cold water using phosphate-free, perfume-free, enzyme-free and dye-free laundry detergent; which comes in a recyclable container.
We have removed the need for softener by adding chemical-free, hypoallergenic “Ecoballs” to the wash.
They are said to produce ionized oxygen that activates molecules naturally and allows them to penetrate deep into clothing fibres to lift dirt away and also to be antibacterial.
Ellis House has a towel & sheet re-use policy; reducing detergent and energy use.
Health regulations requires the use of a low concentration of bleach to sanitize.
Tissue and Paper Products
Ellis House Advertises via the internet; limited paper brochures available.
Ellis House buys recycled computer paper.
Ellis House offers recycled toilet tissue which is made mainly from recycled office paper which would normally have ended up in landfill. There is no chlorine bleach used in the manufacture of these tissues.
Did you know?
If each household in Canada replaced one box of virgin fibre facial tissue with a box of tissue made from 100% recycled fibre, we could save:
11,654 trees
853 m3 / 1100 yds3 of landfill space (48 garbage trucks)
15.9 million litres 4.2 million gallons of water (1 year supply for 32 families of four).
ECO-FRIENDLY Food
Wherever possible, Ellis House aims to serve foods which are locally produced.
Sometimes it is not possible to get both, but you can rely on us to source the healthiest and most environmentally-friendly food we can obtain.
Buying local foods can support our local economy and reduces 'food miles' (the distance food must travel before it reaches the consumer).
This lessens our dependence on oil, reduces air pollution and decreases wear and tear on the roads.
Locally grown and shipped food also allows the reduction of packaging; reducing what may enter the landfills.
Composting
Composting non-protein food scraps and incorporating the resulting loam into the land, the soil is nourished and moisture retention improved.
Composting lightens the load on the landfills. Left over breakfast items are placed in our compost bin (when applicable.)
IF YOU SUFFER FROM ALLERGIES
HEPA filters in vacuum cleaners help maintain quality air indoors.
Ellis House is proud to offer Hard Wood Floors throughout.
No Pot Pourri or room deodorizers are used.
Hypo allergenic mattress and pillow covers with frequent laundering
No smoking in guest rooms or common space.
No pets in guest rooms or common space.
Environmentally-friendly cleaning & Laundry products when ever possible.
For sanitizing; Ellis House is required to use a low concentration bleach.
What you can do to Champion a BETTER ENVIRONMENT!
Choose Air-Friendly Products; many products you use in your home are made with smog-forming chemicals that escape into the air.
Some suggestions:
Select water-based or have low amounts of volatile organic compounds products.
Use water-based paints. Look for paints labeled “zero-VOC.”
Paint with a brush, not a sprayer.
Store solvents in air-tight containers.
Use a push or electric lawn mower.
Use a propane or natural gas barbecue.
Use a fan instead of air conditioning.
Use an EPA-approved wood burning stove or fireplace insert.
Heat small meals in a microwave oven.
Insulate your water heater.
Don’t use your wood stove or fireplace on days with unhealthy air.
Avoid using leaf blowers (raise a lot of dust); Use a rake or broom instead.
Don’t smoke. Send smokers outside.
Cleaning agents & paints (use outdoors or in well vented area's).
Use safer products, such as baking soda instead of harsher chemical cleaners.
Have your gas appliances and heater regularly inspected and maintained.
Clean frequently to remove dust and molds.
Water Filtration Systems:
In order increase water usability, water supplies have to be treated with many chemicals to prevent illnesses and bacterial diseases.
The effects of chemically treated water have led to many health risks. From drinking to showering and swimming in our pools, chemically treated water has produced serious health risks.
Researchers have determined that taking long hot showers has led to an increased exposure to dangerous chemicals.
As well, elderly people with certain vitamin deficiencies and people with heart and kidney problems are more susceptible to the toxic effects of fluoride.
With the growing data demonstrating chemicals in our water as a health hazard, consumers are looking for natural ways to purify their water.
Using a house water filter can alleviate the effects of asthma and allergies by providing cleaner air to breathe in the home.
TO CONSERVE WATER
Conserving tap water:
The average running tap uses approximately 10 liters of water every minute and dripping taps can use up to 90 liters of water per week.
Mend any dripping taps with appropriate washers and ball-valves
Don’t waste clean water on plants, put a bowl in your sink and use water from your washing up or cooled cooking water instead
Don’t run tap water until it’s cold, use your fridge to chill water or purchase a specialist undersink chiller or water cooler
Put a bowl in your sink or use the plug to avoid cleaning clothes, etc under a running tap
Conserving Water in the Bathroom:
Flushing a toilet uses up to 10 liters of water every time and accounts for a third of the water used in the home.
Have a shower rather than a bath but don’t spend too long under the shower
Don’t run water continuously when cleaning your teeth perhaps make use of a glass or mug
Use a waste basket instead of your toilet to dispose of those small bits of rubbish that are often created in the bathroom
Conserving Water when using your Washing Machine:
Washing machines use a massive amount of water, on each cycle this can amount to as much as 70 to 120 Liters of water at a time. A full load uses less water than 2 half loads.
Make sure that you machine has a full load before turning it on
When buying a new machine make sure it is efficient as possible
Conserving Water when using your Dishwasher:
A Dishwasher uses up to 60 liters of water each time that it is used.
Make sure that your machine is fully loaded prior to use
Avoid pre-rinsing dishes and cutlery under a flowing tap
Conserving Water with proper Maintenance:
Maintaining your home or business premises can save you money and help conserve water.
Maintain your plumbing systems and fix all leaks as soon as possible
Insulate venerable pipes to avoid them freezing and bursting in the cold weather
Make sure you know where your stop tap is so that you can isolate any leaks as soon as possible
Conserving Water in the Garden:
Rainwater is a great natural resource which should be used where possible to fulfill some of the more basic requirements in the garden. Installing a water butt is the best way to harness this natural asset, and it’s a fact that rainwater is better for garden plants than tap water.
Use waste kitchen water wherever possible to water your plants
Water your garden during the evening or late afternoon when it’s cooler to help reduce evaporation
Don’t use a garden sprinkler these devises are wasteful and unnecessary
Reduce the size of your lawn and buy plants that require less moisture
Water your lawn once a week only; this will help to preserve your water
Mulch your garden with tree bark, coconut compost, etc, to prevent evaporation
Conserving Water by limiting Hosepipe:
Clean paths and driveways with a brush not a hose
Clean your vehicles with a bucket and sponge rather than using a hose
When only a hose will do you can avoid wasting water by fitting a shutoff valve on your hosepipe
Energy Efficiency
Energy Efficient Windows (Energy Star Windows)
Replacing our appliances with Energy Star Appliances.
Retrofitting for EcoEnergy savings
Insulation
Lagging pipes
Energy-saving mechanisms
Compact flourescent light bulbs
LED light bulbs
Energy efficiency simply means getting the same amount of work out of a device without having to use as much energy. An excellent example of an energy efficient technology is a compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb, which is typically four times more energy efficient than a regular incandescent light bulb, but produces the same amount and quality of light.
Energy efficient technologies can cut home electric bills by 10 to 50 percent. These technologies include compact fluorescent light bulbs, high efficiency heating and air conditioning systems, and energy efficient appliances that have the Energy Star logo. Home energy efficiency can also be improved by sealing leaky duct systems and caulking windows and doors.
Conserving energy, by taking actions like insulating/weather-stripping your home and purchasing Energy Star certified (high efficiency) appliances, is usually the smartest, most economical and most potent environmental action you can take.
Cleaner, greener energy supplies may provide the cleanest supplies of needed electricity, but minimizing the energy we need is still the first step to take before selecting the cleanest, greenest supplies.
Whenever you save energy, you not only save money, you also reduce the demand for such fossil fuels as coal, oil, and natural gas. Less burning of fossil fuels also means lower emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), the primary contributor to global warming, and other pollutants.
You do not have to do without to achieve these savings. There is now an energy efficient alternative for almost every kind of appliance or light fixture. That means that consumers have a real choice and the power to change their energy use on a revolutionary scale.
Home improvements:
Insulate walls and ceilings. This can save 20 to 30 percent of home heating bills and reduce CO2 emissions.
Replacing all your ordinary windows with argon filled, double-glazed windows saves 2.4 tons of CO2 per year for homes with gas heat.
Plant shade trees and paint your house a light color if you live in a warm climate or a dark color if you live in a cold climate. Each tree also directly absorbs about 25 pounds of CO2 from the air annually.
Weatherize your home or apartment, using caulk and weather stripping to plug air leaks around doors and windows.
Turn your refrigerator down. Refrigerators account for about 20% of Household electricity use. Use a thermometer to set your refrigerator temperature as close to 37 degrees and your freezer as close to 3 degrees as possible. Make sure that its energy saver switch is turned on. Also, check the gaskets around your refrigerator/freezer doors to make sure they are clean and sealed tightly.
Set your clothes washer to the warm or cold water setting, not hot.
Turn down your water heater thermostat. Thermostats are often set to 140 degrees F when 120 is usually fine.
Select the most energy-efficient models when you replace your old appliances. Look for the Energy Star Label - your assurance that the product saves energy and prevents pollution.
Don’t overheat or overcool rooms. In the winter, set your thermostat at 68 degrees in daytime, and 55 degrees at night. In the summer, keep it at 78.
Clean or replace air filters as recommended. Energy is lost when air conditioners and hot-air furnaces have to work harder to draw air through dirty filters. Cleaning a dirty air conditioner filter can save 5 percent of the energy used. That could save 175 pounds of CO2 per year.
Buy energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs for your most-used lights. Although they cost more initially, they save money in the long run by using only 1/4 the energy of an ordinary incandescent bulb and lasting 8-12 times longer.
Wrap your water heater in an insulating jacket. It can save 1100 lbs. of CO2 per year for an electric water heater.
Use less hot water by installing low-flow shower heads.
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