Since 2012, the Gîtes de France® label has been offering its members the opportunity to qualify their vacation rentals in “Ecogestes”. In their Gîte de France® labelled 3 épis in Kairon, Mr & Mme BASSARD wanted to join this approach to offer their guests a more responsible stay. Let’s find out more about the best practices of Sylvie and Hervé.
Presentation of the plant
We moved to Kairon in 2011, our desire was to build an eco-responsible house while offering independent guest rooms for rent upstairs. In 2018, we transformed our rooms into a gîte. Sensitive to sustainable development, we decided to qualify the latter in “Ecogestes”. To do this, we have to meet the sustainable criteria (mandatory and optional) provided by Gîtes de France® and commit to respecting them. Alongside the Kairon gîte, we have another gîte in Champeaux, le nid, which does not qualify as eco-gestures even though most of the sustainable actions are also proposed there.
Examples of actions implemented
At the construction of the Kairon house
- 40 cm cellular concrete wall for better insulation, energy savings
- Solar water heater and even in Normandy the return is positive
- A water recuperator (3000-liter underground tank) used mainly for watering the garden
- Canadian well (natural system for cooling the air in summer, and warms the air in winter)
Eco-friendly gestures
- Low-energy light bulbs
- Faucets on all taps
- Posting of waste sorting information, map of sorting points around the gîte and customer awareness-raising
- Eco-labelled cleaning products. Small tip: following the reinforced sanitary protocol because of Covid, 70% household alcohol adopted, very good disinfectant
- Composter (Champeaux gîte): inside the reception binder, indications of the materials that can be stored to encourage customers to use it
- Bed linen and toiletries in organic cotton
.
The action we’re most excited about is theimplementation of the composter. You can put vegetable peelings, eggshells, lawn clippings (but not too many), twigs and dead leaves in it, and it’s forbidden to put food scraps such as meat or fish in it. From time to time, if it’s too dry, water and aerate the contents with a fork. And after a few months, a fertilizing compost is collected to enrich the garden soil.
Installing a composter, also on a personal basis, has enabled us to reduce our waste enormously, and every week we put half as many bags of household garbage out for collection. As a result, we encourage owners of vacation rentals with a garden area to offer this device to their guests.
This is the best way to preserve our planet for future generations.
Testimonial from Sylvie and Hervé Bassard (Owners)
Why did you get involved?
We’re committed to this approach because for us, it’s the future, and when we built our house in 2011, we didn’t want to go back to a conventional house, but a more eco-responsible house. Global warming and pollution are at the heart of local, national and international issues, and it’s urgent that we take charge and act.
Would you like to share?
Contact : Amandine Launay – Tél. : 06 40 67 26 74 – Email : a.launay@otgtm.fr
