About You and the Property

• Do you have a written environmental or social sustainability policy?     YES

If yes, please attach.

• Do you have a written environmental management system?                  NO

If yes, please attach.

• Describe the property – aim, size, facilities, amount of land owned and leased  (150 words max)
  

Twelve acres with five detached buildings offering accommodations for 13.   We came to enjoy a unique environment where the desert meets the ocean and now we would like to share it. For the discerning, interested in an unrushed, natural experience. Totally solar powered we are “Exquisitely Off the Grid”

• Describe the location, including distance to nearest town and size of town (100 words max)

We are on the Sea of Cortez side of Baja about 30 miles up the coast from Cabo San Lucas. 

• Describe WHY you made the decision to develop an eco resort (100 word max)

We actually came here to live in a relaxed and beautiful environment. The decision to become an eco resort was a natural offshoot of our desire to share what we found beautiful in this life.

Introduction to the Butterfly Club’s Eco Rating

The Butterfly Club Eco Rating has five equally-weighted categories:

• Energy;
• Water;
• Recycling and waste;
• Land and nature conservation; and
• Community.

Each category has five levels, designated by one to five butterflies.  Through self assessment, resort operators completing this rating will determine their own levels within each category based on their responses to items listed below.  

Two categories – energy and water – have similar rating systems with Levels 1 and 2 addressing conservation of existing resources, and Levels 3, 4 and 5 addressing creation of renewable energy or capturing water. 

Level five in every category also requires written sustainability policies or environmental management systems to: (1) monitor and record consumption; (2) test and apply additional conservation methods; and (3) work towards specific targets.   We require a copy of your policies if you achieve level 5 in any category.

Energy

Levels 1 and 2 - conservation: Check all that apply:

Yes-  use natural air circulation and fans, not air conditioners
Yes-  use natural light during the day
Yes-  minimize use of fossil-fuel powered vehicles, machines and equipment
Yes-  use “on demand” or solar heating for hot water
Yes-  air dry clothes/linens
Yes-  wash dishes by hand
Yes-  use energy efficient appliances and electronics☺
Yes-  use low wattage fluorescent or LED light bulbs
Yes-  change linens, tablecloths, napkins upon request
Yes-  _  switch off lights when not used
Other energy conservation activities? Please list:   
All grey water is recycled.
 
Level 1 = four or fewer energy conservation activities

Level 2 = five or more energy conservation activities

Levels 3, 4 and 5 - renewable energy: Indicate proportion (%) of energy from each source:

_97%__  solar
___  wind
___  hydro
__3%_  generator
___  public utility
Other energy sources? Please list:

100% TOTAL
How were these proportions developed?

Level 3 = renewable energy is employed and is less than 1/3 of all energy

Level 4 = renewable energy constitutes 1/3 – 2/3 of all energy

Level 5 = renewable energy constitutes 2/3 or more of all energy.  In addition, there are written sustainability policies or environmental management systems to: (1) monitor and record energy consumption; (2) test and apply additional energy conservation methods; and (3) work towards specific energy targets.  

Attach a copy of your policies if you achieve Energy Level 5 (required).

Your Energy Level (select 1 – 5) =   4

Water

Levels 1 and 2 - conservation: Check all that apply:

Yes-  low flow faucets and showerheads
Yes-  low water use toilets
Yes-  change linens, towels, tablecloths, and napkins upon request
No__use table mats that can be wiped and not laundered
Yes-  _  use biodegradable laundry detergent, dish soap and hand soap
__  treat swimming pool with chlorine-free processes
Other water conservation activities?  Please list.

Level 1 = three or fewer water conservation activities

Level 2 = four or more water conservation activities

Levels 3, 4 and 5 – capture and treat fresh water and manage waste water. Capture water: Indicate proportion (%) of water from each source:

__80%_  spring
___        river
__10%_  rain
___10%  reuse gray
___  public utility
Other water sources? Please list.

100% TOTAL

Fresh water treatment: how is captured fresh water treated?
Yes-  naturally.  Indicate method: charcoal, ultraviolet light,
__x_  chemically.  List chemicals used: chloro

Waste water management:
_ Yes-  _  septic tanks
___  cesspools
___  other? List methods:  aerobic treatment

Level 3: Water is captured (from springs, rivers, rain or prior use) and constitutes less than 1/3 of water from all sources.  Water is treated chemically.  Water disposal does not minimize damage to coral reefs and rain forests

Level 4:  Captured water constitutes 1/3 to 2/3 of all water.  Water is treated naturally. Water disposal minimizes damage to coral reefs and rain forests

Level 5:  Captured water constitutes more than 2/3 of all water.  Water is treated naturally. Water disposal minimizes damage to coral reefs and rain forests.   In addition, there are written sustainability policies or environmental management systems to: (1) monitor and record water consumption; (2) test and apply additional water conservation methods; and (3) work towards specific water targets.  

Attach a copy of your policies if you achieve Water Level 5 (required).

Your Water Level (select 1 – 5): 4

Recycling and waste

Check all that apply:

_ Yes-    use durable service items, e.g. cups, glasses, dishes, tableware, storage items
Yes-   buy fresh and local to reduce packaging and emissions from transportation
Yes-  purchase in bulk to reduce packaging
Yes-  recycle paper, glass, plastic, aluminum
Yes-  minimize emissions from fossil-fuel powered vehicles, machines & equipment      
Yes-  zero waste in the kitchen
Yes-  serve local water, not bottled water
Yes-  cleaning products are biodegradable
Yes-  compost organic matter
Other methods to recycle waste? Please list.   We truck recyclables to the re- cycle man.

Level 1 = four or fewer recycling activities

Level 2 = five recycling activities

Level 3 = six recycling activities

Level 4 = seven recycling activities

Level 5 = eight or more recycling activities.  In addition, there are written sustainability policies or environmental management systems to: (1) monitor and record recycling and waste; (2) test and apply additional recycling and waste conservation methods; and (3) work towards specific recycling and waste targets.  

Attach a copy of your policies if you achieve Recycling and Waste Level 5 (required).

Your Recycling and Waste Level (select 1 – 5): 4 

Land and nature conservation

Check all that apply:

Yes-  minimize tree removal when building
___   use only botanical (plant-based) herbicides & pesticides in garden & grounds
__NO ( lack of water!) _   maintain organic gardens as food source for resort
Yes-  use biodegradable cleaning products
Yes-  minimize external illumination
Yes-  take additional specific actions to preserve the local habitat. 
Yes-  Landscaping with native plants
Please list actions
and projects:   We have obtained an official permission from the Mexican government for “Rescate” which is the ability to rescue native endangered cacti and plants after storms.
 
Level 1: one or two land and nature conservation activities

Level 2: three land and nature conservation activities

Level 3: four land and nature conservation activities

Level 4: five land and nature conservation activities

Level 5: six or more land and nature conservation activities.  In addition, there are written sustainability policies or environmental management systems to: (1) monitor and record land and nature conservation activities; (2) test and apply additional land and nature conservation methods; and (3) work towards specific land and nature conservation targets.  

Attach a copy of your policies if you achieve Land and Nature Conservation Level 5 (required).

Your Land and Nature Conservation Level (select 1 – 5): 4

Community

This category addresses policies and activities regarding staff, guests, suppliers and other members of the community. 

Check all activities that apply:

Yes-  hire staff residing near the resort          100_% local nationals
Yes-  use local suppliers                                60%  purchased goods produced locally
Yes-  re-invest resort income locally            90% income re-invested locally
Yes-  pay above local prevailing wage
Yes-  pay into local social security
Yes-  provide health insurance or coverage
___  use regular staff meetings to educate staff about sustainable processes throughout the resort, in the garden, with waste disposal, etc
___  provide educational awareness programs for staff, guests, suppliers and other members of the local community
_ Yes- provide sustainable transport to work for staff ( staff on site)
__x_  take additional specific actions to support the local community. Please list actions and projects.  Local and beach cleanup projects, meet with resource management to discuss local development plans
___  Have enrolled your staff in any personal green training/certification schemes such as ecohelpline.com green leaf certification.

Level 1: one or two community activities

Level 2: three to five community activities

Level 3: six to seven community activities

Level 4: eight to nine community activities

Level 5: ten or more community activities.  In addition, there are written sustainability policies or environmental management systems to: (1) monitor and record community activities; (2) test and apply additional methods to support the community; and (3) work towards specific community targets.  

Attach a copy of your policies if you achieve Community Level 5 (required).

Your Community Level (select 1 – 5): 4

YOUR OVERALL ECO SCORE (add your level for each category and divide by 5and enter the result with the decimal point, e.g. 3.6):  4.0

We have three final questions which are not part of the eco rating: 

• Please describe your single most important eco achievement:

All solar powered hotel

• Indicate additional sustainable practices that you plan to institute within the next 6 months.

• Is there anything else you would like to add to this eco rating?

The reason I didn’t give us a five on some of the above categories is because we don’t have individual written directions though I believe we are fulfilling the intent