Living green--or responsibly--involves two things:

Considering What you buy and what you get rid of after you use what you need.

Ever since we opened our first inn in Atlanta in 1992, we have recycled the plastic, aluminum, paper and cardboard waste produced by the inn. In a city that is easy: the sanitation department provided curbside removal of all items except cardboard and white/mixed paper. We hired a service to come monthly to take the office paper and junk mail.

Here in a small rural town, the city itself is struggling to enhance and update its recycling program, one born out of trying to keep things out of the landfill because it costs the town money to put them in there!

So..... some plastics, all types cardboard, pastboard and newspaper are recycled at the local center. Aluminum is donated to the Johnson County Humane Society fund raising effort. Most scrap metal can eventually be recycled locally (with effort). Hazardous products can be recycled one weekend a year.

North Carolina has a much more progressive waste management and recycling program in place in its transfer sites. The company hired to collect the materials is also in nearby North Carolina. Thanks to the collection company we are now able to recycle all plastics, metal cans, and all colors of glass.

To cut down on the number of water bottles being recycled (they were making up as much as 1/3 of al the trash), we have instlaled a water filtration system on the bar sink in the gallery. Soon we will supply guests with take-home refillable and washable bottles.

 

The little plastic bottles from shampoo drove us nuts at our first inn, in Atlanta. Here, we have installed wall mounted shampoo and cream rinse dispensers; we buy the products in bulk from Greenwich Bay Cool, a wholesale supplier to inns around the country.  Hand washing soap is also via pump bottles in the guest rooms. These are refilled as needed. Bar soap is provided as well.

 

Recycling is sometimes much easier said than done. Robert is pictured breaking down cardboard boxes. Some items must be carried up to 35 miles for disposal!

 

Our heating and cooling system has individual thermostats in each room as well as ceiling fans and gas log or electric log sets. This enables guests to choose their own room temperatures and allows us to lighten the system demand in rooms not in use. (Unrented rooms are kept at 80 degrees in summer and 58 in winter, for example. Hall doors are closed to balance the system.)

 

'Tis the Season... To Give Thanks. We honor the local businesses who have recommended us and used our services in the past 18 months. Our wish to you:   Success and Happy New Year. Clinicient    NNBall Hanesbrands  Suba's Smith & Cockett Mountain City Care Ctr RedTail Mountain Film Processing Johnson Cty School System Prudential Mountain Properties Johnson County Courts and legal system USDA Rural Development Northeast Correctional Mountain City Lumber Farmers State Bank Johnson County Bank Daniel's Trace Resort A.C.T.I.O.N. Coalition Freedom Mtn. Academy State of Tennessee Judy & Robert Hotchkiss Prospect Hill Bed & Breakfast 801 W. Main St./ Hwy. 67 - Mountain City Exceptional Lodging & Party Facilities for Business & Social Events Historic and Original 423-727-0137

Our Pets
 
Tiger Lily & Big Head sleeping