7 Easy Ways to Make Your Vacation Rental Eco-Friendly
Preserving the environment is no longer a feel-good hobby for the few, but rather a social responsibility of the majority. As companies, local governments and small businesses start to take on eco-friendly practices, short-term rental owners should consider how they can implement environmentally safe practices, as well.Preserving the environment is no longer a feel-good hobby for the few, but rather a social responsibility of the majority. As companies, local governments and small businesses start to take on eco-friendly practices, short-term rental owners should consider how they can implement environmentally safe practices, as well.
Having a green vacation rental is always a good idea! The best part about going green is that it doesn’t hurt your Airbnb’s functionality, nor does it cost a fortune. Even the smallest changes could help you shift your home towards an eco-friendly short-term rental.
Benefits of Having an
Eco-Friendly Rental
Not only does an eco-friendly Airbnb benefit the environment, but it also helps you save on utility bills. By attracting guests that are environmentally conscious, you’re likely to end up with travelers who turn off lights and water faucets when they’re not being used.
These travelers form a part of a growing niche within the travel sector called sustainable tourism. Transforming your vacation rental into an eco-friendly home could help you reach this new target demographic, or at the very least, help your Airbnb stand out among the rest.
Sustainable tourism is becoming increasingly popular among travelers who are conscious of the carbon footprint travel leaves behind and are mindful about their interactions with the environment.
Here are a few things you can do to make your vacation rental eco-friendly:
Furnish with Sustainable Materials
Furnishing your vacation rental with furniture made from materials such as bamboo, cork, reclaimed wood and recycled glass is a great way to make your Airbnb eco-friendly. Instead of buying brand new furniture from IKEA, you can try to find secondhand furniture in excellent condition made from locally sourced materials. This helps reduce transport emissions and wood waste.
You can do the same with decorations. Instead of buying plastic plants, place real plants in your rental and swap them out every few months. Low-maintenance plants such as peace lilies and English ivies purify the air and reduce the amount of plastic being used. You can also purchase vases and paintings made by local artists, which reduces shipping emissions and has the added bonus of supporting small businesses! Linens, carpets and other cloth items made of organic cotton, hemp and soy silk are also environmentally friendly decor options.
Clean with Eco-Friendly Products
One of the easiest ways to go green is to clean with environmentally friendly products. As a short-term rental owner, you or your property management team is likely cleaning in between stays. Depending on how long they stay, guests may even want to have cleaning supplies on-hand.
Organic and eco-friendly cleaning supplies are readily available in several stores, so finding environmentally friendly sprays and detergents won’t be difficult. Choosing organic cleaners over traditional cleaners helps reduce harmful water runoff and ground pollution.
Some traditional cleaners are mixed with toxic chemicals, making it dangerous to store them where children are staying. If your target demographic is families, switching to non-hazardous cleaning supplies could even make your vacation rental more safe.
Use Energy-Efficient Bulbs
You don’t have to install the most modern appliances to make your rental eco-friendly. Although you could invest in ENERGY STAR appliances if your budget allows for it, something as simple as switching out regular light bulbs for energy-efficient LED or CFL bulbs could cut down your home’s carbon footprint. Given their energy-efficient nature, these bulbs have a long lifespan, so you won’t have to change them as frequently.
Energy-efficient lighting is easily found in home improvement stores and isn’t difficult to install. It’s a simple change that will benefit your vacation rental in the long run and save you money on your electric bill every month.
Provide Recycling Options
Probably one of the most obvious ways to convert your rental into an eco-friendly stay is to provide recycling options. Instead of having one trash can for all waste, you can separate a big one into two or three bins for each type of waste product.
You can have a trash bin, a recycling bin and a compost bin available. Compost can be used as fertilizer for your plants and garden, if you have one. You can also take it a step further by having a separate bin for recycling paper, plastic and glass. Make sure you label each bin accordingly so that guests know where to throw away what.
Provide Reusable Grocery Bags
Keeping a stash of recycled shopping bags in the kitchen or laundry area is a super simple way of greenifying your rental. Guests who pack light will often need a tote of some kind to go shopping, go to the beach, or carry some of their items to wherever they are headed for the day.
Start collecting canvas totes on your own travels or purchasing them at the grocery store check-outs. Your guests will appreciate the added utility to your rental and reiterate your commitment to keeping the environment safe.
Promote the Use of Public Transportation
Last, but not least, something as simple as promoting the use of public transportation around your STR could make it more green. Not all guests will bring their car or want to get a rental. Some guests actually prefer public transportation over driving.
Make a list of popular restaurants and points of interest around your neighborhood. Then look up transit routes to and from these places. Guests are sure to appreciate you going the extra mile for them, as well the chance to reduce carbon emissions via collective transport.
Plant an Organic Garden in the Backyard
As mentioned above, compost can serve as a fertilizer to your garden. If you don’t have one, consider planting one in your backyard or wherever you have space on your property. A garden also adds aesthetic appeal to your STR, encouraging guests to enjoy your outdoor area if you have one available for use.
Growing plants that are native to the local area is a great way to make your rental eco-friendly. Native plants flourish naturally and help upkeep the soil and wildlife of the local area. Try to avoid growing non-native plants, as this requires more water, fertilizer and overall effort to maintain.
Contact MBX Homes to Make Your Green Vacation Rental a Success!
If you’re interested in making your vacation rental more eco-friendly or appealing to sustainable tourism, contact the expert team at MBX Homes. We are a boutique, full-service property management company helping Airbnb investors like you set their rentals apart from the competition. Call or email us today to learn more!
