Sustainability at Muse Escapes

Sustainability and Accessibility Guidelines for Muse Escapes: Foxlow Grange and Candle House

At Muse Escapes, we are fully committed to sustainability and accessibility in our holiday home business. We believe that responsible tourism not only benefits the environment but also ensures that everyone can enjoy our accommodations. Below are our guidelines for promoting sustainability and accessibility at Foxlow Grange and Candle House:

Sustainability Initiatives at Foxlow Grange:

1. Solar Power: Foxlow Grange is powered by clean solar energy. Our solar panels harness the sun’s energy to provide electricity, reducing our carbon footprint and promoting renewable energy use.
2. Electric Vehicle (EV) Charge Point: We provide an EV charge point on-site for eco-conscious travellers. This allows guests to conveniently charge their electric vehicles during their stay, contributing to a greener future.
3. Waste Reduction: To encourage responsible waste disposal, we provide recycling bins. We kindly request guests to assist us in reducing landfill waste by separating recyclables from general waste.
4. Natural Cleaning Products: We use biodegradable and eco-friendly cleaning products in Candle House, ensuring cleanliness while being kind to the planet. Guests are encouraged to use them during their stay.
5. Refillable Toiletries: To reduce single-use plastics, we provide refillable glass containers for shampoo, conditioner, hand/body wash, and creams, all of which are vegan-friendly. Guests are encouraged to use these during their stay to help minimise plastic waste.
6. Sensor Lighting in Communal Areas: To further reduce energy consumption, we have installed sensor lighting in communal areas. These lights automatically switch off when no motion is detected, ensuring that energy is conserved when areas are not in use.

  Sustainability Initiatives at Candle House:

1. Eco-Friendly Septic Tank: Candle House utilises an environmentally friendly septic tank system that uses biodegradable products. This minimises the impact on the environment while efficiently treating wastewater.
2. Natural Cleaning Products: We use biodegradable and eco-friendly cleaning products in Candle House, ensuring cleanliness while being kind to the planet. Guests are encouraged to use them during their stay.
3. Water Conservation: Guests are requested to use water responsibly during their stay. We’ve installed water-saving fixtures to reduce consumption, and your cooperation is greatly appreciated.
4. Refillable Toiletries: To reduce single-use plastics, we provide refillable glass containers for shampoo, conditioner, hand/body wash, and creams, all of which are vegan-friendly. Guests are encouraged to use these during their stay to help minimise plastic waste.
5. Sensor Lighting in Communal Areas: To further reduce energy consumption, we have installed sensor lighting in communal areas. These lights automatically switch off when no motion is detected, ensuring that energy is conserved when areas are not in use.

 General Sustainability Tips for Guests:

1. Energy Conservation: We encourage guests to save energy by turning off lights and appliances when not in use and adjusting heating and cooling to energy-efficient settings.
2. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: We urge guests to be mindful of consumption during their stay, use reusable items, and recycle any waste using provided bins.
3. Support Local Businesses: Guests are encouraged to support local, sustainable businesses when exploring the area. This helps preserve local culture and supports the regional economy.
4. Nature Conservation: We ask guests to respect the natural surroundings, avoid disturbing wildlife, and dispose of litter responsibly.
5. Feedback: We welcome guest feedback and ideas to further improve our sustainability efforts. Guests are encouraged to share any suggestions or concerns during their stay.
6. Locally Ground Coffee: Only 27% of people recycle coffee pods, so 45 billion pods go to waste, and 123 million pods go to landfills daily. This is why we choose locally ground coffee. Our local roastery coffee offers more sustainable options through direct sourcing, eco-friendly packaging, and reduced transportation emissions.
7. Collaborating with local bike rental providers: We offer this as an option to our guests as it reduces carbon emissions, supports the local economy, promotes active tourism, and enhances the overall guest experience, contributing to sustainable and responsible travel while exploring the local area. 
8. Waste Disposal: Using HPBC Trade for secure waste storage and transport ensures sustainable waste management which means we are reducing environmental impact and potential harm while complying with proper disposal practices.
9. Linen Services: We use a company whose sustainability efforts involve reducing water consumption through energy-efficient machines, positively impacting the environment while trying to reduce environmental footprint.

Community Engagement:

At Muse Escapes, we are committed to giving back to the community. Any food left over from guests is donated to a local food bank, reducing food waste and helping those in need.

Alongside this our customer relations utilise an application called Olio, which serves as a platform for sharing items you no longer require with individuals residing in the area. This encompasses both consumable and non-consumable items. Additionally, we make use of platforms like Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace to distribute old furniture, bedding, towels, unwanted possessions, and items from lost property in an effort to reduce landfill waste. While undergoing our initial property renovations, we had the opportunity to leverage these platforms effectively.

We would like to express our gratitude for choosing Muse Escapes for your holiday getaway. By staying at Foxlow Grange and Candle House, you join us in our commitment to a more sustainable and eco-friendly future. We hope you have a wonderful stay and enjoy the beauty of our properties and the natural environment.

Accessibility Guidelines:

In addition to our sustainability efforts, we are dedicated to ensuring accessibility for all our guests. Here are some accessibility guidelines we follow:

1. Accessible Holiday Homes: In 2024, we will introduce two accessible single-story holiday homes at Candle House and Foxlow Grange, designed to accommodate guests with a range of accessibility requirements.
2. Staff Training: Our team is trained to assist guests with accessibility needs, ensuring that they have a comfortable and enjoyable stay.
3. Customer Support: Our guest relationship manager is available to assist with any specific accessibility requirements or questions guests may have.
4. Continuous Improvement: We are committed to continually improving our accessibility features and welcome guest feedback to help us enhance the accessibility of our accommodations.

Please feel free to reach out to us at info@museescapes.com if you have any questions or require further assistance related to sustainability or accessibility during your stay at Muse Escapes.

Thank you for choosing Muse Escapes.