In a world where “going green” is more than just a trend, eco-friendliness has become a buzzword that’s here to stay. And in the world of vacation rentals, being eco-friendly isn’t just good for the planet—it’s good for business too. Having an eco-friendly vacation rental can help you enhance your brand and attract environmentally-conscious guests. So let’s explore how to make your vacation rental more sustainable without sacrificing comfort and style.
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Table of Contents
The Key Features of an Eco-Friendly Vacation Rental
Sustainable interior design
The first step in creating an eco-friendly vacation rental is to focus on sustainable interior design. This involves anything from using sustainable materials and furniture to adopting biophilic design.
Photo: Daici Ano | Architect: Keiji Ashizawa Design | via: Dezeen
Biophilic Design For Your Airbnb
Never heard of biophilic design? It is an interior design and architectural concept that emphasizes the connection between people and nature, and it’s backed by research that shows that reconnecting people with the outside even when they’re inside has huge physiological and psychological benefits.
What does that mean for your vacation rental? Think plants, natural materials, water features, and plenty of natural light – all artfully woven into your aesthetic.
Not only will this green approach enhance air quality, but it’ll also have your guests feeling calm and happy in no time.
Environmentally friendly materials
If you’re remodeling your vacation rental or building from scratch, your choice of materials can have a big environmental effect. It might be tempting to select bamboo flooring and call it a day, but there are other factors that determine whether a material is eco-friendly or not.
Choosing a material that grows quickly, like bamboo, is a good starting point, but you should also find out as much as you can about how long the material is expected to last, where it’s being shipped from, and whether the glues and finishes that have been used to manufacture the product are environmentally friendly. Look for flooring with a Floorscore low-emission certification to be sure what you’re choosing won’t negatively affect air quality.
Consider that although materials like vinyl floors may not seem eco-friendly at first glance, if they outlast other types of flooring, weigh less for shipping, do not require toxic sealers or cleansers, and are made with little to no off-gassing, then they may actually be a good choice for an environmentally friendly vacation rental.
Materials to consider for an eco-friendly vacation rental are:
Floors
walls
countertops
- Recycled wood*
- Bamboo*
- Cork*
- Linoleum
- Recyclable carpet (typically nylon)
- Wool carpet
- Vinyl, if free from BPA and phthalates
- *if formaldehyde free
- No VOC latex paint
- Limewash paint
- Roman clay finish
- Low or zero VOC wallpaper
- Recycled quartz*
- Recycled glass*
- Reclaimed wood butcher block
- Recycled stainless steel
- Terrazzo
Sustainable Furnishings and Decor
The best way to ensure your furnishings are sustainable is to ensure they will last. That may mean spending a little more up-front for quality, but it will be well worth it when you don’t have to replace furniture earlier than expected. It can be difficult to assess the quality of upholstered furniture, which is why I wrote guides for selecting sofas and beds.
Keeping furniture out of landfills is one of the best ways to protect the environment, so consider choosing furniture with good bones and having it reupholstered or refinished is a great way to go.
Don’t hesitate to visit your local thrift stores or antique markets for some pre-loved pieces with character. This way, you will reduce your environmental imprint, save some cash, and infuse your rental with personality. In fact, buying second-hand furniture is also one of my favorite tricks to furnish a space when you’re in a hurry!
Whether you buy new or gently used, your vacation rental furniture isn’t sustainable if you end up replacing it because it just doesn’t look good in the space. The way to prevent that is to have a design plan in place before you start shopping. If you need help with that, check out the free resources on our blog or schedule a free call to see how we can help you!
Need some inspiration? Check out this article for some creative Airbnb theme ideas that incorporate vintage items.
Energy-Efficient Lighting and Appliances
Making your vacation rental more sustainable can be achieved by implementing energy-efficient lighting and appliances. By switching to LED or CFL bulbs, you can save energy and reduce the frequency of bulb replacements. You could also install a motion-sensor lighting system, which turns lights on and off depending on occupancy.
When selecting appliances for your rental, consider purchasing models with an Energy Star rating. These appliances are designed to be more energy-efficient than their counterparts. Smart thermostats are another great investment to save energy when the rental is unoccupied. Of course, we’re not suggesting you turn your rental into an icebox while guests are out exploring. But a lower temperature can do wonders for your energy consumption when the place is unoccupied for a few days. Plus, you can always turn up the heat a few hours before the next guests arrive to ensure a comfortable living environment for them.
Eco-Friendly Vacation Rental Amenities
Offering eco-friendly amenities can be a unique selling point for your vacation rental and can help you acquire Superhost status by offering your guests that top-notch experience. Eco-friendly vacation rental amenities include organic or natural skincare products, reusable shopping bags, and eco-friendly laundry detergent. Who wouldn’t want to feel pampered while doing their part for the planet?
Single-use items such as plastic straws, water bottles, and coffee cups are major contributors to environmental pollution. Replacing these items with eco-friendly alternatives can significantly reduce your vacation rental’s carbon footprint. Invest in reusable water bottles, coffee mugs, and straws your guests can use during their stay. After all, a cute coffee station will also make a way better impression than a bunch of disposable coffee cups.
Another way to reduce single-use items is to provide guests with refillable soap dispensers instead of single-use toiletries. You get another star for sustainability, and you elevate your guests’ stay to a new level of luxury – a double win.
Public Goods hospitality bottles and refills
GFI Cosmetic luxury organic brand amenities
Blueland hand soap tablets and refillable glass bottles
For a complete list of Airbnb amenities that will impress your guests, check out this blog post.
Water-Saving Showerheads
Reducing water usage can be a simple way to make your vacation rental more eco-friendly. Installing low-flow showerheads can help reduce the amount of water used during showers without sacrificing water pressure. The same can be done with faucets – install faucet aerators in all the sinks in your rental.
An easy way to find showerheads and faucets that are eco-friendly is to look for those that are CA Drought Compliant, as they must have low gallon-per-minute rates.
Eco-Friendly Paper and Cleaning Products
It’s not glamorous, but toilet paper is a hot topic for busy vacation rental hosts. A great way to save a whole lot of trees is to shop for eco-friendly toilet paper, which is usually made of bamboo or recycled office paper. We love the company Who Gives a Crap, which has cheeky packaging (sorry) your renters will love.
Cleaning your vacation rental is essential, but the chemicals in many conventional cleaning products can be harmful to the environment and your guests’ health. Switching to eco-friendly cleaning products is an easy way to reduce environmental impact and create a healthier living space for your guests. You can make your own cleaning products using natural ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils or purchase eco-friendly products from various brands.
Grab our vacation-rental spring cleaning checklist to give your property a fresh start!
Who Gives A Crap makes tissues and paper towels, too
Public Goods cleanser bottles and refills
Educating Guests
According to the Bookings.com Sustainable Travel Report, 71% of global travelers want to make more of an effort in the next year to travel sustainably, and 38% actively look for sustainability information in a listing.
So if you’re making the effort to make your vacation rental more earth-friendly, tell your guests about it! Be sure to let them know that you’re choosing cleansers and amenities with their families health and well-being in mind as well as the planet’s, and invite them to join you in your efforts.
Why not create a brochure or booklet that tells your guests all about your green efforts and encourages them to participate? For example, provide guests with clearly marked recycling bins and instructions on what can and cannot be recycled to ensure that recycling is done correctly. Your booklet could also include suggestions like turning off lights and appliances when not in use or using water sparingly. Give them sources for the excellent products that you’ve found so they can use them at home, and include things like reusable water bottles and seed balls in gift baskets that will encourage them to keep up the good work when they get home.
Sustainable Transportation
If your rental property is located in a city or near public transportation, give your guests a gentle nudge towards greener choices. Provide them with information on local bus or train routes, and let them know about bike rental options. You could even offer a discount to guests who arrive by public transportation or bike. This will make them feel extra special, and you’ll be doing your part to keep the planet healthy.
Organic (Herbs) Garden
Having an organic garden on your property is, of course, not an option for every host – especially if your Airbnb is a small studio apartment. Going green, in this case, can be as simple as planting an organic herb garden on your window shelf. Herbs are easy to grow and maintain, they require little space, and they provide a tasty addition to any meal your guests may cook during their stay. Just make sure to label them clearly, so your guests don’t mistake cilantro for parsley and end up with a dish they didn’t expect.
And if you’re lucky enough to own a rural vacation rental with plenty of land, take advantage of it! Host a cooking class or demonstration for your guests using your homegrown herbs. It’s the kind of experience that sets you apart from the big brands and gives your guests a taste of the local flavor – literally.
Promoting Sustainable Tourism
As a vacation rental owner, you’re in a unique position to promote sustainable tourism in your area. Encourage your guests to support local businesses that prioritize sustainability, such as farm-to-table restaurants, eco-friendly shops, or small-batch wineries with degustation options.
Going Local
When it comes to stocking up on amenities for your rental and creating a guest welcome basket, think local! Use products made in your area and showcase the unique flavors and crafts of your region. Your guests will appreciate the authenticity, and you’ll be supporting local small businesses.
Final Thoughts
There’s no need to go all in at once and become an environmental superhero, just implementing one or two eco-friendly practices can go a long way toward sustainability. After all, it’s the little things that make a big impact, and every step towards a greener vacation rental helps the planet and sets you apart as a responsible host.
Resources
Green Path podcast, short episodes that are all about sustainability in the vacation rental industry
Bookings.com Sustainable Travel Report
A Sense of Place episode featuring Bob and Ian, hosts in Italy who do eco-friendly beautifully
