Just how green is your getaway to the country at Ponte Vineyard Inn? No, I’m not talking about the shades of green that you see in the beautiful views of the vines and landscape; I’m talking about sustainability – that term we use to ensure that our resources are available for the future.
These days, hardly a hotel booking or reservation is made without reviewing websites like Trip Advisor or Yelp, or checking out comments on Facebook. These powerful sites allow travelers to rate and comment on their experiences providing valuable feedback businesses use to improve. Based on your reviews, we were ranked as the #1 hotel in Temecula last year. Now, the new year has brought an addition to our site. We recently earned the prestigious Green Leader Gold Certification from TripAdvisor®, the worlds largest travel site.
So what is this certification? Trip advisor has created a program called GreenLeaders™, to help properties, like our Inn, get the recognition it deserves, and to make it easier for travelers, like you, to plan greener trips by identifying environmentally friendly accommodations. This certification shows our dedication to environmental sustainability at our Inn (you can also read more about our CCSW certification here).
We initially applied to the TripAdvisor GreenLeaders Program because we met the minimum requirements of having a towel and linen re-use program, energy efficient light bulbs, internal energy and waste tracking systems, and education to our staff and guests of sustainable practices. TripAdvisor reviews other practices to rank properties on a scale from bronze to platinum. When we assessed our practices for the certification, we found that our commitment to sustainability had achieved a higher level: GOLD. We achieved this by partnering with toiletry recycling companies like Clean The World, using biodegradable cleaning products, using low-flow toilets and showerheads, and energy star certified appliances.
This windmill turns to add bubbles to the pond. The aeration flow allows oxygen to circulate in the pond to create a natural ecosystem. So, no, we don’t have swimming pools or Jacuzzis outside; instead we create a natural habitat to fit in with the vineyards.
Our appliances in the rooms and restaurants are certified energy star efficient.
A high-pressure, low-flow shower head maximizes efficiency on water. The low flow toilet reduces water use, too.
Don’t worry about remembering to flick the switch, these occupancy sensors detect when people are in the rooms so that they can turn on when needed or conserve energy when not.
Native vegetation blooms to surround the property with beautiful scenery and serves a purpose for the vines. Find out more our when touring the winery!
You may have seen these panels on the roof of the west wing of the building. Since the panels were installed, they have produced 30,000 kwh (kilo watts per hour) of energy, the equivalent of offsetting 21.2 tons of carbon which would equal 510 trees being planted to offset carbon.
You can read about all of our practices here.
The next time you drive down Rancho California Road, think about the natural California vegetation, vineyards, and citrus groves that surround you with views of distant mountains hiding the ocean – this is your beautiful environment. So when you arrive here at Ponte Vineyard Inn, know that we strive to protect it. Book your room today to experience it, so that when leave, you are not just a tourist, you are a certified ecotourist.
Oh, and don’t worry about kicking up some dust when you leave. This permeable parking lot works as a French drainage system to recycle runoff water to the vineyards.
–Being sustainable is an important lifestyle choice, how do you try to go green?
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