Virginia Department of Environmental Quality

Virginia Green
Hotels & Lodging Facilities

Virginia Green
Bay View Waterfront B&B
Belle Haven, VA

Virginia Green is the Commonwealth of Virginia’s campaign to promote environmentally-friendly practices in all aspects of Virginia’s tourism industry. Virginia Green has established "core activities" specific to each sector of tourism, and these practices are considered the required minimum for participation in the program. However, Virginia Green encourages its participants to reduce their environmental impacts in all aspects of their operations, and this profile provides a full list of all their “green” activities. These are the activities that guests / customers can expect to find when they visit this facility.

Bay View Waterfront B&B

Bayview Waterfront Bed and Breakfast is on a hill overlooking Occohannock Creek with an expansive view to the Chesapeake Bay. Built in the “big house, little house” style unique to the Eastern Shore, the three original sections of the house date back from about 1800. The bed and breakfast features two double guest rooms.

Bayview Waterfront Bed and Breakfast is committed to environmental excellence and works to minimize environmental impacts whenever possible.

Virginia Green Activities

This facility pledges that they:
Offer optional linen service
- Have signage in each guest room explaining the linen reuse procedures 
- Train housekeeping staff on our process for optional linen service  
- Use non-phosphate, non-toxic and biodegradable laundry detergents 
- Minimize the use of bleach and chlorinated chemicals 

Recycle
- Glass Bottles 
- Plastic Bottles 
- Aluminum cans 
- Steel cans 
- Newspaper 
- Cardboard 

Reduce solid waste
- Instruct housekeeping staff to save and reuse unopened items 
- Compost food waste and other compostables 
- Have an effective food inventory control system to minimize waste 
- Do not use any disposable containers, dishware, cutlery, or cups 
- Use non-bleached napkins and coffee filters 
- Provide condiments, cream and sugar, etc. in bulk 
- Use water pitchers to minimize the use of single-use bottles 
- Make double-sided photocopies and avoid making extra photocopies 
- Use electronic correspondence and forms when possible 
- Use latex, low or no-VOC paints 
- Properly recycle and/or dispose of thinners and solvents 
- Perform preventative maintenance on all appliances, HVAC systems, plumbing, and vehicles 
- Use integrated pest management (IPM) 
- Minimize use of pesticides and herbicides in landscaping 
- Other Activities: Purchase locally grown produce and other foods

Use water efficiently
- Track overall water usage and wastewater costs 
- Perform preventative maintenance to stop drips and leaks 
- Have installed low flow faucets and showerheads (use less than 2.5 gallons per minute) 
- Have minimized impervious areas (paving, concrete, etc.) 
- Maintain vegetative buffers around streams and ponds 
- Other Activities: Use dry clean up methods over water-based methods

Conserve energy
- Track overall energy bills 
- Have individual thermostats for each room; ensure they are correctly adjusted 
- Keep office doors and windows closed if HVAC system is on 
- Use natural lighting (i.e., open draperies and raise shades whenever adequate light from windows is available) 
- Use lighting sensors to turn on/off lights 
- Have installed high efficiency fluorescent ballasts and lamps (T-5 and T-8) 
- Other Activities: Thermal rated windows and insulation

Offer a green events package
- Include the availability of "green meetings/conferences" in marketing packages (see the factsheet on Environmentally-Responsible Conferences & Events) 

Bay View Waterfront B&B    Bay View Waterfront B&B

For more information on Bay View Waterfront B&B, see www.BayViewWaterfrontBedandBreakfast.com or contact Mary Will Browning at browning@esva.net or 757-442-6963.

For more information on the Virginia Green program, see www.deq.state.va.us/Programs/PollutionPrevention/VirginiaGreen.aspx.

Virginia GreenVirginia Green is a partnership supported by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, the Virginia Hospitality & Tourism Association, and the Virginia Tourism Corporation.

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