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Virginia Department of Environmental Quality

Virginia Green
Hotels & Lodging Facilities

Virginia Green
Grey Swan Inn Bed and Breakfast
Blackstone, 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.

Grey Swan Inn Bed and Breakfast

The Grey Swan Inn Bed and Breakfast provides 5 guest rooms in a 1902 home in Blackstone, VA.

It is important to the innkeepers to save our natural resources, set an example for others to follow, and to continue to work on improving methods that will benefit many.

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
- Have in place clearly marked recycling bins or provide convenient drop-off locations for guests to recycle: 
- Plastic Bottles 
- Aluminum cans 
- Newspaper 
- Office paper
Other items recycled by the facility: 
- Printer/ copy machine toner cartridges 
- Cardboard 

Reduce solid waste
- Instruct housekeeping staff to save and reuse unopened items 
- Use cloth napkins 
- Use reusable coffee filters 
- Use water pitchers to minimize the use of single-use bottles 
- Reuse scrap paper for notes 
- Purchase recycled paper with a high-percentage recycled content 
- Use electronic correspondence and forms when possible 
- Minimize use of pesticides and herbicides in landscaping 

Use water efficiently
- Perform preventative maintenance to stop drips and leaks 
- Have installed high efficiency dishwashers 
- Have installed low flow faucets and showerheads (use less than 2.5 gallons per minute) 

Conserve energy
- Have installed ceiling fans 
- Have installed ENERGY STAR-rated windows and doors 
- Regularly perform preventative maintenance on HVAC system 
- 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) 
- Have installed compact fluorescent light bulbs in all rooms and canned lighting 
- Use alternative fuel, hybrid-electric, or electric vehicles 

Grey Swan Inn Bed and Breakfast    Grey Swan Inn Bed and Breakfast

For more information on Grey Swan Inn Bed and Breakfast, see www.greyswaninn.com or contact James Hasbrouck at info@greyswaninn.com or 434-292-3199.

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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