Being green is important.

Old Point's green credentials start with the restoration of this former family home (it housed a family of 2 adults and 2 grown children in the late 1800s - now it is big enough for a holiday cottage for 2!)

It is stone built with a pink/reddish sandstone, with stone originally from either the local beach or from a small quarry further along the shore.

It has been restored to modern standards using the original footprint, but with an extra full sized door and an additional porch on the entrance side, leaving the low sea door where it was. The fireplace is still in the same place with a wood burning stove. You do not have to cook there - there is a galley kitchen instead! The shower room with toilet is not outside but integrated into the house.

The cottage is kept warm from a ground source heat pump via underfloor heating. This means that the cottage is always warm, 24/7. And dry!

Even more up to date, Old Point now has solar photovoltaic panels on the roof.

The cottage is not on mains drainage, there is a septic tank, so I try always to use eco friendly cleaning products. I leave containers of Ecover cleaning materials for guests to use, and refill them when empty.

We have an alternate weekly collection of rubbish and recyclates - I week general rubbish, next week glass and plastic bottles only, 3rd week general rubbish again and 4th week tins and paper. I am also happy to dispose of compostable materials in my compost bin.

I'm sure there are many other ways I could be greener - if you have any ideas, let me know!