A Sustainable Business in Tourism

Would you like more information about sustainability at The Painted Fish? Click below to read our articles:

One of our goals at the Painted Fish is to reduce our impact on the environment, while maintaining a beautiful place for our guests to stay. A sustainable business in the tourism industry means finding creative ways of reducing our environmental footprint.

Solar Power

A 1.12 kilowatt gird connected photovoltaic array produces a great deal of our own power. An evacuated tube solar hot water system with gas booster allows for continuous hot water.

Rainwater

Two large rainwater tanks collect water for garden and household use.

Transport

We provide bikes to encourage guests to avoid car use around town.

Organic and Low Impact

Organic vegetable gardens provide food for us and guests, and for the bobtail lizards who love our strawberries!

We use low impact appliances and cleaning products and promote local, family run businesses.

Sustainable Buildings

Tim has made extensive modifications to the Painted Fish buildings including:

  • triple insulated ceilings
  • temperature sensitive vents
  • use of louvres to take advantage of cooling south westerlies
  • northern windows to capture light and heat in winter
  • solar pergolas and removable shade cloth to reduce the impact of the sun in summer
  • window tinting on western windows
  • the use of thermal mass in the studio
  • recycling of building materials where possible
  • ball valves fitted to outdoor showers to divert the first cold water out of the tap on the garden
  • air cooling pond systems
  • a solarium to the north of the house

The list goes on every time Tim hears of a new idea!

While we are far from perfect we have endeavored to make some reasonable inroads into reducing our impact on the planet. Hopefully the whole place will grow and improve as we learn more!

“Let work be a manifestation of love. Otherwise go beg in the marketplace”

Has it worked?
Let us know what you think!