Here at Le Manoir Des Fouilloux we strive to minimize our carbon footprint in every possible way. We are committed to the local environment and to trying to achieve ultimately a carbon zero footprint.
Our land
The house is set in beautiful rural countryside and as such our contribution had to start with the land. We use no pesticide or toxic fertilizers on our land. We are also peat free. We compost and gather autumn leave to mulch the borders and control weed growth. Since purchasing the property in 2013 we have planted over 150 trees and transformed the appearance of the now garden settings. We added a fruit orchard which is productive throughout the summer months giving us home made preserves, liquors and chutneys. Of course all our trees add to the absorption of carbon and help neutralize our carbon emissions impact. Closer to the house the trees shade the terraces and house helping keep the majestic stone Manoir cool throughout the summer months. They also create a wonderful habitat for the now many variety of birds and insects that share our home.
Our Home
This house is over 500 years old so certainly not modern in construction terms. To counter this we have replaced all the windows with the lasted glass technology, whilst retaining the style of the original windows.The floors in the attic have all been triple insulated and new floors added to lock in heat in winter and keep it out during the summer months. We recommend whilst staying with us you take a few simple steps to help minimize your impact on our carbon footprint.
- Limit the amount of time you spend showering, and opt for a shower over a bath.
- Make use of the ECO cycles on all electrical appliances in the kitchens and utility areas, such as dishwashers, washing machines etc. Please do not pre rinse china before placing it in the dishwasher this wastes a huge amount of water, and with modern dishwashers is not recommended. Only run dishwashers and washing machines when you have a full load. There is a tumble dryer but please use the rotary clothes drying lines, which dry clothes very quickly in summer months and give your clothes a lovely fresh smell. Minimize the time you keep the fridge or freezers open.
- All toilets are fitted with a two flush option, please use the minimal flush where appropriate.
- Please switch off all lights in unoccupied rooms.
- Unplug chargers when not in use.
- Close the shutter during the afternoons as this will keep the house beautifully cool even in the most extreme heatwave conditions.
- We have full recycling facilities and try to minimize landfill black bag waste, Please use all the recycling bins provided. We also make our own compost from vegetable waste so please help us keep the garden enriched with our self produced compost.
The future
Where we restore we build in sustainability projects also. To this end we collect all rainwaters off the roof lines at Les Fouilloux. Later this year ( 2024 ) we will construct a large natural pond to collect this run off water and pump it back to garden watering stations around the property. We are also lucky to have a fresh spring water supply from our own well, which is also used to water the gardens.
All fountains and outside lighting are controlled on timer systems so you can enjoy them to maximum effect without having to remember to turn them off.
We are actively working to install photovoltaic panels to help reduce further our carbon footprint and make better economic use of the energy supply.
Finally we plan to add electric car charging equipment to a new covered car parking area planned for October 2024.
Here at Les Fouilloux we fully appreciate the beauty of our surrounds and intend to make every effort to support a sustainable environment for our future and future generations.