Blancaneaux Lodge
Belize Owned by film director Francis Ford Coppola, Blancaneaux Lodge is a self-sustaining sanctuary tapping energy from its own hydro-electric scheme and growing almost all its own vegetables, fruits and herbs in a three-acre organic on-site garden.
Overall Rating:*****(5) Energy Rating:*****(5)
Almost entirely self-sustaining in energy use. Has its own hydro-electric scheme, low energy bulbs, hand cranked flash lights, no a/c due to accommodation design (making it un-necessary). Water Rating: ***** (5)
Waste water re-cycling, back wash water from pool recycled (no-chorine based water treatment), mulch used to limit water transpiration from gardens. Flow control shower heads. Native plants used in landscaping and watering only during cool periods of the day. Disposal Rating: *****(5) Waste segregated by staff. Organic composting practiced and used in organic vegetable garden/orchard. Solid waste compacted and taken to government landfill. Glass ground and used in concrete/foundation work. Vegetables, fruits and herbs grown on property so no packaging. Shampoos and soaps are organic and transported in bulk containers. Eco-Active Rating: *****(5)
Runs collective transport for those staff that live off property. Host Belize’s Jaguar Research Density programme and starting to work with local NGO/Forestry Department on a Scarlet macaw Research Project. Working with the El Pilar Maya archaeological project to help support Maya Forest Garden project. Protection Rating: *****(5) Less than 3% of staff are non-Belizean, but when possible under Belize labour laws staff sourced from local villages and trained. Source construction materials locally and use local craftsmen. Purchase locally (organic where possible).
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