Eco-friendly Practices of Lookout Point Lakeside Inn

Before "going green" was a national buzzword, Lookout Point implemented environmentally friendly practices, and continues to learn better ways of providing great hospitality while loving the environment.

Here are some of the eco-friendly steps taken by Lookout Point. We hope you will consider implementing any of these green ideas, and share with us your ideas/suggestions to help us become even more of a "green bed and breakfast", and to help us all become better stewards of this beautiful and fragile planet.

1. New!  As of November, 2008, no more little plastic amenity bottles!  Each shower is equipped with shampoo & conditioner pump bottles, resulting in saving the landfill from approximately 4,000 little bottles each year.  Shampoo & conditioner contain all natural ingredients, and of course no parabens.
2. Lookout Point Lakeside Inn was built in 2002 with eco-friendly materials including double pane windows, excellent insulation (using recycled newspaper particles), siding made from concrete, etc.
3. All inn laundry is done in-house, with low water/high centrifuge washers. Drying time is greatly diminished. Laundry is washed and rinsed on cold, with all stains pre-treated with environmentally friendly product.
4. Laundry detergent and cleansers are biodegradable and environmentally friendly.
5. Compact fluorescent bulbs are used throughout the inn. Burned out CFB's are sent to special recycling center that reclaims the mercury so no discarded bulbs placed in landfills.
6. Although curbside recycling is not available in our county, Lookout Point recycles every product possible in our area: corrugated cardboard, aluminum, tin cans, and plastic. Recycling baskets are provided in every guest room.
7. Purchases are made in bulk to reduce packaging waste.
8. All toilets are low flow 1.6 gallons.
9. We love organic and local ingredients. Whenever possible, fresh fruit and vegetables are purchased from local organic farmers.
10. Showers and faucets are all low flow. 
11. Prior to the development of Lookout Point Lakeside Inn, the land had been denuded of the natural trees and shrubs. Since 2003, more than 300 trees and shrubs have been planted, along with hundreds of perennial flowers. Most of the plantings are native, low water needs plants.
12. On a steep hill, a custom blended native wildflower garden was planted, and holds the soil with beauty.
13. A stream using area boulders was designed, and recycles water from the lake. This stream has created a natural ecosystem for the property. Opossums, raccoons, birds, ducks, an occasional red fox, crawfish, fish, mussels, king snakes, earth worms, dragonflies, and so many others of God's creatures have made this property their home.
14. The flowering shrubs and plants were selected to feed hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and bumblebees. It works!
15. An herb garden planted outside the kitchen provides fresh flavors for the breakfast foods.
16. Lookout Point Lakeside Inn grows blueberries and blackberries on the property.
17. A culture of re-purposing has developed at the inn. Whenever an item no longer functions for its designed purpose, the staff creatively looks for a different purpose. For examples, teacups missing handles become holders for sugar, towels no longer in service for guests become cleaning rags, teapots might become planters, an old enamel pot now holds magazines, a bedspread becomes a tablecloth.
18. Linens that are taken out of service are recycled to staff and charity organizations.