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3/15/13

Environmentally Responsible Tourism in Maine - USA: "Raising the bar for the lodging Industry" - by Jenna Quartararo

The idyllic Maple Hill Farms Bed and Breakfast Inn sits amidst 130 acres of land in Hallowell near the state capital of Augusta. 

Maple Hill boasts the title of being Maine’s first certified “Environmental Leader” lodging facility, a status that was awarded to them in November of 2005 by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.

There are currently over 100 certified lodging businesses throughout the state of Maine. According to the Maine DEP website, that averages out to a savings of over $7,000 per business per year in energy efficiency and waste reduction.

For Scott Cowger, co-owner of Maple Hill Farms BandB, being eco-friendly is about lowering the hotel’s carbon footprint, something he believes can be done in part by sourcing products locally whenever possible. “You don’t know where your money goes with chain hotels,” says Cowger.

Maple Hill produces about half of their energy supply from renewable sources—none of which is more apparent than the majestic 100-foot wind turbine that rises up behind Maple Hill. Purchased in 2003 for $70,000, the turbine has a 30-year payoff.

An up to the minute tracker on Maple Hill’s website keeps a record of just how much CO2 emissions they’ve avoided since 1997. That number is currently at just under 100,000 lbs. (99,085 to be exact, or roughly the equivalent of the pollution the average car emits over 3,618 days).

Maple Hill has ample skylights that keep them from using artificial lights, uses bulk product dispensers in the bathrooms and uses no paper or plastic cutlery and napkins in the kitchen.

Pull up a seat at the dining room table for Eggs Benedict Arnold, cooked by co-owner Vince Hannan, and glimpse just how far that local support extends. The eggs come from the big red barn outside, the potatoes are picked up at a local farmer’s market, the coffee is from Carrabbassett Coffee in Kingfield, and of course there’s Maine maple syrup. Hannan sources a difficult-to-find light amber syrup from northern Maine.

Even the art on the walls is curated from a variety of local artists, all residing within 30 miles of the inn.

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