Green Cheshire Cat
CHESHIRE Cat Narrowboat Holidays has taken another step towards its goal of providing greener boating holidays, by switching to a renewable energy supplier.
Based at Audlem on the Shropshire Union Canal, proprietor Linda Andrews, was aware that the weekly laundry from the hire boats was a big user of electricity, and set about researching the market for a green alternative.
Switch this week
There is currently only one supplier, Good Energy Ltd, which sources 100% of its power from renewables, ie solar, wind and water power. The switch will be made this week. Linda has already cut energy use by investing in a triple A rated machine, and utilising the sun and wind to dry the washing (its called a washing line,—remember those?)
She tells us that further savings have been made by replacing worn out sheets and duvet sets with good quality non-iron bedlinen, thus removing what she regards as an energy-guzzling, pointless chore. No prizes for guessing that the old stuff is being recycled into rags for the engineer, and for brass polishing.
Cheshire Cat's 'newest' boat is a recycled 62 footer from one of the large fleets, partially refitted using local labour and suppliers. With a flexible six berth layout, two shower rooms and a newly refitted galley, she is proving extremely popular with guests this season, and already has bookings for next year, Linda reveals.
Internet
The Company makes considerable use of the internet for advertising, correspondence, and billing clients, thus reducing paper, ink and fuel used to cart bits of paper round the country. Neither does it produce a large, glossy brochure.
It also encourages its guests to recycle, by providing suitable receptacles on each of their boats, and to minimise diesel use by keeping to the speed limit, and filling locks slowly to avoid the need for a lot of revving to keep the boat still. The boats are thoroughly checked by the engineer on each turnaround day, which keeps breakdowns (and the mileage associated with call-outs) to a minimum.