ike and Kathy Bedsworth purchased the historic Watts House (The Carriage House Inn Bed and Breakfast) in 2003 they embarked on a restoration project that has led them into a career as innkeepers and has distinguished them as the only green lodging facility in Lynchburg. Buying and restoring a historic home is something they always wanted to do, operating a green bed and breakfast just happened. After four plus years of restoration the Watts home was starting to regain the glamour and grandeur of years past and Mike and Kathy decided they needed to find a way to share their home with locals and visitors, thereby opening the Carriage House Inn Bed and Breakfast. During the restoration process everything they did to the house was done with the idea of saving natural resources. When closets were added, they searched architectural salvage yards to find matching doors. When porch repairs were required they used products made from recycled materials for the repairs. Recycled antique glass was used to replace many of the broken windows. When it came to adding air conditioning they refused to allow duct chases to be built around the ceilings so they ended up with a 5 zone system that allows them to turn off the air conditioning in part of the house that are not in use. The use of recycled materials or energy savings wasn’t initially done with the idea of saving the earth; it was more a matter of preserving the feel and look of the house. “Why use new materials that don’t match the original materials when you can buy antique doors, hardware, glass, heat grates/vents, etc. and preserve the look and feel of the house,” explained Mike Bedsworth.
After the first winter they realized that other items needed to be done to save energy as their heating bills rivaled the federal government’s national debt figures. They replaced their antiquated steam boiler system with a new high-efficiency water boiler which not only heats the home using the original radiators with valves added to regulate the flow of water thereby regulating the temperature in each room, it also provides their domestic hot water. Attic insulation was added and even though they weren’t able to replace their windows with energy efficient windows because they are in a historic district they were able to add replacement windows to the interior side of the windows thus preserving the historic exterior appearance.
When the kitchen was remodeled, they purchased only energy star appliances and likewise the washer and dryer use less water and energy to operate. All the toilets were replaced. Using the home as a bed and breakfast it was important that the 1.6 gallon toilets worked properly. Having to flush two or three times negates the water savings so the most important criteria they used in purchasing toilets was flushability.
After they opened they realized they met the requirements set forth by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to be certified as a green lodging facility so they applied and were given this designation. As Kathy Bedsworth says, “This is good news and bad news. The good news is we are the only green lodging facility in Lynchburg and the bad news is we are the ONLY green lodging facility in Lynchburg. I suspect that next year when we celebrate Earth Day there will be more green lodging facilities in Lynchburg.”
While everyone can implement one or two things to become a little greener, Mike and Kathy have plans to do even more. They hope to start recycling rain water for irrigation purposes, installing geo-thermal heating and cooling systems when they restore the carriage house, build an organic garden and produce fruits and vegetables for their guests and they will continue to use recycled or earth friendly products on their next project.
To celebrate Earth Day, they are opening their house for tour on 22 April 2008 from 10-4 to allow visitors to see that being green has not altered the beauty or architecture of the Watts House. While there is more that could be done to conserve energy, living in a historic district puts some limitations on what you can and can’t do. Basically you can’t do anything to the property that alters the exterior appearance of the property, but they will continue to make improvements that will continue to save our natural resources. In addition, they are preparing vacation packages for locals that don’t want to spend a fortune on gas for their summer vacation and for visitors to Lynchburg. Imagine spending 3-5 active days in Lynchburg and having to use less than a tank of gas while participating in at least a dozen different eco-friendly and historic/educational activities.
Below is a partial list of green items they are currently doing:
We added a 5-zone central air conditioning system to save energy by not cooling sections of the house that are not being used.
We added flow controls on radiators to regulate temperature in each room.
We installed low flow shower heads to save water.
We installed high efficiency low flow toilets to save water.
We recycle glass, plastic, paper, metal, aluminum, and cardboard to save space in our land fill.
We compost yard and kitchen waste to use compost in our garden.
When we need to replace a light bulb we replace it with a high efficiency compact florescent light bulb to save electricity and fossil fuels.
When practical we purchase locally grown foods to save gas/diesel fuels.
We offer our guests optional laundry/linen service, i.e., washing sheets and towels every third day of a multi-night stay to save water and energy.
We insulated attics to save natural gas and electricity.
We installed energy efficient windows where possible to save on gas and electricity.
We installed solar shades on windows to reflect the heat during the summer months to save on electricity.
We purchased recycled/used building products for the restoration saving natural resources and space in land fills.
We purchased only Energy Star appliances to save electricity.
We purchased an energy efficient washer and dryer to save electricity and water.
We minimize the use of bleach and chlorinated chemicals to protect the environment.
We re-fill reusable shampoo bottles to save space in the land fill.
We use dishware and glassware to minimize use of disposables to save space in the land fill.
We use electronic correspondence and forms to conserve trees/paper.
We purchase durable equipment and furniture to preserve our natural resources.
Use reused building materials or those from sustainable sources
We use latex paint to eliminate harmful fumes and promote clean air.
We reuse and utilize proper recycling/disposal of thinners and solvents to protect the water table and save the land fill.
We practice preventative maintenance on all appliances, HVAC systems, plumbing systems and vehicles to make sure they operate at peak proficiency thus saving energy.
We use the least toxic materials to protect the environment.
We purchased a high efficiency dishwasher to save water and electricity.
We installed ceiling fans were possible to cut down on the use of air conditioning to save electricity.
When possible we use natural lighting to save electricity.
We purchased Energy Star computers and office equipment to save electricity.
