Sustainable Stewardship
Every year, around 15 million people embark on journeys across Indian states and Union Territories, drawn from both domestic and international origins. Many seek the solace of natural havens marked by serenity and tranquility. Unfortunately, this quest for beauty has placed immense pressure on India’s natural landscapes, particularly the delicate Himalayan region, leaving them vulnerable to the footprint of human activities.
While we can’t stop our urge to explore but we can surely do it responsibly and there are many eco-conscious travellers who think alike and look for sustainable options which are difficult to find in this crowded space. That’s where MylocalDost comes in who has been on a journey to discover Responsible hosts who we call local dosts.
Our local dosts are embracing a range of measures to ensure that sustainability is an intrinsic part of their operating principles. From eco-friendly architecture and locally-sourced materials to waste reduction strategies and community engagement initiatives, our local dosts are leading the way in responsible hospitality and we’re so proud to partner with them and together creating a better world to live and travel.
To acknowledge and measure the impact these hosts are creating with their commendable efforts, we drew inspiration from esteemed organizations like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), and the Indian Green Building Council in meticulously developing our eco-sustainable parameters with the help of environmentalists and conservationists.
The hosts and their properties are evaluated and onboarded based on the following Eco-Sustainable parameters:
- Daylight – The property uses bay windows, reflective, glasses, sky light and other openings to use sunlight for effective internal lighting to reduce the use of electricity. The use of Solar-charged lights during the night is also a perk.
- Reduced Carbon Footprint– Reduce emissions by avoiding combustion in open-air, old-school fuel-based apparatuses like generators, disposal of waste in the open etc. Also, the property plants a lot of trees that fix CO2 in huge volumes, bringing your carbon footprint to a minimum.
- Reduced Water Footprint– Taps fitted with water flow reducers, the disposal of waste sustainably, reuse of suitable water for gardening, and maintenance of plants and soil to hold water are some activities that reduce your water footprint.
- Local Heat Reduction– Light painted roof and walls, ventilation, no open decomposition and more vegetation prevent the local temperature from rising.
- Green Landscape– As per the guidelines outlined by the Indian Green Building Council, the landscape fulfills the criteria for the right balance between vegetation/green cover: Built-up area ratio.
- Rainwater Harvesting– The property harvests rainwater aiding into reducing the water footprint even further.
- Green Building Material– As suggested by several green architecture standards, the use of stones, mud, wood and glass over bricks and cement is more sustainable. Also, these materials are locally sourced to cutdown on the carbon emissions during heavy transport and also support the local economy.
- Supporting Locals– The staff consists of mostly locals. The activities held in the vicinity support the local economy. The food and raw material are locally sourced. The guests get to experience a rich and unique culture, which is the key to our travel motives.
- Healthy Air Quality– The property avoids any open air incomplete combustion, deforestation, fuel-based machines, stagnant water etc. to maintain a good air quality.
- Zero Noise Pollution– “And the mountains echoed.” You could listen to them, the wind, the birds, because the property avoids loud music or deafening noises of any kind.