Amy HopkinsHaving an eco-conscious holiday let is a great way to celebrate sustainable tourism and do your bit for the planet. If you’ve been trying to think of ways to make your holiday cottage more eco-friendly, this is a great place to start. From the smaller touches, such as considered toiletries, to larger installations like renewable energy sources, we’ve covered a diverse range of options below.
As long as you have Wi-Fi available at the property and a smartphone, you’ll be able to install a Nest thermostat system, which can reduce both your energy bills and any unnecessary consumption. An impressive piece of smart tech, the Nest thermostat learns what temperature you like in your home and then how quickly the property heats and cools, meaning it develops a thorough understanding of how best to heat the space. They’re also estimated to save users around 10% in annual utility bills.
Again, taking the step to ensure you equip your holiday property with energy-efficient appliances is a great move for lower costs, but you’ll also be helping preserve precious resources. When purchasing these appliances, you can see the energy rating (from A to G) along with the decibel level of noise that it emits. If you’re currently buying for your holiday property, it’s important to consider your occupancy and align that with your appliances. For example, if you own a cosy holiday cottage for two, a full-sized dishwasher will rarely get filled, meaning a lot of water and power will be going to waste. Instead, you could opt for a more compact option.
Having a designated recycling bin can help ensure that your guests sort waste correctly when staying with you. Remember, different counties have different recycling rules, so providing your guests with this information is a great step to take in making your holiday let more environmentally-conscious.
Another tip to leave for your guests is to encourage them to turn off the lights when they’re not in that particular room. However, in the case of solo travellers or those with little ones, leaving some lighting on might be a necessity. A good alternative is to equip all of your bulbs with energy-efficient, LED bulbs and to provide some low-level, low-consumption ambient lighting options.
Sustainable and eco-friendly toiletries and related products are so widely available and so well-stocked in local stores that you’re probably already using them. Adding these to your holiday property will reduce unnecessary plastic usage (lots of them are refillable) and toxic chemicals that may cause harm to the beautiful world around us. In the ‘Garden of England’ itself, you definitely don’t want to be polluting rivers or championing deforestation! Some great examples of these types of products include Ecover Household Products, Who Gives a Crap loo rolls, and Faith in Nature body wash – but those are just a few examples.
Whether you’re in the middle of a full-scale renovation or you’re adding some extra touches to your holiday property, there are lots of clever ways to reduce heat loss. Underfloor heating is a great option if you’re building from scratch, as this tends to reduce energy consumption by up to 40% when compared with traditional radiators, due to the lower operating temperatures. Other smaller things you can do to reduce heat loss include thick curtains, adding loft insulation, regular boiler servicing, routinely bleeding radiators, and addressing any draughty windows.
Solar panels with battery systems, heat pumps, and even hydroelectric or wind turbine systems are all options, depending on the amount of space you have at the property and the location. Each of these does require significant outlay, with the financial benefits being reaped down the line. It does, however, futureproof your property and give it a niche edge when it comes to consumer appeal and eco-friendliness.
As of 2026, there are estimated to be 1.85 million electric cars on the road across the UK. This could mean that a portion of your guests are arriving by electric car. Installing an EV port at your property is a great way to incentivise eco-friendly and sustainable habits while raising awareness of conscious living. It might also mean you appear in more filtered searches for guests with specific holiday let criteria.
Shopping locally can make a huge difference when it comes to sustainability and supporting small businesses. Putting together a list of local farm shops, butchers, Pick-Your-Owns, and other independent shops is another great way to educate your guests on where they should shop during their stay.
Allow us to help you. We have a wealth of experience in the management of holiday properties in Kent, from the legalities around ‘minimum stays’ through to how best to market your place to boost bookings. If you’d like to chat with one of our friendly, Kent-based experts, contact us on 01304 382044 or send an email to [email protected].
Alternatively, you can find out more about us here, and get an insight as to what it’s like to let with us here.
