Australia’s First Green STAR Property – Braeview B & B in Tawonga South

In NE Vic, this is the first business in Australia to be awarded a Green STARS endorsement under AAA Tourism’s new environmentally friendly accommodation classification scheme (introduced in Bulletin 13, August 22nd 2004). Green STARS does not change a property’s original STAR Rating but adds an important new level of endorsement. It is is a guarantee that in addition to meeting very strict STAR Rating criteria, the property has also met certain Green standards.

With a 4? STAR Rating, Braeview Bed & Breakfast already provides an excellent quality of accommodation. The Green STAR endorsement demonstrates to prospective customers that it also takes the recognised steps towards reducing the environmental impacts of the business as well.

It could be a smart move to position the business early for the growing market of environmentally aware Australians who want to make a difference when they use tourism products. Green STARS is a one way holiday makers and business travellers can make a positive impact by choosing an environmentally friendly place to stay says Jeff Floyd, AAA Tourism CEO.

Braeside B & B owner/manager Isla MacLeod agrees that tourism relies on the environment and everyone needs to look to the future and do what they can to save precious resources. She says she has been conserving water and recycling waste for years so she didn’t need to spend much to achieve a Green STARS endorsement. All she had to do was install energy efficient light globes!

Green STARS provides a simple system which every Australian accommodation provider can easily implement to reduce their environmental impacts.

Criteria covered by Green STARS are divided into three key areas; energy efficiency, waste minimisation and water management. It also provides an entry level introduction (Affiliate level) to the internationally recognised GREEN GLOBE 21 program, a certification system that responds directly to the major environmental problems facing Australia and the rest of the world, including the greenhouse effect, overuse of freshwater supplies, destruction of biodiversity and production of solid and biological waste.