Our Eco Credentials | casa de oren

Casa de Oren / Eco-Friendly Accommodation

Casa de Oren (CdO) truly is an environmentally friendly accommodation. We are completely off grid and by generating and storing our own solar energy we reduce our CO2 footprint by more than 10kg per day. Our ecological (green) credentials are as follows.

We generate and store our own electricity via a 30 panel solar array and 24,000W battery backup, thus reducing our use of fossil fuels.

All electrical equipment and appliances in CdO are energy efficient rated, including the LED lighting.

At CdO we collect water from a mountain stream and rainwater from the roof, which we store in underground tanks (tens of thousands of litres) for reuse on the gardens and within the accommodation, after filtration and processing.

All toilets in CdO have been fitted with small tanks and duel flush capability.

At CdO all toilet waste is recycled via a biodigester, which is a system that biologically digests organic material (without chemicals), either anaerobic (without oxygen) or aerobically (with oxygen). Microbes and other bacteria break down the organic material, which is then fed underground to the garden plants.

Installing the Casa de Oren Solar System

Biodigester Installation at Casa de Oren

As detailed on the Casa de Oren page, the property is an Adobe construction (mud and straw), which significantly reduces our carbon footprint, both during construction and in the future, through improved thermal properties.

Unlike most Peruvian properties CdO accommodations are double glazed, mitigating energy waste.

The gardens within CdO have been planted with hundreds of trees, shrubs and flowers providing food, protection and homes to many birds, insects, reptiles and mammals.

To reduce the amount of watering during the dry Peruvian winter a significant part of the gardens has been covered in gravel, thus reducing evaporation.

Installing the Casa de Oren Bio Digester

We recycle or compost our waste. If it cannot be composted it is segregated for collection. All composted materials are reused to feed and nourish the planting within the CdO gardens.

Our recycling and reuse data is as follows:

All glass and metal is 100% recycled
All plastic is approx. 93% recycled
All paper and card is 100% reused
All organic waste is 100% reused

Vegetable matter is composted, other organics are fed to the dogs

All wood (eucalyptus) used in CdO is obtained from a sustainable source where the cut tree regrows from the remaining stump.

At CdO we buy local market produce which, not only reduces our environmental impact but also supports sustainable agriculture.

The Installation of the Bio Digester underground garden feeding system

At Casa de Oren we continue to improve our eco friendly approach to the environment at every opportunity.

Reduce / Reuse / Recycle