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ECOCLUB.com Rating

Name of Property (Country):

"Stranddorf Augustenhof" (Germany)

ECOCLUB.com Rating:

1 ECOCLUB Sun1 ECOCLUB Sun1 ECOCLUB Sun0.4 Sun 3.4 out of 5

Website:

http://www.stranddorf.de 

Map:

Lodge Address: Stranddorf Augustenhof Rosenfelder Strand,
23749 Grube, Germany

Number of Rooms:

30 holiday homes in two sizes (4 / 6 beds)

Average Double Room Rates (excl. breakfast):

100 Euros for a holiday home  

Name of Applicant (Title & Role):

Moritz Bollmann (Manager)

Official, Legal Proprietor(s):

Stranddorf Augustenhof Gmbh

Operating Since: 1 June 2004

Rating Application Date:

17 September 2009

Rating Period:

Opened: 1 December 2009  Closed: 31 January 2010

Breakdown of Ratings - (Total Raters): 3.5, 4, 3, 2.5, 4 (Five)
Rating Explained:  This rating is voluntarily produced by ECOCLUB.com Members following an application by the Lodge. The first 5 sections of this application correspond to the current ECOCLUB.com Criteria . Each section is of equal weight (1). When a criterion was fully met in their view, raters awarded a full point (1), when it is not met but they felt genuine effort was being made, half a point (0.5) and when they felt that it was not met and no effort was being made to meet the specific criterion, no points (0). Therefore, the maximum possible rating was 5 and the minimum 0. The final rating is calculated as the average of all ratings. For more information on the ECOCLUB.com Rating see here

1. OWNERSHIP


(1.a) Who owns the Lodge?: Please clarify if private, family, public, municipal, NGO, cooperative, as well as the nationality and place of birth of the owner.
It is owned by a private cooperative between a local farmer and my family.

Stranddorf
1a: The beach village “Stranddorf Augustenhof” at the German Baltic coast.

(1.b) Who manages the Lodge?
It is managed by my family.

(1.c) How many rooms are there?
There are 30 holiday homes in two sizes (4 / 6 beds )

Holiday Home interiorHoliday Home interior
1c1 & 1c2: Inside one of the holiday homes

(1.d) How many beds are there?
120 (One hundred and twenty) beds.

(1.e) How many employees are there?
2 fulltime jobs (family) and up to 7 employees.

(1.f) How many employees are from the same village / city?
All are from the surrounding villages.

(1.g) If applicable, do employees or the community own any shares or share part of the revenue?
No.

(1.h) What is the total area of the land?
15 hectares (37.07 acres)

(1.i) What is the total area of the Lodge including rooms and common areas (in sq. metres)?

Base area 15 ha = 150,000 sq m
4/5 nature reserve = 120,000 sq m
1/5 Beach village = 30,000 sq m Housing Development

16 Type A holiday homes Living Area according to DIN: 43.25 sq m Base Area: 54.76 sq m
12 Type B holiday homes Living Area according to DIN: 52.36 sq m Base Area: 65.16 sq m
2 Type C holiday homes (wheelchair friendly) Living Area according to DIN: 59.15 sq m Base Area: 72.41 sq m
Community Building Living Area according to DIN: 155.92 sq m Base Area: 124.57 sq m

(1.j) What is the total building footprint (in sq. metres)?
1927 sq. metres

(1.k) Who has access to the Lodge’s facilities and its land and for what uses?
The guests and their guests.

(1.l) What was the total turnover (total sales) of your last year of operation? (please state in your local currency)
Euros 250,000


2. ENVIRONMENT

 

(2.a) Lodge Siting (how was location chosen):
The area was farmland, now most of it is a nature reserve.

(2.b) Policy followed during construction:
1. We build only as many houses as are absolutely necessary for economic viability to prevent the area from returning to agricultural use. The size of the whole meadow is 15 ha. There is room for several hundred holiday homes; we have decided to build no more than 30 .

2. The houses must be in harmony with nature, so we have used untreated and unpainted wood on the exterior. These exterior surfaces will, with time, bleach and become silver grey. All the houses have green roofs and are thus adapted to the surrounding landscape as much as possible.

3. There are neither tarmac streets nor brick footpaths running through the village. What traffic there is, keeps to gravel-grass or sandy paths. Obviously we can't claim that such surfaces are completely natural but at least they haven't destroyed all that was there before. We hope they remain in harmony with the existing paradise.

4. Yes, paradise does still exist - on four fifths of the area. This was key to our vision. The 12 ha space that had only survived by the skin of its teeth has now been preserved for the long term. And there is more: This area used to be governed by temporary fallowing methods of farming; now it can and will be governed and maintained by conservation principles. The most effective use of the final fifth of the site i.e. the building of the 30 holiday homes ensured the long-term protection of the area. The added value achieved by changing the use of the land offers immediate rewards to environment protection - another part of the beach village concept. The tourists benefit greatly from this "gift" to nature of 120,000 square metres of land as it adds a special attraction to the Augustenhof beach village. There were no losers in the giving of this gift - it was rather a win/win situation.

Natural Paths
2b: Natural paths

(2.c) Lighting:
Using only low energy bulbs.

Solar Panels installation
2c: Installing the solar panels

(2.d) Heating:
Central energy plant for all buildings which includes a pellet burner next to solar collectors. In November 2004 the local energy plant at the Augustenhof beach village became a demonstration plant for SOLLET ("European network strategy for combined solar and wood pellet heating systems for decentralised applications"), a EU-project. Monitors were placed at every relevant point and connected to a data collector.

Energy Plant
2d: Inside the local energy plant (solar/pellets)

(2.e) Cooling:
No Cooling needed.

(2.f) Cleaning:
We try to use only environmentally-friendly cleaning.

(2.g) Water Management:
No water problems in the area, however we are partners of the SWAMP project (Sustainable Water Management and Wastewater Purification in Tourism Facilities) see section 5h below.

Nearby field
2g: Nearby field

(2.h) Cooking:
Self catering. There is an organic food store within the beach village.

Organic Food Store
2h: Organic Food Store

(2.i) Waste management:
Normal recycling.

(2.j) Insect, pest control:
No control.

(2.k) Energy Sources, Use & Saving Measures:
We have our own energy plant (solar) on the roof top.

(2.l) Noise Protection:
We have no problems with noise, all the cars are parking aside and there is no traffic in the beach village.  

(2.m) Accessible by public transport?: (If yes, please provide instructions from nearby city.)
You can come by train to “Oldenburg /Holst.”. There is a very cheap bus shuttle (Anrufbus) to the Stranddorf.

(2.n) What is the recommended way of reaching your Lodge from the nearest International airport?
Most of our guest are families and are travelling by car.

(2.o) Distance from nearby village / city:
2000 m to "Dahme"

(2.p) Architectural Features:
All houses have a green roof and no paint. They are perfectly isolated.

Green roofs, no paint
2p: Green roofs, no paint

(2.q) Construction Materials:
Most out of timber, no PVC or chemicals leading to allergy problems. We avoided using PVC-based materials during construction of the holiday homes, especially as we were aware that there were PVC free alternatives readily available for almost all building materials, including underground sewage pipes and green-roof foil, both of which are usually made from PVC. In the bedrooms the floors are covered with traditional linoleum. We have gone out of our way to make sure that all other materials have the lowest possible pollutant content. We did not want the therapeutic effect of staying by the sea ruined by our guests breathing in all kinds of solvents and other chemical additives from the building materials. Another unique aspect was our use of very traditional materials: some of the houses have two layers of clay plastering on the inside. The clay plastering is about 2cm deep and regulates the air in the rooms, i.e. it absorbs excessive moisture and releases it when the air becomes too dry, e.g. when the radiators have been turned on. Clay plastering also helps to keep a constant temperature - when the fire is roaring it absorbs some of the heat to release back into the room later at night when all the logs have burnt down

During constructionClay plastering
2q: Natural materials - Clay plastering

(2.r) Landscape Management:
Most of the area is reserved for nature.

 

3. ECONOMIC

 

(3.a) Initiation or participation in local projects:
No.

(3.b) Contact, cooperation with local organisations:
Urine separation project SWAMP, local energy plant is supported by Innovationsstiftung SH

(3.c) Direct Donations:
No.

(3.d) Who took the initiative to build this Lodge?
My Family.

(3.e) Did the local community participate in the decision-making process concerning the founding and creation of this Lodge?
In Germany there is a long planning process for houses and buildings, everybody has the right to get involved in the planning process.

(3.f) How are profits distributed, and who decides about it?
Profits (in the future) should be distributed between the owners.

(3.g) Are there any national and local taxes to be paid or are you exempt?
Normal company and tourism taxes. 

(3.h) What percentage of consumables are locally sourced, how many are nationally sourced, and how many are imported?
All national excepts fruits etc.

(3.i) Do you cultivate food for the guests?
No.

(3.j) Do you have any agreements with local producers?
Yes, with the local organic farm.

(3.k) Have ever you received any funding, state, national, private or international and for what purposes?
Yes to build the local energy plant, the solar panels and the urine separation.

(3.l) What is the average double room rate (excluding breakfast) per room per night?
100 Euro for a holiday home.

 

4. SOCIAL

 

(4.a) Do your employees have health insurance?
Yes.

(4.b) Do your employees have paid leave?
Yes.

(4.c) Are your employees entitled to maternity leave?
Yes.

(4.d) Do you pay your employees above the minimum wage? (Please state minimum wage, and provide salary details)
In general we are paying a fair wage above the official minimal wage, but we demand a good result and flexible employees. We have a good working atmosphere in our team. There is an official minimum wage for cleaning the rooms (8,15 Euro/hour) and we are paying above. An additional fact is, that we are not paying for each house or only for a limited time per house as usual, but until it is clean, so we need a cleaning time up to 4 hours per house, which is very much. Our employees have a lot of different "working status". Some are students, so called "400 Euro Jobs" or earn their money as a primary or secondary job or additional to unemployment compensation.

(4.e) Average and maximum working day, and work hours per week:
4 hrs, 16 hrs a week.

(4.f) Do you employ your staff all year round?  (If not, please explain arrangement)
Yes.

(4.g) Do you employ immigrants? Are they offered the same remuneration & benefits?
No.

(4.h) Do you employ trainees? Please explain what type of tasks they perform, how much they are paid, how many hours do they work and how do you source them?
No, we are not allowed to have trainees.

(4.i) Do you use volunteers? Please explain what tasks they are given?
No, nobody is interested.

(4.j) Do you offer concessions to elderly visitors?
No.

(4.k) Is there disabled access at your Lodge?
Yes, one of the houses (60 sq m) is prepared for disabled people. When the idea of the holiday village was conceived, it was important that we could welcome people with disabilities. Thus one of the houses has wheelchair access. The front door and another door in one of the bedrooms can be used as emergency exits and are fitted with ramps. All doors in the house are extra wide and there is enough space in all rooms (especially the bedroom) to manoeuvre a wheelchair easily. There is a specially adapted bathroom too, making the house named "Singschwan" unique in the village. It goes without saying that the community building is also wheelchair friendly and has a second emergency exit.

Disabled Access
4k: Disabled Access

(4.l) What measures are in place to protect the local (or the indigenous) population from some adverse impacts of tourism?
Most of the local population earn their income from tourism.

(4.m) Do you undertake any poverty reduction initiatives or does your operation contribute to poverty reduction?
No.  

(4.n) Do you undertake any inequality reduction initiatives or does your operation contribute to inequality reduction?
No.

(4.o) Do you undertake any injustice reduction initiatives or does your operation contribute to injustice reduction?
No.

(4.p) What is the minimum, average and maximum age of your employees?
Minimum = 16 years; Average = 40 years; Maximum = 70 years

(4.r) How many employees do you have?
Roundabout 7.

 

5. CULTURAL

 

(5.a) Is there a local community / e.g. a nearby village?
Yes.

(5.b) Do guests interact with the local community and how?
It is a tourist region, they shop, eat, talk etc.

(5.c) What type of information is available to guests at the property?
Maps and advertising about the region, bicycle routes etc.

(5.d) What type of activities are available to guests at the property?
Beach, surfing, driving bicycle, sailing, culture etc.

(5.e) Local guided tours for guests?
No, but there are guided tours in the nearby villages (culture, go fishing etc.)

(5.f) Events / presentations held at the facility so far?
Numerous weddings from elopements to sole hire; Leukaemia foundation charity events; government and private conferences and retreats; health and lifestyle workshops.

(5.g) Specific programme for children?
We have program for children once in the week.

Children programme
5g: Children programme

(5.h) Research / Publications produced / assisted by the property so far?
Urine separation project. Human urine accounts for 80% of nitrates in domestic sewage. To prevent eutrophication of lakes and rivers it must be treated i.e. to remove nitrates. Urine separated out and collected in containers can be used as agricultural fertilizer. In other words, money can be saved during sewage treatment and the energy and money required for the production of agricultural nitrate-based fertilizers are also reduced, thus killing two birds with one stone. Urine separation makes sense ecologically and economically. It is only possible in new cities and those countries, where there is no modern system of treatment plants exists and where it could be considered an economic alternative. To us, the idea seemed very promising for the future and so we investigated the possibility of running at least a field test at the beach village. As it happens, at this very time there was an EUproject just getting under way with an engineering company from Uelzen, working with colleagues in Austria, Italy and the Baltic States. Their plan was to try out innovative sewage systems at tourism facilities and assess their impact scientifically. The idea of urine-separation fitted perfectly into this plan. When the Ministry of the Environment of Schleswig-Holstein announced their interest in paying for part of the experiment, a decision was made: The Augustenhof beach village became co-opted partner of the SWAMP project (Sustainable Water Management and Wastewater Purification in Tourism Facilities). We have put separation toilets into five of our holiday homes and our community building. Despite the fact that the toilet seat might move a little bit and the toilet bowl is split into two sections, our guests hardly notice the difference. In order to build a urine separation plant a second sewage plant has been installed and a second sewage pump pumps the undiluted urine into two collection tanks, which are filled alternately. It remains to be seen whether this invention will be practical in the long run. For the time being, the urine separation plant at the beach village allows scientists to gather scientifically valid data. For safety we have installed a gate valve on the urine pipe, which we can open if we need to send its contents into the normal sewage system. We might have to do this if the urine tanks are full but have not been collected yet or if the experiment has to be suspended for other reasons.

Urine Separation
5h: Urine Separation project

Installation
5h2: Urine separation system installation

(5.i) Is the local community at all involved in the operation of the Lodge and how?
Only as employee or as a shop owner etc.
 

6. EVIDENCE

(6.1). Please state any awards or green certificates won by the property:


2009 - Land of ideas by the German government for the innovative concept.


2006 - Finalist, Royal Accommodation Award for Sustainable Tourism in Europe, in "Holiday Houses" Category.


2005 - Winner, 2nd Prize - Signal Iduna Nature and Health price of "Handwerkskammer Hamburg"


2004 - Viabono - Partner Certificate

(6.2). Have there been any independent (i.e. not paid or otherwise related to you) newspaper, radio, TV or guidebook reviews on your property, which may support any of your replies above? If so please provide detailed information and links (up to 10).

There have been a lot of TV and newspaper articles in the regional media. All of them are in german language.

Examples:

http://www.welt.de/dossiers/landderideen/article4262333/Urlaub-im-Gruenen.html

http://sutour.ier.uni-stuttgart.de/downloads/Umweltleistungen%20europaeischer%20Tourismusbetriebe.pdf

(6.3). Please propose up to 5 people with full title and contact details who are well-informed about your Lodge and are ready to back your statements in this application.

(No references provided)

(6.4). Is there anything else you feel relevant to this questionnaire, that you have not already covered?

For more details please find our English brochure at http://www.stranddorf.de/vacation_baltic_sea.htm

(6.5). Please sign to indicate your agreement with the following:

I hereby declare that all my answers are true and accurate to the best of my knowledge and understand that I and/or my company will not have the right to veto or 'hide' our ECOCLUB Rating, which will be decided in the manner specified at http://www.ecoclub.com/rating if we find it unfavourable. I also understand that the rating will be valid for a minimum of 1 Year, and a maximum of 3 Years. By submitting this questionnaire I indicate acceptance of all ECOCLUB Rating terms, conditions and procedures as stated at http://www.ecoclub.com/rating and understand that these may be modified at any time without notice.

(Please enter (paste) your signature below or type your initials to indicate acceptance)

Your Name: Moritz Bollmann - Date: 17 September 2009

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