Chef and hotelier Milan Doshi, who owns and runs the oldest Bed and Breakfast (B&B) in Denver, The Queen Anne, plans on converting the historic building into a sustainably managed B&B. Housed in an 1879 Victorian just steps from downtown, the structure is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. During the past year the bed and breakfast has undergone a renovation aimed to satisfy Leadership in Energy and Environmental in Design (LEED) certification for existing buildings. However, Mr. Doshi’s plan does not stop there. He intends to apply for C2C, cradle to cradle certification, with the goal of becoming the first hotel to achieve the standard. C2C is generally regarded as the most comprehensive certification, as it incorporates all facets of a business’ operations.

Mr. Doshi, a Denver Master Composter (just one of his many titles) has planted many of the garden beds around the property with vegetables, herbs, and flowers to be used in the kitchen and guest rooms. This local sourcing of food and flowers, as well as composting excess organic matter, helps Mr. Doshi close the materials loop, an essential feature of cradle to cradle design. This is reflected in the bed and breakfast’s mission, which states “We are actively aiming to become a zero-waste property in which everything is recycled, re-used or composted to reduce our impact on our environment.”

Future plans include the installation of solar panels on the roof. According to Mr. Doshi, the only changes that can be made to the structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places are for clean energy projects. Much of the interior work has sourced materials and labor from area businesses. The floors in the parlor are reclaimed Colorado wood from Sustainable Flooring in Boulder. All of the platform bed were built by Denver based Walnut Street Woodwork. Some of the other unique sustainable features include:

1. organic and local breakfasts
2. 100% organic cotton bedding and linens (no dyes or bleach)
3. Eco Mattresses – Supplied from Keetsa with recycled metal coils and sustainable green tea as insulation foam
4. Low-flow showerhead (2.5 to 3.0 gpm) and toilets (1.6gpm)
5. Fluorescent lighting
6. Bulk dispensers for amenities  – products from Jason Organics, a local Colorado company
7. 100% natural, biodegradable, vegetable-oil base, dye-free, natural scents or scent-free cleaning products
8. Paper products are recycled, biodegradable, unbleached, natural scents or unscented, dye-free, and we use brown paper towels only (with recycling bins in guest rooms)
9. Baking soda to clean sinks, tubs and toilets
10. We require our dry cleaners to recycle hangers, plastic film and related materials
11. Extra blankets – room can be kept colder on winter nights if guests prefer
12. Recycling notice for guest involvement

If you are interested in arranging a stay, please call the Queen Anne at 303.296.6666 or contact them via email: travel@queenannebnb.com.

- Eric Wilson

[image source: Queen Anne B&B]