Bali Mountain Retreat is set high on the slopes of Mt Batukaru, there are no villages further up the mountain from here.. The air is clean, the water is directly fed from a spring on the mountain and the creeks and waterways are clean. This is a natural place to have an environmental friendly policy with the hope of it spreading down the mountain by example and education.
BMR has already implemented many Eco practises and has aims to improve this not only within the grounds but also in the general area and local village.
Below are the BMR environmental practises:

Energy saving. 
All lighting is minimal wattage florescent globes, staff are instructed to turn off garden lighting after guests have retired.
We do realise the disposal of these florescent globes is a challenge since they contain mercury.
All water heating is instant gas, we provide the traditional scoop and cold water bak for those who wish to use it.
Our altitude on the mountain ensures we only require ceiling fans, No A/C are installed in the rooms. This significantly reduces our electricity consumption.
All appliances have good energy efficiency ratings.
All excess boiled water is stored in flasks for reuse in hot drinks.
The use of candles is favoured to provide ambience.
Buildings are made of local products including bedeg (woven bamboo), bamboo, coconut wood and use traditional building methods i.e. very few electrical tools are used.

Recycling

Separate glass, metal, paper, plastic for the purposes of re use or recycle.
Glass is usually re used by locals, metal and plastic is recycled.
Food scraps are either fed to animals – dogs, chickens, pigs, guinea pigs or composted for use in the garden.
Unwanted clothes and any reusable items are given to locals.
Reduction in the use of plastic, shopping bags, bottles etc.
We use reusable cloth shopping bags for our purchases.

Water consumption

Bali Mountain Retreat is very fortunate to have direct spring fed water from the mountain.
The water is stored in a large concrete tank for drier times, then UV filtered and 1micron filtered for drinking. The emphasis here is how fortunate we are to be in such a rare position.
This water supply can not be turned off so the overflow becomes part of the catchments again.
We still practice water saving ideas such as grey water  reuse in the gardens, low flow toilets, washing room linen less regularly as to guests request.

Wildlife

Bali Mountain Retreat plants flora to attract birds, butterflies and many other animals.
The native species are always preferred and the gardens blend into nature with little boundary fencing. Many Flowers, food trees, grass areas and herbs are grown here.
Our guides are trained in the natural habitat and only too willing to share their knowledge with the guests. 
We ask guests to rise early to watch the birds.
We promote a beautifully illustrated guide book by Victor Mason called Butterflies of Bali.
The use of garden chemicals and poison baits are strictly prohibited.
Cleaning makes use of local products such as vanilla extract (made in our kitchen), borax, and the use of water is preferred.
BMR limits the numbers of trekkers to minimize the environmental impact.

Bali Mountain Retreat gives guests free use of bicycles and has many cycle tours to lessen the impact on the environment.

Building

BMR uses local builders with local building practices, this reduces the need for power tools, allows the builders to use traditional materials such as bedeg (woven bamboo), bamboo, coconut wood (sustainable) and stone.
Designs were used to increase air flow and light in all rooms.
We also used recycled hardwood timbers for buildings and furniture.
We have restored old Indonesian traditional buildings they are the Joglo, and lumbungs.
Excess timbers were used to make extra furniture or dried and saved for open fires.
Paint is water based and waxes are used on floors.

BMR has Staff Training in the areas of:

• Energy saving, eg. turning off lights when guests retire.
• Composting
• Recycling
• Replanting trees
• Dangers of burning plastic.
• Encouraging and protecting wildlife, by creating suitable habitats and by minimizing use of harmful pesticides.
• Guides are trained in local awareness of flora and fauna.
• Value adding local products e.g. Vanilla, Cacao, Coffee and bamboo.

Where possible Bali Mountain Retreat will use locally produced products and encourage the switch to organic farming for value adding .
We encourage our guests to ask questions of the local culture and practices.
We have aims to become more sustainable in the future and educate locals about sustainable farming practices.

GUESTROOMS:

• All rooms are "No smoking" rooms. An external verandah is provided for smokers.
• Low wattage fluorescent lighting.
• Bulk dispensers for our shampoo and shower gels and refillable soap dispensers (no small plastic bottles or soaps thrown away)
• Cleaning products – where possible are non-toxic, phosphate-free, biodegradable, natural scents or unscented, dye-free, concentrated
• Baking soda and vinegar to clean sinks, tubs and toilets
• Hot water - 125-130 degrees F (52-55 degrees C) reduces LPG gas consumption
• Linens changed between guests or on request only (towels on floor of shower recess), card system for changing sheets on guests request or sheets are changed every 3rd day.
• 100% cotton sheets and towels are used as they are undyed and unbleached.
• Glass water glasses, no paper covers
• Ceiling fans
• No styrofoam usage
• Pest Control - cleanliness, preventatives, natural, non-toxic
• Furnishings of all recycled hardwood timbers. No new timber used.
• Fresh air: Rooms have windows and doors that can be opened for fresh air ventilation.
• No perfumes or scented fabric softeners used for room linen.
• Information Booklets in guestrooms promote our environmental policies
• Light coloured paints used to increase natural light in rooms.

Social practices

All staff hired are from local Balinese villages, this includes the building, driving, cleaning, gardening, trek guides and management staff. All are long term employees with better than average conditions and wages.

Bali Mountain Retreat (also home of Musikaal Studio) actively supports the community in other areas.. Richard from BMR was a founding member of a foundation called Yayasan Bali Kharisma (http://www.yayasan-bali-kharisma.org ), to help in the recovery of Bali through the preservation of the social traditions, music and environmental projects. Please see Local Projects..

Along with neighbouring businesses and local villagers BMR is actively involved in preservation of the local Montane forest by promoting eco friendly trekking around this mountain to raise awareness and an alternative industry for locals. (http://www.balimountainretreat.com/musikaal/content/view/10/37/ )

BMR is also constantly looking for new organic crop possibilities here on the mountain, testing various vegetable, herb and ryzome crops to see how they suit the climate.

Value adding is also an area we are seeking to improve for locals as the raw produce here is sold very cheaply to traders and at local markets.

BMR began a program of vanilla extraction 18 months ago and is very happy with the quality of the results. There are currently two other programs running the the field of value adding.

BMR encourages guests to visit the local village and join ceremonies keeping a sensitivity to the local traditions.
In general BMR lobbies for the environment and conservation with the hope that staff and locals will follow suit.