Analysis of “Distintiu de Garantia de Qualitat Ambiental”Cal Carulla agriturism house

Eric Fortes i Marín

Introduction to the zone

Cal Carulla• “L’Astor” (18 inhabitants), Pujalt town• “Alta Segarra” rural area (whit wind farms)

Cal Carulla

Cal Carulla

Wind farm of “L’Alta Segarra”

Cal Carulla's features

• Mas building, from XVI century, composed by four houses

• Was the firs rural house with the DGQA

• They keep active the agricultural activities

• There is “comarcal” products to buy to their customers

• The touristic offer is closely related to agriculture and to the “comarca”

Cal Carulla

Cal Carulla

L’Astor

What were the reasons to create this agriturism house? • To restore the old parts of the house with some

benefits• Extra economic gain, to counteract the decrease

on agricultural gain

Cal Carulla

Why they asked for the “Distintiu”?

2 motivations: Environmental commitment• Will be different from the other agriturism

houses

Cal Carulla

“Distintiu de Garantia de Qualitat Ambiental”: features• Was created on 1994, and extended on 1998• On 2001 were added agriturism houses• Objectives:

▫ promote the environmental respectful products▫ making more easy to identify this kind of products

DGQA

Requirements• Meet the mandatory standards• Meet minimum of optional

standards (bronze, silver and gold)

DGQA

•Waste•Water savings•Swimming-pool•Energy save•Buying•Landscape integration

•Outdoor design•Noise and •vibration•Environmental education•Environmental qualify systems

Acreditation process• Validated request to “Direcció General de Qualitat

Ambiental• Ealuation by “Ponència Tècnica de Qualitat Ambiental”• Validation and resolution by “Consell de QA” • This resolution is published on the official newspaper from Generalitat• Payment of 337’85€

DGQA

Commitments and tracking

• Commitment to have the necessary documentation to make inspections

Although there isn't a specific tracking, there could be a surprise inspection

• This inspections are made whit in-situ checks, without indicators

DGQA

Renewal

• The validity is for 3 years• The renewal process is the same as the

registration• The renewal cost is 225'25€• The contract conditions could be changed

DGQA

Assessment of the DGQA

• Positive points▫ Low adaptive cost▫ Tabulation of the accommodations based on the

optional standards• Negative points

▫ Poor impact (zero popularity) and trivialization▫ It doesn't cover:

The empowerment of local productsA required percentage of renewal energiesKnowledge on rural worldThe area carrying capacity

DGQA

Assessment of the DGQA▫ It doesn't cover as a requirement:The renewal energyThe water, energy and organic matter reuseEnvironmental educationWindows and doors isolationUsing of ecological productsEcological agriculture productionArchitecture Bioclimatical elements

▫ Low % on the use of light bulbs (50%)

DGQA

Proposals

• Popularize DGQA• Upgrade saving measures and make required the

renewal energies reuse• Give more impetus tu ecological products

DGQA

Assessment of “Cal Carulla”

• Positive points:▫ All windows are insulated ▫ Impulse activities and

products from the “Alta Segarra”▫ Promotion of agricultural

knowledge

• Negative points:▫ Low punctuation on optional

standards (60 points)▫ No use of renewal energies or renewable systems▫ Non-ecologic agriculture

Cal Carulla