Bellefonte B&B Wins International Sustainability Award

A Bellefonte bed and breakfast has achieved a major recognition for its environmental care.

The Queen, A Victorian Bed and Breakfast recently the Bronze Award from Green Tourism, an international certification program known for its high standards in the hospitality industry.

The honor follows The Queen’s 2024 Emerald Award from the Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority for the B&B’s excellence in recycling and waste reduction.

To earn Green Tourism’s Bronze Award, the B&B passed an evaluation of how it treats its community and the environment. The property features an Audubon-certified garden and is a registered National Wildlife Federation Habitat. By replacing traditional grass with native plants, the owners have restored the local ecosystem to support birds and pollinators.

Guests can experience these efforts firsthand through:

• Nature education by learning how native plants protect local insect and bird populations.
• Monarch conservation by observing the life cycle of monarch butterflies raised on-site.
• Butterfly releases, when the timing is right.
• Hydroponic gardening by seeing how food is grown efficiently using a modern water-based garden tower.

The Queen has made significant technical changes to reduce its environmental footprint:

• The B&B uses LED lighting and on-demand water heaters to save energy.
• A “reduce and reuse” policy includes refillable amenities and the use of repurposed antique furniture.
• To keep guests and staff healthy, The Queen uses natural cleaning products like steam and vinegar. No chemicals are used in the gardens.

“We hope to inspire our guests to try these sustainable practices in their own lives,” owner Nancy Noll, a certified Pennsylvania Master Naturalist, said. “This award validates our work to protect the environment while providing a high-quality stay”.