How the Quinta runs

To many people living off-grid is baffling and they know little to nothing about it. To most it signifies a system that doesn’t work well and has basic limitations.

However the Quinta shows that not only is it a practical way of life that is beneficial to the planet but that it is also an affordable long-term solution to the challenge of living in a secluded location. 

The infrastructure was expensive to install for the various systems, but now that it’s done, they are cheap to run and easy enough to maintain.

It has proved itself exceptionally cost effective during the last few years as the State’s utility bills have soared while the Quinta’s have remained more stable. 

In general, off-grid living becomes daily more cost-effective and the Quinta’s running costs decrease while others see their costs rise.

As a ball-park figure, with 73% occupancy in 2022, the Quinta’s total utility bills, (electricity, phone, internet, water, gas and heating, including all fuel and maintenance), came in at under €12,000 inc. IVA (VAT), and as IVA is for the most part 23%, it effectively means that those running costs reduce to under €10,000. 

This for a small "hotel" that has an average of 25 people on the premises for eight months of the year and 5 for the remaining four months.

The systems now in place require little on-going maintenance and are robust, workable, cost-effective and reliable.

The Quinta's location is also a huge bonus in that it benefits from a unique micro-climate. Facing due south, it is protected from both northerly and westerly winds by the surrounding hills, and its altitude and the massive lake right on its doorstep keep it warmer than the surrounding countryside in the winter and cooler in the summer. This is a gift that it is difficult to exaggerate as it impacts the running of the Quinta every single day.

Something to remember while reading the following pages is that, in general, every system has a back-up. The electricity is made through photovoltaic arrays backed up with a 3-phase generator, the water is heated through solar panels backed up with a gas powered “zero-loss” boiler, there is not one water-pump but three, (and running off different power supplies), there are two dishwashers, 3 washing machines, various fridges, 2 freezers etc etc. In this way, should the inevitable happen at any time and a machine or system have a glitch or breakdown, the Quinta is still operational while the problem is fixed with little or no inconvenience to the Quinta’s guests.

Staff are the most important asset of any business, and this is especially so of service-related operations such as the Quinta. These have to be well-trained and professional while keeping an informal and “family” atmosphere. At present it runs with a staff of 6 during the eight months of the year it is open to guests and a maintenance staff of 2 or 3 when closed.