Green Hospitality
At Herbert Park Hotel & Park Residence, our focus is to find the balance between understated comfort and sustainability. As a pioneering eco-friendly Hotel in Ireland, we’ve been on a green journey since opening our doors in 1997, continually striving to reduce our environmental footprint. Today, we’re proud to showcase our sustainable achievements and ongoing efforts to protect our planet.
Management
• Eco-Label Commitment: We’re actively pursuing the Eco-Label Award from the Green Hospitality programme, furthering our commitment to sustainable hotel operations.
• Reducing Plastic Waste: In support of eco-friendly hotel practices, we gifted each member of staff a reusable water bottle to reduce single-use plastics. This initiative aligns with our core values of environmental responsibility and teamwork toward a greener future.
Waste Minimisation & Management
• On-Site Recycling Centre: Established in 2017, our recycling centre helps us manage glass, cardboard, and plastic waste. Team members are encouraged to use personal water bottles or reusable cups, as we have eliminated plastic cups to support waste reduction.
• Guest Recycling Initiatives: Our self-catering studio apartments are equipped with separate bins for general waste and recycling, supporting our commitment to eco-friendly practices and encouraging sustainable habits among our guests.
• Eco-Friendly Packaging: Over 95% of our goods arrive in returnable packaging, minimising waste and promoting sustainable hotel practices.
• Zero-Waste Kitchen: Our kitchen operates with zero waste, ensuring all materials are recyclable or compostable.
• Paper-Free Initiatives: We’ve adopted Smart Office software for digital invoicing, and all employee handbooks are issued digitally, reducing paper and ink use.
• Sustainable Cups and Straws: Compostable takeaway cups are standard and only available for for takeaway hot drinks to be consumed outside the premises of the hotel; and plastic straws have been completely replaced with eco-friendly alternatives.
• Water in Cartons: To further reduce plastic waste, we provide water in recyclable cartons.
• Eco-Friendly Toiletries: Our hotel toiletries, supplied by a FieldDay, are refillable, recyclable, vegan, cruelty-free, and all its packaging save 68% CO2.
• Chemicals with Sustainable Packaging: Our chemicals supplier, P&G, ensures that 90% of their product packaging is recyclable, with plans for Net Zero emissions by 2040.
• Minimised Packaging for Honey: We serve honey directly from a whole honeycomb at breakfast, eliminating the need for glass jar packaging.
Energy Efficiency & Carbon Minimisation
• Energy-Efficient VRF Heating and Cooling System: Our hotel rooms, Park Lane Conference Suite, and Gym Area are equipped with an advanced all-electric Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) heat pump system, delivering precise temperature control and enhanced guest comfort while reducing fossil fuel reliance. This system, which has been upgraded throughout the hotel to eliminate the use of R22 gas, supports sustainable energy use and significantly lowers demand on our gas boilers.
• Efficient Air Handling Units (AHUs): We have replaced our ventilation system with energy-efficient AHUs powered by heat pump technology.
• We have installed advanced control systems featuring inverter-driven plug fans for real-time adaptation to building loads.
• LED Lighting and Energy-Saving Lifts: We’ve upgraded corridor lighting to energy-efficient LEDs, reducing electricity use by 56%, and replaced all four hotel lifts with energy-efficient models, cutting energy use by up to 60%.
• Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Generator: Our CHP generator provides 189 kW of heat while simultaneously producing 125 kW of electricity, reducing our reliance on the grid and improving the hotel’s energy efficiency. As part of our decarbonisation efforts, we are transitioning from gas boilers to all-electric heat pump technology. These renewable systems generate four times the heat energy compared to the energy they consume, further lowering our overall energy consumption and reducing fossil fuel dependence.
• Energy-Efficient Systems: We have installed individual control capabilities for each area, ensuring energy efficiency and optimal comfort levels throughout the hotel.
• Lower ESB Demand: Thanks to recent upgrades, we’ve reduced our ESB supply demand by 150 kVA, easing pressure on the national grid during peak times.
Water Minimisation & Management
• Water-Saving Shower Heads: The shower heads in our studio apartments and hotel extension are designed to reduce water use by up to 30%, aligning with our commitment to water conservation.
Sustainable Transport
• Electric Car Charging Stations: As the first hotel in Ireland to offer electric vehicle charging stations, we provide six charging ports on-site to promote sustainable travel.
For more information, please visit our page.• Cycle to Work Scheme: We support eco-friendly commuting through our Cycle to Work Scheme, encouraging low-carbon transportation for team members.
November 2024
“We recognise that our business has an important role to play both in protecting and enhancing the environment for future generations and in helping to secure the long-term sustainability of the tourism industry.”
