Our Brief
The Sligo Park Hotel is committed to the Green Hospitality Programme to work towards achieving an Eco Label Award. Hotel management and staff have implemented a green team to set goals and internal policies to work towards a more sustainable hotel for our future. Our green team are working on policies that will help us to reduce our carbon footprint to the benefit of our guests, employees, local communities, stakeholders and future generations. Our focus is to minimise energy & water consumption, waste production and encourage biodiversity on our hotel grounds.
1. Energy Efficiency: Install energy-efficient lighting, heating, and cooling systems throughout the hotel. Encourage guests to conserve energy by using keycard-activated lights and offering incentives for participating in energy-saving programs.
2. Water Conservation: Implement water-saving measures such as low-flow faucets and toilets, as well as rainwater harvesting systems for landscaping and irrigation purposes. Educate guests and staff about the importance of water conservation and provide tips for reducing water usage.
3. Waste Management: Implement a comprehensive waste management program that includes recycling, composting, and proper disposal of hazardous materials. Reduce single-use plastics by offering reusable alternatives and partnering with suppliers who use eco-friendly packaging.
4. Biodiversity Promotion: Create green spaces on the hotel grounds by planting native vegetation and creating habitats for local wildlife. Offer guided nature walks or educational programs for guests to learn about the local ecosystem and biodiversity conservation efforts.
5. Community Engagement: Engage with the local community through partnerships with environmental organizations, schools, and businesses. Support local farmers and artisans by sourcing ingredients and products locally, reducing transportation emissions and supporting the local economy.
6. Staff Training and Engagement: Provide training for staff members on sustainable practices and empower them to identify opportunities for improvement. Recognize and reward employees who contribute innovative ideas or demonstrate exceptional commitment to sustainability.
7. Continuous Improvement: Regularly monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of sustainability initiatives, seeking feedback from guests, staff, and stakeholders. Set measurable goals and track progress towards achieving them, continuously striving for improvement. By implementing these strategies and fostering a culture of sustainability, the Sligo Park Hotel can make significant strides towards achieving their Eco Label Award and becoming a leader in green hospitality
www.greenhospitality.ie
Click below to see our full Sustainability Report 2024 and Green Purchasing Policy 2024
Sustainability Report 2024
Green Purchasing Policy 2024
Sligo Park Hotel’s investment in photovoltaic (PV) solar panels estimated to cut energy bills by €25,000 a year
· New solar panel array covers 13,000sqft of the roof of 100-year-old hostelry
· Infrastructure will reduce annual CO2 emissions by 47 metric tonnes – the equivalent of planting 1,869 new trees every year
· Panels will make up almost 50% of hotel’s total energy use in summer
Sligo Park Hotel has completed the installation of a new photovoltaic (PV) solar panel array on the facility’s roof, a move which is expected to cut the 100-year-old hostelry’s energy bills by more than €25,000 annually and significantly reduce its carbon emissions.
JV Tierney and Company Consulting Engineers engaged Cool Air Ltd to install the 400 PV solar panels across 13,000sqft of the building’s roof between June and August this year. However, the PV solar panels only began contributing to the hotel’s energy use last month after being commissioned by the ESB.
Cool Air estimates that the installation of PV solar energy infrastructure will cut the hotel’s annual emissions by more than 47 metric tonnes of Co2. In terms of the reduction in atmospheric carbon, the total is the equivalent of planting 1,869 new trees every year.
While the PV solar panels contribute less during the winter months, it is estimated that solar energy will make up 35-45% of the hotel’s overall usage during the April to September period. The average contribution across the year is projected to be more than 20%, leading to an annual saving of €25,000 on the hotel’s energy bills.
The PV solar panels are the latest measure introduced by the hotel’s management to reduce the impact of the facility’s operations on the environment.
Earlier this year, Sligo Park Hotel opened a bug hotel and willow dome on its grounds with aim of providing nesting sites for insects and other wildlife and educating young guests about the vital role of pollinators in the local ecosystem.
Indeed, the hotel’s efforts to boost biodiversity and reduce emissions were also officially recognised in July when senior managers were presented with an Eco-Label Award from the Green Hospitality Programme for the implementation of its sustainability initiative.
Ireland’s Climate Action Plan 2024 sets out a range of ambitious targets for the expansion of renewable energy in response to the fact that energy generation accounts for the largest proportion of Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions.
According to the ESB, solar energy is the fastest growing renewable power source in Ireland. During the summer months, solar energy can account for as much as 10% of the electricity produced across the country.
Sligo Park Hotel Director/General Manager Gerard Moore hailed the hotel’s “significant capital investment” in the solar panel infrastructure.
Gerard Moore said: “We are delighted that our significant capital investment in solar panel infrastructure is paying dividends in terms of contributing to our energy usage and reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. Hospitality is an energy intensive industry. That’s why we are always exploring ways in which we can reduce the impact of the Sligo Park on the environment, whether that’s through the reduction of emissions by installing solar panels or facilitating the local eco-system’s rich and diverse biodiversity through the provision of bug hotels and willow domes. Our focus is not only on the here and now, but also on ensuring the future is viable for generations to come.”
