Going carbon neutral in Castleknock

Carbon footprints are very much in vogue these days as a measure of how each of us is affecting our environment. For instance it is estimated that the average person has an annual carbon footprint of around 12 tonnes of CO2 each year. By making a number of energy saving choices in our life style we can reduce this significantly.

Campaigns such as the Power of One have already highlighted a number of simple energy saving measures for the average household. Now Castleknock Hotel & Country Club is seeking to raise the bar even higher by aiming to be Ireland’s first carbon neutral hotel by the end of 2008.

A recent energy audit of the hotel indicated that its annual carbon footprint is 1,647 tonnes. To resolve this the hotel has contracted with the Irish energy consultancy Step Green with a view to reducing its emissions as far as possible within the operation of the hotel. The hotel then proposes to offset the balance of emissions by funding a carbon reduction project in Scoil Bhríde in Blanchardstown and through an Irish afforestation project.

According to General Manager John Caffrey, “since opening in 2005, the hotel has always been conscious of its place within the local community and given the very real threat posed by climate change we decided that by reducing our own carbon footprint and offsetting our unavoidable emissions through a local project, Castleknock Hotel would act for both the local and global good.”

As well as the obvious environmental benefits of making the hotel carbon neutral the project also makes sound financial and marketing sense. “Several of the large global companies who use our hotel for both accommodation and conferences are themselves obliged to offset their emissions and we believe these companies prefer to work with suppliers who are also committed to neutralising their carbon emissions,” says John.

Looking to the future the hotel is also working with Step Green to devise a system of carbon credits that will also offer individual hotel guests the opportunity to offset the carbon emissions generated by their travel to and from the hotel.

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