UK: Zeal Hotels has appointed James Ferdinando as sustainable development lead, as the group expands and takes part in pilot for UK sustainable building standards.
The newly-created role follows the opening of the voco Zeal Exeter Science Park, IHG’s first branded net zero carbon hotel.
The hotel has the target of being the first in Western Europe to achieve a BREEAM Outstanding rating in recognition of its sustainable approach to design, construction and overall fit out. In January this year the project had achieved the BREEAM Outstanding rating at the design stage.
It has been designed to operate with industry-leading benchmark-setting Energy Use Intensity levels, a critical measure that ensures the buildings’ sustainable future.
Ferdinando’s has extensive experience in sustainable construction practices and sustainable development and joins the group from RED Construction, which constructed the voco Zeal at Exeter Science Park, where he was group head of sustainability.
Prior to that he worked at a number of global organisations within the electronics and pharmaceuticals industries, as well as construction-related companies including roofing specialists SIG Roofing and BMI.
Ferdinando said: “At Zeal Hotels we’re trying to create a repeatable model, relating not only to the design, construction and fit out, but to the ongoing operational energy and carbon management of the hotel. Having completed the build we are now measuring a wide number of data points, including energy consumption and overall carbon impact, to meet and hopefully exceed our targets, proving the concept.
“It is important to us that we meet our ambitions of true net zero carbon, by producing more energy than we consume over an annual period. With the use of innovative roof and façade PV systems (the first in the UK), we aim to achieve a zero net energy balance and ensure that our consumption EUI is offset with our own generated solar energy.”
UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard
The group is also currently involved in a pilot testing scheme for a new benchmark across the built environment, the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard.
The group says the Standard is a response to the need for consistent rules around net zero carbon, to both validate net zero claims and accelerate the design, construction and use of buildings that deliver lower-carbon outcomes in line with the UK’s legally-binding 2050 carbon targets.
Ferdinando said: “We are delighted to be a part of a project which will set verifiable standards across the UK and one which includes, for the first time, hotels. Our intentions are to meet the 2050 standards when they come out and at this stage we are confident that we will.
“As we develop we look forward to being able to answer the needs of guests, investors and the environment, as well as continuing to influence the rest of the sector for the better.”
Hotel Building Certifications: BREEAM, LEED, Passivhaus and UK Net Zero Carbon Building Standards
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