Zeal Hotels has appointed James Ferdinando as sustainable development lead, as the group expands around the UK.
This newly created role is a result of the success of the Exeter Science Park, voco ZealIHG is proud to announce the opening of its first net zero carbon hotel.
The hotel aims at being the first Western European hotel to receive a BREEAM Outstanding award in recognition of their sustainable approach to construction, design and general fit-out.. It is designed to meet industry leading benchmarks for Energy Use Intensity, which is a crucial measure in ensuring the sustainability of the building.
Zeal Hotels’ will be able to benefit from Ferdinando’s experience with sustainable construction and development. He joined the group after RED Construction built the voco Zeal in Exeter Science Park where he held the position of group head of sustainable development. He worked for a variety of global companies in the electronics, pharmaceuticals and construction industries.
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Ferdinando stated: “At Zeal hotels, we are trying to create an repeatable model that relates not only to design, construction, and fit-out, but also to the ongoing management of energy and carbon in the hotel. We are measuring data on a variety of points, such as energy consumption and carbon footprint, in order to achieve and hopefully exceed the targets we set.
“We want to meet our goal of a true net-zero carbon footprint by producing more electricity than we use over a 12-month 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.”
Tim Wheeldon said, “We are delighted to have James join Zeal Hotels.” He was a valuable member of the team when the voco Zeal Science Park in Exeter was being built. We look forward to James driving innovation as we expand across the UK.
The group is involved in a testing pilot scheme for the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard, a new benchmark that will be used across the built environment. The Standard was developed in response to the requirement for a consistent set of rules on net zero carbon. This will help to validate claims made by net zero buildings and to accelerate the construction, design and use of building that achieve lower carbon outcomes, as per the UK’s legally binding 2050 carbon targets.
Ferdinando said, “We are thrilled to be a member of a project that will set standards verifiable across the UK. This includes, for a first time ever, hotels. We intend to meet the standards of 2050 when they are released and we are confident at this point that we will.
“As our development continues, we are looking forward to meeting the needs of investors, guests and the environment as well as continuing the influence on the rest of the industry for the better.”
