voco Zeal Exeter Science Park won the BREEAM award for Best New Construction/Commercial Project at last week’s prestigious BREEAM Awards 2025.
This award is a further recognition of the innovative project. The hotel had already achieved a BREEAM Outstanding Rating at the design phase in recognition of the low-carbon construction and fitout.
The property is designed to run entirely on solar and renewable energy. The 100% electric voco Zeal Exeter Science Park is distinguished by its sustainable design that includes vertical solar panels. The first building in the UK to use the Solarlab vertical photovoltaic panel system as a rainscreen cladding.
The hotel is designed to meet industry benchmarks in terms of Energy Use Intensity. This will prove that it is possible to build a net-zero hotel, as well as maintain sustainable operations.
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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 consistent rules on net zero carbon. It will help validate claims of net zero and speed up the design, construction, and use buildings that are more carbon-efficient and meet the UK’s legally binding 2050 carbon target.
Zeal Hotels was advised throughout the BREEAM certification process by specialist environment and sustainability consultants SCS.
