Environmentally Conscious Design

Many hotels in Ireland have now adopted environmental policies which they have devised themselves and which hope to educate staff and outline the intentions of the establishment with regard to environmental responsibility. One such hotel is the Wineport Lodge in Glasson, Co. Westmeath.

The hotel realises that its location in the lake lands comes with an element of responsibility and they have adopted a series of measures to reduce their impact on their immediate and wider environment. Such measures as laid out in their environmental policy include the use of phosphate-free cleaning agents in all departments, the treatment of all effluent on site, with final stage polishing in a specially constructed wetland which enhances the habitat for wildlife on the property, the recycling of all paper and cardboard and the use of low wattage bulbs.

The physical design of this lovely hotel is one which considered its environment from the get-go. The hotel's west-facing aspect enhances solar gain and promotes passive heating in the guest rooms. The building is highly insulated with high-performance double glazed timber windows and doors, while every guest room has individual heating, allowing the elimination of waste heat as the temperature can be controlled by the guest.

The cedar wood clad structure and timber framed windows of the hotel also result in a low maintenance external finish from a renewable source which blends happily into the natural environment. According to owner Ray Byrne, the hotel's staff is trained in the environmental policies with an emphasis also placed on the employees' personal responsibility in this regard. Food on the menus at Wineport Lodge frequently includes organic and locally-sourced ingredients, including mushrooms, beef, dairy products and herbs.