Falls Hotel & Spa receives carbon neutral certification
The Falls Hotel & Spa in Co Clare has been officially certified as a carbon neutral hotel by Green Hospitality Ireland.
It is only the second hotel in Ireland to achieve this status, and the first one with a resort spa.
Green Hospitality, which runs a sustainability programme for the Irish hospitality industry, awarded the Falls Hotel & Spa its GreenMark Carbon Neutral12 Cert for eliminating its carbon output over a five-year period.
The 140-bedroom hotel, which is located in the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Unesco Global Geopark, is home to the River Spa, which offers a range of Elemis and Voya treatments, and features a pool, sauna, jacuzzi and outdoor tub.
The family-run business has invested in a a series of waste reduction and energy initiatives, including a €1.3m hydroelectric turbine on the nearby River Inagh, which generates enough electricity to power the hotel. It has also switched to renewable electricity and Bio LPG gas, using water from the hotel’s own well, and planted 350 native Irish trees on the hotel grounds.
A green team was set up to encourage staff to become fully involved in all of the hotel’s sustainability initiatives, including using chemical-free cleaning products, compostable cups and straws, and cutting back on food waste.
“We are delighted to receive this recognition, especially given the huge investment we have made with our hydroelectric plant,” said Michael McCarthy, owner and general manager, Falls Hotel & Spa. “We are extremely proud of this award. With 140 bedrooms, a leisure centre and a spa complex, we went from having a large carbon footprint to being carbon neutral in five short years. It’s a massive achievement.
“Being based in an area of such natural beauty as the Burren, we felt compelled to do our best to minimise our impact on the area around us. Utilising the power of the river alongside us seemed the best place to start our sustainability journey.”
Sustainability is now at the heart of all operations at the Falls Hotel & Spa, as well as being central to the guest experience. All visitors are encouraged to play their part, whether it’s reusing towels, using less water, turning off lights and heat, or dividing their waste into separate bins in their rooms.
“It is our responsibility to take direct action to minimise our environmental footprint and we have additional plans to further reduce our absolute consumption and drive even greater levels of sustainability within the hotel,” said McCarthy.
