Europe's First Sustainable Hotel
The Iveagh Garden Hotel opened in 2018 with the intention of having the lowest carbon footprint possible in comparison to any other hotel in Europe. The idea was to future proof the hotel and get ahead of the curve by prioritising sustainability practices, raising standards and developing new methods to improve energy performance.
In designing the hotel, the McGill family felt strongly that the property should deliver an exceptional guest experience, while limiting the hotel’s carbon footprint. Partnering with renewable energy company Eurotech and Glenn Nunan Consulting Engineers, the hotel embarked on a significant investment during the hotel’s construction to realise this vision. “We are delighted with the results thus far” John Pardy, General Manager. “With a global movement towards the adaptation of Green technology in business, the reaction from both our corporate customers and hotel guests has been overwhelmingly positive.”
In 2025 the Iveagh took further steps towards sustainability and environmental responsibility through a collaboration with solar pv and battery specialist, Next-Gen Power. They implemented the installation of a 92kW Solar PV system, which includes 220 solar panels, discretely positioned out of sight on the roof of the Iveagh Gardens Hotel, the investment in this Solar PV project will equate to an annual saving of an estimated €25,000 per year. The hotel also expects to reduce its all-important carbon footprint by 40 Tonnes per year.
How is the Iveagh Garden a Sustainable Hotel?
1. We harness power from the river Swan which flows directly underneath the hotel to generate our heating and cooling systems.
2. The extractor fans in our kitchens are recycled back through the filtration systems to assist with the cooling element of the extractor fans.
3. The entire hotel is fitted with LED low power lighting and all the bedrooms in the hotel use smart control lighting systems to ensure lighting is off in unoccupied areas.
4. The traditional power lifts originally in the building were removed and replaced with smart low energy lift systems.
5. The previously existing plumbing and heating systems that ran on fossil fuel were removed to make way for a new revolutionary system. There is now a natural energy plant room in the hotel that uses electricity produced on site in a gas turbine to eliminate electrical energy loss from grid power. The turbine produces hot water which is supplied throughout the hotel.
Why choose an eco-friendly hotel?
Sustainability in the business world is essential to achieving growth and satisfying customers. Businesses in Ireland have a duty to become more sustainable by reducing waste, improving their practices and updating their energy systems to help the environment. Customers should opt to stay in eco-friendly hotels to do their part in helping the environment and encourage other hotels to follow in pursuit and improve their practices.
For more information on the technology used, please contact info@igh.ie