Kilkenny hotel cuts carbon by 107 tonnes in half-million carbon-neutral journey

The South East Energy Agency (SEEA) partnered with the boutique hotel Pembroke Kilkenny to complete a five-year €524,422 energy upgrade. The upgrade cut carbon by 107 tonnes annually, moving the hotel closer to its goal of becoming carbon-neutral.

The partnership saved 477,316 kWh of energy annually, enough to power 130 average Irish homes for a year. The sustainable measure reduced 107.3 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually, equivalent to planting 1,610 trees, enough to cover two GAA pitches.

The improvements resulted in an annual cost savings of € 36,090. The hotel received grants of €157,326, managed by the South East Energy Agency.
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Powering sustainable energy upgrades
The state-of-the-art energy upgrades began in 2019, introducing an air handling unit and redeveloping the kitchen. The hotel further enhanced efficiency with new windows, smart controls, a building management system, water pump upgrades, solar panels, and innovative electric air curtains for heat retention.

"We've got very low-cost heating because of the efficiency created here," said Pembroke proprietor John Ryan.

"We switched from gas to induction hobs to put in more efficient appliances. The cleanliness of the kitchen and the environment is very pleasant. If you were to ask any of the chefs now, they would much prefer induction."

The sustainable energy upgrade was part of a broader €3 million investment that also saw the addition of a new fourth floor at the award-winning city centre hotel.

"We recently completed a new floor and took the opportunity to install 45 solar panels on the roof. The extra bump from the PV will help us manage our MIC demand and keep below our agreed capacity with ESB networks," Mr Ryan concluded.

The South East Energy Agency is Ireland’s lead agency for a new Interreg North West Europe (NWE) project in Ireland called ECOBoost for Micro and Small Enterprises. The project will provide small businesses with a range of support, from tailored energy audits, a toolkit for energy-saving solutions, technical assistance, training programmes, and business models, all from one centralised platform.
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"Projects like Pembroke Kilkenny show what is possible when ambition and innovation come together," said Project Delivery Engineer for South East Energy Agency Michael Kinchella.

"We commend John Ryan and his team for their leadership and urge others to take similar steps. With guidance from our experienced energy engineers and support available through EU projects, such as ECOBoost, and government-backed grants from the SEAI, sustainable energy is both achievable and a wise investment.”

The South East Energy Agency is a not-for-profit organisation working with Irish SMEs, homeowners and communities to deliver energy upgrade projects, from audits and grant applications to project management and delivery. Further information on grants and energy schemes is available via: www.southeastenergy.ie.