The hotel eliminates emissions through:
a) Generating green energy on-site,
b) Buying green energy from an external provider, and
c) Offsetting any remaining carbon emissions
In the hotel all the carbon emissions from construction, operation, maintenance and through to the end of the building’s end life are equal to zero.
For the unavoidable emissions, the carbon footprint is offset with a nature based reforesting partner in Nicaragua. room2 Chiswick is the first hotel in the world to offset both operational and embodied carbon to zero.
To heat and cool the building ground-source heat pumps are used that go 200m below the ground. The loops extract heat energy from the earth and draw it to the heating and water system. This also works in reverse for space cooling.
Solar panels on the roof generate about 5% of the annual energy demand, which is enough to run the bar and lounge lighting and heating.
The building runs on electricity only, all the energy needed comes from renewable sources. Renewable energy generation is maximized on site with solar panels and ground source heat pumps while the rest is bought from an external energy provider generating electricity only from wind, solar and hydro power.
The green roof promotes biodiversity, improves insulation for the building and provides a home for insects and bugs.
Under the ‘Green’ roof, is a ‘Blue’ roof. It catches and retains up to 50,000 Lt of rainwater, slowly releasing it to the drainage system to reduce the chances of local flooding.
The guests are accompanied by 75,000 bees living on the roof, supporting biodiversity in the area, and in the process making unique, local honey.