Our Environmental Responsibility
We at The Doyle Collection recognise the environmental
responsibilities that we carry on behalf of our guests, our
employees and our community. In recognition of our
responsibilities, we have undertaken to work proactively with our
suppliers, our employees and our guests to ensure that our business
is conducted in a way that enhances the environment, in which we
work and live. We at The Doyle Collection have undertaken
programmes, which include areas of energy conservation, waste
reduction, conversion to environmentally friendly cleaning
materials and reduction of water consumption, and will continue
with such programmes throughout all of our properties. We
consider environmental progress to be an integral part of all
future developments, throughout our company and we are pledged to
adhere to this principle.
Water conservation
A major survey on the consumption and treatment of water within our
properties has been conducted. We continue to reduce the volumes of
water used in our new properties by the introduction of fittings
and equipment that eliminates the excessive use of water. These
measures range from water-efficient showerheads and toilet cisterns
to electronic washroom systems. We have also implemented a study on
the potential for use of rainwater under appropriate
circumstances.
Water that is kinder to the
environment
The EU water directive places a huge
responsibility on industry to ensure that discharged water is free
of harmful agents such as phosphates and nitrates, which can create
an imbalance in our rivers and lakes and threaten the
sustainability of fish and plant life. At our hotels, we have
introduced a programme of using phosphate-free cleaning materials
throughout our kitchen and house-keeping departments. We have also
installed automatic dosing systems and energy monitoring on our
dish-washing equipment, concentrated detergents and biodegradable
packaging.
Energy conservation
In 1996, we commenced
a programme to convert to clean technology in the form of combined
heat and power systems in our hotels. This has had the effect of
retaining and reusing the heat which otherwise would be lost in the
generating of electricity. The positive consequences of this are
that there is a substantial reduction (roughly 7,000 tonnes per
annum) of carbon into the atmosphere by the more efficient use of
energy. In addition to this, all of our properties in the UK have
signed up to the Hospitable Climates Programme (sponsored by the
British Department of the Environment) to meet the EU targets for
reduction of greenhouse gases.
In Jan 2005 we launched a programme to reduce energy consumption
by 10% across the group. This programme has involved the
setting up of an energy team at each of our properties and the
promotion of energy awareness throughout our Hotels. It has proved
a great success and we now benchmark, monitor and distribute the
progress of our programme to all our properties, on a monthly
basis.
This initiative was recognised when Sustainable Energy Ireland
awarded us "Best Coordinated Energy Management Programme for
2006".
Recycling initiatives
Launched in 1998,
our waste management programme directs our waste from landfill
towards “Reduce, Re-use and Recycle”. Since then, we have
implemented complete waste-management systems at all of our hotels
in Ireland. We are now extracting hundreds of tons of glass,
cardboard, newspapers and aluminium cans from our waste streams and
have invested in state-of-the-art equipment for the on-site
treatment of organic waste which is prepared and passed for
composting. Our results to date show that levels of 50% recycling
have been reached at a number of our properties and integrated
recycling facilities are an important part of all new
developments.
Smoke Free Zones
Under legislation enacted
by the Irish and UK Governments, smoking of tobacco products is
prohibited in all Doyle Collection hotels in Ireland and the UK,
except in designated bedrooms where an exemption has been
granted.
The primary purpose of the prohibition is to afford protection
to workers and the public who are exposed to harmful environmental
tobacco smoke (ETS). We respectfully request all our guests to
comply with this legislation.
