Shannon Springs Hotel’s EXEED certified achievements of 48% savings against the baseline
A landmark EXEED certified project delivering energy savings of 510,000 kWh/yr, and carbon emission reductions of 117 tonnes of CO2/yr, and enhanced hotel operational performance.
Background
Located in Shannon, Co. Clare, the Shannon Springs Hotel is a well-established 71-bedroom, 4-star hospitality business. The hotel includes the Old Lodge Gastro Pub, restaurant and live music venue. Operating in a highly competitive and energy-intensive sector, the hotel faces ongoing challenges from rising energy costs, regulatory pressures, and growing customer awareness and expectations around sustainability.
To help reduce energy costs and carbon emissions, the management team embarked on a comprehensive energy upgrade project. The aim was to improve efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, and future-proof operations. The project was supported by SEAI’s Excellence in Energy Efficient Design (EXEED) programme. EXEED offers a range of supports enabling large organisations to decarbonise and save energy.
To guide the project, Shannon Springs Hotel engaged Watt Footprint, specialist energy consultants, to undertake a comprehensive energy audit and apply a data-driven, holistic approach to identifying and evaluating energy-saving opportunities. Their analysis informed investment decisions, ensuring each measure was based on robust technical assessment and aligned with EXEED best practice.
This project reflects the hotel’s commitment to sustainability, operational excellence, and enhanced guest comfort, while delivering long-term cost savings.
The project
The project applied a whole-system, design–led approach. This combined detailed energy analysis with targeted upgrades to key building services for a major energy upgrade.
Key measures included:
- Installation of an ‘Air to water’ heat pump system, with smart controls and improved distribution, to replace oil boilers
- Installation of an energy efficient air-conditioning system, replacing the existing 18 electric storage heaters
- Installation of 37.77kWp Solar Photovoltaic (PV) system (91 south facing panels), to enable onsite electricity generation
- Deployment of an Eniscope energy monitoring system with comprehensive metering across the heating and electrical circuits
- Upgraded to energy efficient water pumps and booster set, to optimise the low-pressure hot water (LPHW) system performance.
EXEED methodology
A core element of the project was the EXEED design methodology in accordance with IS 399, which included:
- A detailed baseline energy use modelling, using SEAI EXEED tools and templates
- Challenging and analysing the energy demand, to identify more efficient solutions
- Evaluation of multiple energy conservation measures
- Lifecycle cost analysis to optimise capital investment decisions
- Measurement and verification of actual performance against predicted savings, by the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI), an independent third-party certification board
This structured approach ensured all interventions were evidence-based, performance driven, and aligned with long term operational goals.
The project demonstrates how hotels can transition to low-energy, low-carbon operations, while maintaining guest comfort and service quality.
“We started by metering our energy consumption and we engaged an energy consultant for a deep dive energy audit. Before we put in the heat pump, we were spending about €4,000 per month on kerosene! We expect (have achieved?) a return on investment of (around) 4 years.”
Results
The EXEED project delivered significant energy, carbon, and operational performance improvements through a structured design led approach.
- Total energy savings: 510,100 kWh/yr – a saving of 48% against the baseline year
- Estimated CO2e reductions: 117 tCO2e /yr – a saving of 48% against the baseline year
- Annual energy cost savings: €69,599/ yr (48% Blended energy savings).
- Post-Project Energy Performance Indicator: EnPI of 16.1 kWh/guest .
EXEED process and certification
The successful achievement of SEAI EXEED Certification provides independent verification. It recognises Shannon Springs Hotel as a leader in sustainable hospitality. The project demonstrates a clear commitment to low carbon operations and best practice energy management.
Highlights
- Successfully progressed through the SEAI EXEED certified programme. This demonstrates best practice in energy efficient design. The hotel achieved the EXEED Designed distinction in accordance with IS 399
- Achieved independently verified performance outcomes, ensuring credibility and transparency
- Embedded a data driven energy management approach, supporting ongoing optimisation
This certification enhances the hotel’s reputation with their customers, investors, and stakeholders. It also positions the business competitively in a sector increasingly driven by climate targets and sustainability performance.
“Watt Footprint were delighted to act as the appointed EED experts and project managers for the Shannon Springs Hotel. The project demonstrates clear leadership in the hospitality sector in taking a wholistic approach to their energy performance and a standout example of how the EXEED process can deliver lasting benefits for business."
Wider business and sustainability impact
- Strengthened the hotel’s position as a sustainability focused hospitality provider.
- Enhanced guest comfort and indoor air quality.
- Established a replicable model for energy upgrades across the hospitality sector.
- Contributed to corporate sustainability goals and environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance.
Award winning
Shannon Springs Hotel has received numerous industry awards recognising its commitment to hospitality excellence, sustainability and guest experience. Recent achievements include:
- Best Hospitality, Clare Business Awards (2025)
- Airport Hotel of the Year, Irish Hotel Awards (2025)
- Hotel Bar of the Year – Munster, Irish Bar & Cocktail Awards (2025) – The Old Lodge Gastro Pub
- 4 Star Hotel of the Year, Hotel Restaurant of the Year and Airport Hotel of the Year, Irish Hotel Awards (2024)
- Best Hospitality in Clare, Clare Business Excellence Awards (2023)
- Airport Hotel of the Year, Irish Hotel Awards (2023)
- Excellent Employer certification through Fáilte Ireland's Employer Excellence Programme (2023)
- Gold Hospitality Green Business Award (2023) through the Fifty Shades Greener Management Programme, recognising the hotel's commitment to sustainable business practices.
“Energy costs are a huge factor in running a successful hotel. To address this significant overhead, and ensure that we can show our sustainability credentials, we engaged external expertise to audit and advise on energy upgrade opportunities. The support from SEAI was invaluable to make the project work for our business.”
Next steps
The hotel is well positioned to build on its energy efficiency achievements and explore further sustainability initiatives. The completed project delivered measurable improvements in operation performance. Further initiatives will include:
- Operational behavioural programmes – continue to improve the staff and guest engagement programmes aimed at energy awareness, including energy saving protocols and incentives for sustainable practices.
- Continuous performance monitoring and verification – including the implementation of energy performance indicators (EnPI) and benchmarking to ensure the achieved savings are maintained and any opportunities for incremental improvements are captured.
- Exploration of emerging technologies – investigation into emerging low-carbon solutions, such as battery storage, energy recovery systems, or other technologies aligned with best practices for the hospitality sector.
These next steps will consolidate the energy savings achieved under the current project. They will also position Shannon Springs hotel as a leader in sustainable hospitality, reinforcing its commitment to operational excellence, guest comfort, and environmental stewardship.
“Through this project, we have significantly reduced our energy demand and carbon emissions while strengthening the long-term resilience of our business. The support from the SEAI EXEED programme was instrumental in enabling a structured, data-driven approach to achieving meaningful savings. As the hospitality sector works towards Irelands 2030 and 2050 climate targets, this project demonstrates that ambitious, cost-effective decarbonisation is both achievable and commercially beneficial.”
Is EXEED suitable for your business?
Hospitality businesses can unlock significant energy and cost savings by adopting a structured design led approach to energy efficiency. The Shannon Springs Hotel project highlights the value of the SEAI EXEED certified programme in delivering validated high impact results.
Organisations are encouraged to engage with SEAI and accredited Energy Efficient Design (EED) facilitators to identify and implement similar opportunities, investing in energy efficient solutions not only reduces operational costs and carbon emissions, but also strengthens resilience and long-term business performance.
Register for our free online energy efficient design (EED) training available monthly.
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