room2 Chiswick: the world’s first net zero hotel

Lamington Group is a business with a mission. A net zero carbon mission. We talked to CEO – Robert Godwin about room2 hometels carbon neutral stays, and how the business is progressing with its whole life net zero commitment.

Q: Why is building net zero hotels so important to you?

A: As global temperatures are expected to climb beyond 1.5 degrees, the urgent need for climate action is clear. Real estate is a major greenhouse gas emitter, so at room2, we are taking action to get on course for a net zero future.

We have an ambitious net zero roadmap that sets targets in line with the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 46% from our 2019 baseline and committed to only build and operate to whole life net zero standards for any new properties. Each year our emissions are third-party assessed and we voluntarily report on our greenhouse gas emissions.

Q: Lamington Group designs and builds hotels, as well as operates them. Tell us more about why this is so critical.

A: By developing our own properties, we have greater control over their efficiency, the materials we use, and their sourcing – allowing us to prioritise the circular economy and fully account for all of our carbon emissions. This approach not only reduces operational costs down the line but also extends the lifespan of our buildings. We’ve set ambitious targets that exceed the UK Net Zero Carbon Building Standard guidelines, challenging ourselves to push the limits of carbon reduction throughout the building’s entire lifespan.

Alongside this, we are upgrading our existing properties to become fossil fuel-free. We only purchase 100% renewable energy and we are already increasing insulation, adding more efficient energy fittings and controls, and preventing unnecessary energy waste. We are also making sure we have the right technology in place – like heat pumps and rooftop solar panels with real-time monitoring of energy, water, and air quality that can help us monitor and further improve our environmental footprint.

Q: What about the carbon emissions from running a hotel?

A: Guests are increasingly choosing to stay with conscious hotels. In a recent survey by booking.com75% of global travelers said that they wanted to travel more sustainably over the next 12 months. To help our guests make a more informed choice, we publish our average guest carbon emissions per night – and room2 Chiswick emits around 87% less carbon than an average hotel.

All of our room2 properties are carbon neutral, meaning we offset unavoidable emissions through tree-planting projects. In our room2 ‘Plant Rooms’, our smart systems manage energy and water use in real-time, helping us optimise comfort while reducing waste.

In 2023, we reduced our Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 18% and Scope 3 emissions by 43% against our 2019 baseline – on track for our 2030 science-based target. Most significantly, we achieved this despite opening a new hotel.

We also have lots of other initiatives – from our zero waste policy, food composting, ultra-low flow pressure showers that use less water with aerated fixtures, to locally sourced food at Winnie’s Cafe, we are taking zero seriously.

Q: What’s your plan for the future?

A: Looking to 2030, our carbon roadmap outlines the steps we will be taking to cut our emissions even further. We are already doing a lot, but we’ve got even more to come. Watch this space!

Find out more about room2 Chiswick in our behind-the-scenes video below.