Orbital Shower installed at IHG’s first net zero hotel
Orbital Systems has announced a new pilot installation at Voco Zeal Exeter Science Park – IHG Hotels & Resorts’ first net zero carbon-branded property.
The pilot places Orbital Shower in a guestroom over a six-month evaluation period, setting the stage for a broader commercial rollout.
Opened in March 2025, the 142-room hotel was built to Passivhaus low-energy standards and achieved a BREEAM Outstanding rating.
By integrating Orbital Shower, the property extends its net-zero ambition directly into the guest bathroom, a space where hot water generation historically drives high operating costs.
Originally inspired by an academic collaboration with NASA, the company’s closed-loop technology continuously monitors, filters and UV-purifies water in real time directly inside the shower.
The system cuts fresh water use by up to 90% and energy use by up to 80%, all while delivering a powerful, warm flow of up to 12 litres per minute. Meanwhile, the connected My Water platform logs these savings live for verified ESG reporting.
Because the system recirculates water that is already warm, it cuts operating expenses on three fronts simultaneously: municipal water purchases, water heating energy and wastewater fees.
“Sustainability that also lowers costs is an easy decision,” says Tim Wheeldon of Zeal Hotels. “Reclaiming water and heat at the shower is intelligent, invisible technology that operates without asking guests to give anything up.”
