HBI Staff | Mumbai 
The Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) has announced the accomplishment of nine poineering pilot projects in partnership with IFC’s TechEmerge Sustainable Cooling Innovation Program, all achieved within just 18 months. This highlights IHCL’s steadfast dedication to promoting eco-conscious methods, aiming to introduce effective, environmentally friendly cooling solutions that are both cost-efficient and climate-smart to India’s hospitality industry.
Commenting on this, Gaurav Pokhariyal, Executive Vice President – Human Resources, IHCL, said, “IHCL with Paathya, its comprehensive ESG+ platform, is committed to driving sustainability and social impact measures. The rigorous testing of nine innovative cooling solutions has allowed us to validate their real-world performance. The implementation of these pilots across our portfolio has the potential to result in savings of up to US$18.2 million and a substantial annual reduction of 108,000 tCO2 emissions. We are delighted to work with IFC for a greener future.”
Three successful projects have been piloted by the company in New Delhi, featuring a high-efficiency fresh air purification system and a low-approach cooling tower at Taj Palace, New Delhi. The air purifier recorded notable improvements in the lobby air quality of the hotel, with observed reductions in PM 2.5 by over 95%. A BE-IoT (Built Environment Internet-of-Things) system was also piloted at Taj Mahal, New Delhi, focusing on critical cooling system equipment, and has shown remarkable potential for cost savings and emphasized the role of continuous monitoring and automation. The introduction of future AI/ML capabilities, in conjunction with monitoring and automation, holds the promise of unlocking even greater savings.
