Going the extra mile

ENVIRONMENT: Hotels are taking to ecological friendliness as they see high returns on being green.

It is not often that businesses in this part of the world go "beyond compliance" in any sphere. Yet, that is what hotel chains like ITC Welcomgroup are doing "" going beyond government-laid guidelines on environmental friendliness.

"Going green works," says Niranjan Khatri, GM, WelcomEnviron Initiatives. He has reasons to be sold on the idea. The Rs 2.35 crore water sewerage plant installed at Delhi's ITC was recovered in a short 18-month period.

Besides that, the water usage has been reduced by 30 per cent over the last 4-5 years. This treated water is being used by the hotel for the air-conditioning plant, in the washrooms (for flushing) and for its gardens.

Water frugal devices have been installed in the rooms like low flow showers as well as aerated taps which reduce the quantum of water flowing. Even on their toilet seats, they have two different buttons, which pump different amounts of water, depending on the reason for flushing.

Rainwater harvesting has been in place in all ITC hotels since 1990. This practice is also followed by Le Meridien, says its vice president (technical), SS Sohi. An energy conservation system has also been implemented, which has helped Le Meridien Delhi cut down on their air-conditioning cost.

"Le Meridien Delhi's air-conditioning plant now uses hydro chloro fluro carbon (HCFC) gas instead of chloro fluro carbon (CFC), which is harmful to the ozone layer. We call this the green chiller," says Sohi.

Interestingly, the use of heat reflecting glass in Le Meridien rooms means respite to guests as well as savings because less energy is used by the air-conditioner.

In Hyderabad, the surplus recycled water from an ITC hotel is being offered to the local municipality while such a surplus from the ITC hotel in Bangalore is being used for the construction activity of another ITC hotel in the city.

To promote and share best green practices, ITC has an eco-education tool kit and green-information on its website www.itcwelcomgroup.in.

Uppal's Orchid "" an Ecotel Hotel in Delhi, is selling on the green tag, having integrated every part of their business towards the eco-friendly approach.

Their Ecotel certification is based on compliance of energy efficiency, water conservation, solid waste management, employee environmental education, community involvement and environmental commitment.

The hotel is ecofriendly even in its construction. The cement used in the building is eco-friendly as it contains only 15-20 per cent fly ash and the internal wall partitions are made of fertilizer waste instead of red bricks.

Each of the Oberoi hotels and resorts also has a Green Team. Environmental awareness is a regular part of the group's training for the hotel employees and their families. They also educate the traders around its hotels about better environmental practices.