ITC Royal Bengal, Kolkata is a LEED Platinum Certified Building

ITC Royal Bengal is a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certified building underLEED USGBC New Construction Programme. LEED is an international symbol of sustainability excellence in green building that signifies a building has less carbon emissions, conserves resources and reduces operating costs, while prioritizing sustainable practices and creating a healthier environment.

A 456 room keys Luxury Hotel, ITC Royal Bengal is one of the tallest building in Kolkata at 130 meters in height, setting higher standards for energy efficiency in building systems design.

Adjacent to ITC Royal Bengal is ITC Sonar. Combined, these two unique hotels offer two distinct experiences, providing superlative standards in accommodation with 693 rooms, suites and serviced apartments, unprecedented culinary choices over 12 culinary destinations and 22 banqueting and meeting options spread over 1,00,000 square feet. ITC Sonar is also a LEED Platinum certified hotel and is the first hotel in the world to obtain Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) issued under the aegis of the United Nations Framework on Climate Change Convention in 2007.

Key features of the LEED Platinum certified ITC Royal Bengal include:

ENERGY EFFICIENCY: More than 30% (34% less energy consumption than LEED’s baseline) energy savings over a conventional building. Strategies include: • Passive design strategies such as optimized building orientation, optimum Window to Wall Ratio and efficient shading systems. • Active design strategies such as efficient building envelope design, use of efficient lighting systems and use of efficient Heating Ventilation and Air Condition systems and mechanical equipment. • Engagement in off-site renewable energy.

WATER EFFICIENCY: More than 45% (More than 47% less water consumption against LEED’s baseline) reduction in potable water use. Strategies include: • Installation of efficient plumbing fixtures • Reuse of treated waste-water for various purposes

SITE RESTORATION: More than 50% of site is restored with natural areas, promoting biodiversity. Strategies include: • Landscape designed with plant species which are native/adaptive. These species help in promoting site’s biodiversity as well as have reduced irrigation water demand and require low maintenance.

USE OF EFFICIENT BUILDING MATERIALS: Environment friendly materials and products have been used in the project. These include: • More than 20% of the materials of the project’s total material have recycled content, and more than 23% of the construction materials are locally sourced   • FSC certified wood products are used to reduce depletion of finite raw materials. • Materials which have lower environmental impact have been used. These include materials with rapidly renewable content and low Volatile Organic Compound content.

IMPLEMENTATION OF ECO-FRIENDLY PRACTICES: • Management of waste: ➢ Mitigation of single use plastic➢ Focusing on reducing the plastic and packaging waste generated in the building and working on alternatives ➢ Appropriate segregation, storage and management of waste generated in the building ➢ Identifying the recyclable waste and sending it to identified recyclers. Segregating the organic waste and treating the same in the in-house organic waste composter.

• Adoption of greenhouse-keeping practices: ➢ Use of Green Seal Certified Chemicals

The energy saving features has made ITC Royal Bengal resource-efficient and environment friendly, in line with world-class standards and procedures

 Mr. Tejinder Singh, Area Manager East ITC Hotels & Cluster General Manager ITC Royal Bengal & ITC Sonar said, “ITC Royal Bengal's LEED Platinum Certification is one of the many reflections of ITC Hotels decade long Responsible Luxury philosophy which integrates world class sustainable practices with contemporary design elements to deliver the best of Luxury in the greenest possible manner.”

ITC Hotels is the largest chain of hotels in the World, which has maximum Platinum Certified Properties (USGBC). Sustainable business practices that respect the environment and society have always been the DNA of ITC Hotels. P. Gopalakrishnan, Managing Director, SE Asia and Middle East Markets for Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) mentions “ITC Hotels’ commitment to providing healthy, efficient and sustainable hospitality for their guests is commendable. ITC Hotels distinguishes itself every day through its actions, which lead the transformation of the hotel industry in India. By seeking out and achieving LEED Platinum certification, ITC Hotels ensures that the well-being of their guests and underscores their commitment to the triple bottom line