IHCL (Indian Hotels Company) has successfully concluded nine pilot projects focused on the implementation of climate-smart and sustainable cooling solutions across its properties in India. These initiatives were carried out in collaboration with the IFC's TechEmerge Sustainable Cooling Innovation Programme.

As a component of the pilot initiative, the hospitality conglomerate implemented a fresh air purification system at the Taj Palace in New Delhi, resulting in a reduction of over 95 percent in PM 2.5 levels within the hotel lobby. Additionally, at the Taj Exotica Resort & Spa in Goa, a low-approach cooling tower was installed to enhance the air conditioning system by maintaining the approach condenser temperature within a 2°C range.

The Taj Mahal in New Delhi has incorporated a built environment internet-of-things (BE-IoT) system, enabling efficient continuous monitoring and automation, with anticipated cost savings. Furthermore, a chemical-free water treatment system has undergone a pilot implementation at Taj Holiday Village Resort & Spa in Goa.

It eliminated the need for chemical dosing while positively impacting operational expenses. IHCL human resources executive vice president Gaurav Pokhariyal 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 $18.2m (Rs1.5bn) and a substantial annual reduction of 108,000t [tonnes] of CO₂ emissions. We are delighted to work with IFC for a greener future", he added. These pilot projects have been carried out in various cities including New Delhi, Jaipur, Goa, and more.