Chennai's newest hotel gets green badge of honour - Mail Today
 September 13, 2012
Go GREEN is the login ID of contemporary hoteliering  and responsible luxury is the password.Keeping this in mind, ITC Hotels has  secured the prestigious LEED Platinum rating from the Indian Green Building  Council (IGBC) for its newest hotel, the Grand Chola straddling across 6 acres  of arterial Mount Road of Chennai. The rating is given to those with high  standards in energy, water and waste efficiency.
The 600 room luxury hotel has the distinction of being  the World's Largest LEED Platinum rated hotel in the new construction category.  All the electrical energy demands of the hotel will be met through renewable  sources. Efficient fixtures will reduce the buildings water use by 35% and the  hotel's waste will be recycled. With this achievement the ITC Grand Chola joins  ITC's other nine luxury hotels that have also secured LEED Platinum Ratings.
"At the heart of responsible luxury is product design  in the form of green buildings that are energy efficient, utilise renewable  energy, conserve and recycle water while taking steps to preserve the  eco-system around them," says a media release issued by the chain.
With a built-up area 1.5 million square feet, the  architecture of ITC Grand Chola has been inspired by the historical era when  Tamil Nadu's power and fame extended across the Indian Ocean. The hotel,  according to the media release intends to be an "employment multiplier creating  sustainable livelihoods through both direct and indirect employment." Chennai  not only has a new hotel but also an address that promises to become one of the city's architectural landmarks.