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Tech Talk
Save the world, get rich
However unlikely this may sound, saving the environment now
is a good opportunity for the trade and is expected to be a profitable business
venture in the future, finds Sayoni Bhaduri
 Even
though the hospitality industry does not consume resources at the same rate
as other heavy industries, Indian hospitality has taken a pioneering step in
this direction by helping out to save energy. According to Rajul Berde, assistant
manager (Environment) at The Orchid, in the hospitality industry the benchmark
is set by calculating how much emission there would have been if other energy
resources were used.
But hotels can now make a profit by using technology which
will give optimum productivity and yet save unnecessary wastage of resources.
ITC Sonar Bangla Sheraton Hotels & Towers has done it, and Kamat Group's
The Orchid hotel and Lotus Suites are already on their way. They are the first
hotels to be involved in Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects - Kamat
being the first Ecotel and ISO-14000 certified in Asia, and ITC Sonar Bangla
being the first hotel to receive ISO- 14000 certification in eastern India.
| Unfortunately not many hoteliers are aware of the
possibilities of CDM projects. According to a workshop on climate change
and hotel industry, CDM opportunities conducted by the Integrated Research
& Action for Development (IRADe) in 2005, it was seen that many hotel
representatives were uninformed about the CDM potentials and were keen on
knowing more. |
In 1998, an agreement was negotiated under the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change. Most people know it as the Kyoto Protocol.
As of December 2006, 169 nations have ratified the agreement and are following
the rules and regulations laid down by them. The aim of the forum was to somehow
control the carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere.
The basics
Under the Kyoto Protocol, India does not have any obligation of decreasing its
greenhouse gases (GHG), because, one, it is a developing nation which is also
least energy-intensive. But most developed nations forming the Annex I countries
have obligations to reduce their carbon emissions. The reductions have to be
an average of five per cent below their 1990 level by 2008-2012 thus providing
India with an opportunity to be a part of these CDM projects.
Being part of these projects will allow India to earn Certified Emissions Reductions
(CERs) or carbon credits, which can be sold to the developed nations who need
help maintaining their emission levels. This is in return of capital and clean
technology to implement projects that will help reduce GHG emissions. CER is
the technical term used for the output of the CDM projects and can only be issued
in accordance to the Article 12 of the Kyoto Protocol.
The technology
| Kyoto Protocol is a climate change agreement signed
under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
to control the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. All countries who have signed
the agreement have been given targets to cut down on GHG. The treaty came
in full force on 16 February, 2005.
Countries have been separated as Annex I countries
(developed countries) and non-Annex I countries (developing nations).
Annex I countries have to reduce their GHG emissions by an average of
five per cent from their 1990 levels by 2008-2012.
Clean Development Mechanism: It is a procedure
where Annex I nations have to be involved in projects which will help
reduction GHG. Most often Annex I countries have to take permission from
the non-Annex I nations to host a project. Annex I nation will get the
credit for meeting its GHG reduction targets, whereas the non-Annex nations
would receive capital and clean technology.
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The basic areas where a hotel can save up on energy are the
wasted heat energy. ITC's project started in 2004 and ended in January 2007,
whereas the Ecotel's project is supposed to last for an infinite period of time.
To be eligible for carbon trading a hotel property basically has to bundle up
its project with a few other similar projects, informs Berde. "ITC Sonar
Bangla's project was taken up along with ITC Triveni and ITC Bhadrachalam,"
informs Ipsita Ganguli, sales manager of the hotel. The Orchid and the Lotus
Suites in Mumbai are together working on earning CERs.
Few of the concepts which are used in other heavy industry and organisations
can very well be implemented in the hotel industry:
• De-super heater is in simple terms a heat recovery system. It recovers
the heat generated in the chiller plant during condensation. The recovered heat
is then used to pre-heat water used in a property. The chemical used has the
capacity to absorb heat.
• Eco-buttons are generally used in washing machines but it can also be
used in air conditioning. The use of the button increases the temperature of
the room from what is shown on the thermostat.
• Auto Power Factor Control (APFC) Panel has a capacitor
bank installed to maintain the value of power factor. The kVAR (kilovolt-ampere-reactance)
invested is less than the amount used in fixed capacitors making it a good value
for investment.
• In large spaces, fresh air can be ozonised which reduces
the load on the air-conditioning. It also has health benefits since it neutralises
any impurities that might be in the air.
• Variable Speed Drive pumps used in a property can
reduce the inflow of excess electricity. The pumps are put in a closed loop
connected with Variable Speed Drive which will reduce the current demand with
lower revolutions per minute. It has three parts - an AC motor, a controller
and an operator interface.
| ITC Sonar Bangla Sheraton Hotels & Towers
has undertaken the CDM project with ITC Triveni and ITC Bhadrachalam. The
project was part of ITC Corporate sustainability initiative. Registered
in 2006 by the UNFCCC for 2,987 CER, it got certified for 1,886 CER. The
project is valid for next 10 years.
The Kamat Hotel's Orchid hotel and the Lotus
Suites are also on the verge of trading their CER. Their project began
in 2001. Presently, it is to be verified by external agencies. They aim
to reduce 3,959 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
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• Compact Fluroscent Lamps and electronic chokes may
seem common now, but they are still known for their ability to conserve energy
- 10 CFL is equal to 60 watts tungsten filament lamp. Electronic chokes save
11 watts in comparison to copper chokes used in tube lights.
The process
India's 'developing nation' status has allowed it to take part in CDM projects
without the baggage of carbon emissions. The hospitality industry of late has
stepped in to the market of selling carbon credits.
There is an entire flow line which needs to be followed while registering for
a DM project with the UNFCCC. It all begins with the identification of CDM opportunities
and goes on to follow up work, establishment and working of the project, validation
of the project, verification by a designated operating agency and finally issuance
of CER. The seemingly long process, in the end will not only help the environment,
but is a good investment for those looking for long term returns.
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