IFC and Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) launched an open call for innovators worldwide to bring efficient, climate-smart, cost-effective cooling solutions to India’s hospitality sector. The TechEmerge Sustainable Cooling Innovation Program in the Indian hospitality sector has been funded by the UK Government. It offers innovators market access and a combined pool of up to $500,000 in grant funding to pilot new solutions, including home-grown Indian solutions that reduce the high energy usage and climate impacts of cooling systems.
“IHCL is committed to creating a positive impact on the environment. The company’s annual renewable energy consumption has increased considerably, with many of our key hotels powered by wind and solar energy sources,” said Gaurav Pokhariyal, Senior Vice President & Global Head Human Resources, IHCL. “Our sustainable cooling partnership with IFC is a win-win move that enables us to reduce operating costs, limit our greenhouse gas emissions and help shape hospitality to meet the needs of tomorrow.”
“As countries emerge from the pandemic, a green, resilient recovery is increasingly critical and remains a strategic pillar of IFC’s continued efforts. IFC has financed over $5.4 billion in green buildings, including almost $1 billion in green hotels. Accelerating climate-smart cooling innovations in India—home to an expanding hotel sector and one of the world’s fastest-growing cooling markets—paves the way for job creation, business opportunities for innovative companies like IHCL, and their clients and partners while spurring low-carbon economic growth in the region and beyond,” said Jun Zhang, Country Head – India at IFC.
