SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE FOR LEED PLATINUM RATED FIVE STAR 1

HOTELS

SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE FOR LEED PLATINUM RATED FIVE STAR HOTELS

PRANAY GOPAL, 163701260, B.Arch

Manipal School of Architecture and Planning

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ABSTRACT

The purpose of this paper is to study the sustainable practices performed by the country’s best five-

star LEED platinum rated hotels. The research paper will begin a broad perspective on the topic

of sustainability in the hotel industry and efforts done by the hotel to achieve the platinum rating.

The main body of the paper focusses on the details of architecture and management that runs the

mega 5-star hotel while maintaining the LEED rating. Often conditions like civil unrest, unskilled

labor, unpredictable natural disasters, shortage of crucial resources, like drinkable water, food and

electricity as well as high prices for energy and import can all lead to a hotel resort's downfall if

not addressed properly. Therefore, this paper explains how some practices must be carried out in

order to maintain proper waste deposal and energy conservation while ensuring guest comfort.

Moreover, in a developing country doing such a business involves a of risk and understanding

those risks becomes very important for the stake holders. This paper shows how due to the risks

and the instability of the country, it is challenging to maintain a functioning business and how the

management of the hotel eliminates certain risks through sustainable practices.

INTRODUCTION

The word sustainability in today’s world represents the lifestyle of the people. It is not just

the hotel industry and the entire hospitality sector that is getting affected by the phenomena that is

sustainability, but the entire global society that we live in the present time as well. With more of

the general public talking about and realizing the importance of sustainability, and with the

government privatizing many of these industries the grown and awareness about the topic and

increased immensely. The hotels in developing countries should now stop looking at sustainability
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as a way of attracting tourists but as a source of reducing cost of running the business. The

Commission of the European Communities defines Sustainable Tourism as follows: ‘’sustainable

tourism is a tourism that is economically and socially viable without detracting from the

environment and local culture’’. For this reason, sustainable development should be the key focus

for any hotels or resorts, especially in the developing countries, where local culture and ecology

play a huge role in people’s lives. The hotel business is morally responsible for addressing the

needs of the tourists, people and communities living in the area, as well as using a non-exploitive

way of business when it comes to the environment, the country’s ecosystem and the exhaustion of

natural resources. The paper in the following pages will bring out a closer look into the positive

effects the sustainability can have on the entire hotel industry in the developing economies as well

as the global world. The first chapter will concentrate on the explanation and the meaning of the

term sustainability. The research paper will provide insightful information on the development and

history of the term sustainability. Furthermore, the journal will emphasize the importance of the

sustainable practices for the hotel resorts and explain how sustainable practices can benefit he

industry in the present and the future, as well as its positive impact on the environment of the

particular regions where the hotel resort engages in. The second chapter will take a close and deep

look into some of the current internationally recognized 5-star hotels that are most energy efficient.

It is important to understand how these countries achieve this goal while facing the risks that may

have come. Understanding the architecture, wise use of materials and the structure plays a key role

in the research. Inside the structure, lighting, water use and waste disposal are the most important

factors to look into. The literature studies will provide a board understanding on eco-friendly

sustainable hotels and how architecture plays a role in achieving sustainability.

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AIM

The aim of this research is to under the aspects of sustainability in architecture and how

design can lead the building’s way towards sustainability.

OBJECTIVE

Understanding sustainable architecture in today’s worlds is a necessity. To achieve this

goal, we will be studying hotels in specific and hotels achieve the LEED platinum rating.

SCOPE

With the invention of new sustainable materials and techniques related to them, the scope

of sustainability in architecture as immensely increased. Hotels have the best opportunity to

contribute to the planted in terms of sustainability and it's important for us as architects to

understand how the most valued hotels in the country have gained this title.

LIMITATIONS

In the hotel industry guest comfort is the top most priority, balancing this with proper

waste and energy management can be a difficult job. Services in a hotel play a major role in the

functioning of the hotel and run through a complicated network of service spaces. Making sure
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all of this is possible behind the eyes of the guest is highly important and as an architect it's our

job to design the most efficient building for such a business.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Primary research method: The primary research deals with surveys and questionnaires being

answered by the hotel staff, management, architects. Getting firsthand look into the design

aspects through people directly involved in the working of the business will provide us with vital

information about sustainability in hotel architecture.

Secondary research methods: Secondary research involves literature studies, case studies and

books on sustainable architecture. An international literature will give us an idea how developing

countries achieve the goal of sustainability in architecture while facing the risks and limitations

that may occur. Getting an international opinion will help us understand the current scenario

better. Furthermore, a domestic case study will put forward the reality of the Indian hotel

industry and the peculiar difficulties that the hotels face in India. Understanding how these

structures have accomplished the title of “eco-friendly” is key in the field of architecture.

LITERATURE STUDY