IHG Hotels & Resorts launches community solar energy program

IHG Hotels & Resorts has launched a renewable energy program for IHG hotels in select markets across the United States in collaboration with Ampion, a provider of community solar solutions.

The program includes Renewable Energy Certificates, helping hotels reduce greenhouse gas emissions by accessing renewable energy through solar panel projects built near a hotel’s community.

The electricity generated by solar panel projects is fed into the local power grid, and hotels can subscribe to a portion of the projects and will receive both Green-e certified RECs and a discount on their regular electricity bill for the clean energy produced. Through this model, enrolled hotels can credibly claim to be powered by renewable energy while supporting the development of new local solar projects that improve the air quality in their communities.

This program is available in states with legislation supporting community solar, contingent on available capacity. IHG’s community solar offer is currently active for hotels across Illinois, Maine and Maryland with more states slated to follow soon. Hotels that have signed up or engaged in the enrollment process represent nearly 30 percent of IHG’s hotels’ energy footprint in those three states—the equivalent of replacing the electricity usage of more than 5,700 average U.S. homes with renewable energy.

“We are excited to offer IHG-branded hotel owners an innovative solution to help them reduce their carbon emissions at the property level," Catherine Dolton, SVP, corporate responsibility and chief sustainability officer, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said in a statement. "IHG’s community solar offering, in collaboration with Ampion, is a win-win for hotel owners due to its cost savings, zero capital expenditure and environmental benefits. This offering is just one of the many ways we’re driving progress toward IHG’s sustainability commitments, which includes reducing our energy use and carbon emissions in line with climate science.”

In markets where community solar projects are not available, IHG hotels can act sustainably in other ways, such as purchasing RECs to negate the emissions produced by their energy use or installing solar panels on their roofs. For example, the InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta hotel purchased unbundled Green-e certified solar RECs to cover their estimated emissions from their electricity usage for 2023. Likewise, IHG purchased RECs to offset energy use at its corporate office and Design Center facilities in Atlanta.

IHG is approaching its 46 percent carbon reduction target, which is part of the company’s Journey to Tomorrow 10-year responsible business plan. In line with JtT, IHG has established brand standards, launched tools and trainings and released guidance that help hotels reduce their energy use—from low- and no-cost behavioral strategies to the adoption of energy conservation measures that require a larger investment. IHG also supports hotel owners by increasing their awareness of tax incentives and rebates that help reduce the overall cost of these investments.