The ITC Sankhya Data Centre in  Bengaluru has been awarded the highest LEED Platinum certification in the 'Data  Centre Category' from the US Green Building Council (USGBC). ITC Sankhya is the  first data centre in the world to get this certification after the category was  established in 2013. ITC has been acknowledged as a global exemplar in  sustainability with LEED certification for all its premium luxury hotels,  several of its factories and even employee residences.
 

ITC Sankhya, the primary data  centre for all operations of the Company, is located in the ITC campus in Cox  Town, Bengaluru. With a footprint of 7,500 sq ft, the centre is a 4-storeyed  building, measuring a total of 30,000 sq ft. The centre began operations in  February 2015 and is one of the most energy efficient data centres across the  globe. ITC has notched several “world-firsts” in LEED certification. The ITC  Green Centre, Gurgaon is the world’s highest rated green building. ITC Grand  Chola is the world’s largest LEED Platinum Hotel.
 

Data centres are huge energy  users. Therefore, sustainably built data centres are of critical importance  today. A single data centre can use as much energy as a small town. However,  ITC Sankhya data centre is powered by renewable energy as is the campus of ITC,  within which it is housed. While a typical building is designed to meet heating  and cooling needs for occupant comfort, a data centre has to provide massive  cooling power for its servers. Water use is also a key target area for data  centres, if the facility utilises water for cooling. These specific building  needs are built into the specifications for obtaining LEED certification for  data centres.

Commenting on the achievement,  Mr Chitranjan Dar, Group Head, ITC’s Central Project Organisation, R&D and  EHS, said, “This is a proud moment for ITC and this LEED certification will be  a cherished achievement in the Company’s sustainability journey. As a carbon,  water and solid waste recycling positive company, we have endeavoured to  contribute to a better tomorrow. Our leadership to the green building movement  in India through LEED certification is an important manifestation of our  commitment to shape a sustainable future for the generations to come.”
 

“Every story about LEED is a  story of leadership,” said Mr Mahesh Ramanujam, chief operating officer of  USGBC and president of Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI). “LEED is the  premier global rating system for making sure that buildings are designed,  constructed and operated so that they save energy, water and precious  resources, reduce waste and carbon emissions and provide healthier environments  for the people who use these buildings every day."