InterContinental Hotels Group's (IHG) in-house sustainability system Green Engage was recently awarded with a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) volume pre-certification, the first hotel company to receive the award for an existing program.

The U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) LEED rating system is the preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. Volume pre-certification is a preliminary step that provides a streamlined path to LEED certification for a large group of hotels based on a pre-approved prototype and process.

IHG says Green Engage can deliver a hotel more than $90,000 in annual energy savings by making it 15 percent to 20 percent more energy efficient. The online tool allows hotels to measure, manage and report environmental impacts, and accounts for guest experience and return on investment.