SOUTH EGREMONT, MASS.—Monarch Bath, Bed & Spa, a leading global provider of bathrobes and luxury hotel linens, announced the introduction of MONARCH ECO, a new line of hotel linens designed to conserve water and reduce energy costs in the laundry operation, while maximizing comfort and durability. “Our experience tells us that hoteliers are primarily concerned with guests’ perceptions, the product’s life cycle and energy usage when considering linen purchases,” said Gene Faul, CEO of Monarch Bath, Bed & Spa.

ORLANDO, FLA.—The Florida Department of Environmental Protection recently welcomed the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center into the Florida Green Lodging Program. The resort is one of the largest in the state to participate. In addition, the resort announced the rollout of a new guest communications program, called “We’re Eco-Logical,” designed to share the spirit of the resort’s eco-friendly initiatives with guests and meeting planners. “Together with the citizens of Osceola County, we have created one of the most successful meetings and conventions resorts in Florida,” said Kemp Gallineau, senior vice president and general manager.

ATLANTA—Servidyne, Inc., an energy efficiency, demand response and real estate company, announced that it has been awarded the 2010 Energy Star Sustained Excellence Award by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in recognition of the company’s continued leadership in protecting the environment through energy efficiency. This is the eighth time Servidyne has been honored as an Energy Star Partner of the Year, and the fourth time the company has received the prestigious Sustained Excellence Award.

MILWAUKEE, WIS.—Telkonet, Inc., a leading clean technology company focusing on proprietary energy management and SmartGrid networking technology, announced that its president and CEO, Jason Tienor, has been named one of SmartCEO magazine’s 2010 Smart100 CEOs in the Greater Washington area.

SEATTLE—Mitsubishi Electric US announces the official release of the newest version of its Mitsubishi Electric Jet Towel hand dryer. A recent recipient of Building Operating Management Magazine’s 2010 Top Product Award, the Mitsubishi Jet Towel received critical acclaim for its unique industrial design which makes it the only hand dryer in its class to keep water from spilling over the edge or pooling on the floor.

ORLANDO, FLA.—In an effort to become a greener, more energy-efficient hotel, the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort has installed LED (light-emitting diode) lighting by Cree, Inc. One of Orlando’s largest resorts, with close proximity to Walt Disney World, the hotel recently completed a multi-million dollar renovation that included replacing traditional, antiquated lighting fixtures in its 54 hallways, as well as its freshly refurbished 10,000-square-foot lobby.

SAINT CHARLES, MO.—Pineapple Hospitality, a distributor of green hotel products and marketing programs for the hospitality industry, has partnered with CynerGreen to provide a “bottle free” solution for hotels and meeting planners looking to reduce their environmental impact and carbon footprint. CynerGreen offers a complete line of hydration products and services. CynerGreen is one of several companies that have recently partnered with Pineapple Hospitality.

ROANOKE, VA.—The Clarion Inn, Pigeon Forge (Tenn.) has installed Lodging Technology’s GEM System Energy Management, GEM Stat Digital Thermostats, and Guest-In-Room Detector in all (94) guestrooms. The system is connected to the property’s General Electric vertical PTAC units in the guestrooms, and is using a switch on the balcony/patio doors to prevent cooling and heating if the doors are left open.

COPENHAGEN—InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has opened its first hotel in Denmark with the Crowne Plaza Copenhagen Towers. The 366-room Crowne Plaza Copenhagen Towers stands 85 meters tall and offers views of the entire Oeresund region. The Crowne Plaza Copenhagen Towers is one of the world’s greenest hotels with EU Green Building and Green Key certification. The hotel is a member of the U.N. Global Compact. The hotel building is on a journey to becoming carbon neutral. Environmentally responsible technology is used throughout the hotel, including the first groundwater-based cooling and heating system in Denmark, expected to reduce the energy used in the hotel for heating and cooling by almost 90 percent, as well as low energy lighting and hand dryers. The largest solar panel park in Northern Europe is integrated into the building, covering all the hotel’s sunny facades.

SANTA CRUZ, CALIF.—Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E), the utility which provides natural gas and electric service to approximately 15 million people throughout a 70,000-square-mile service area in northern and central California, is giving away money through rebates and owners of hundreds of lodging establishments have been more than happy to take it. Through its four-year-old LodgingSavers program, PG&E has made it easy and affordable for hoteliers to update lighting, install guestroom energy management systems, replace packaged terminal air conditioners (PTACs), and install new showerheads, faucet aerators and pool pumps. How does LodgingSavers work? It is implemented by Ecology Action, a nonprofit in Santa Cruz, Calif., and funded by California utility ratepayers under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission. Available rebates can cover up to 100 percent of the cost of the products and equipment, as well as the installation.