RIPON, WIS.—UniMac, a manufacturer of on-premises laundry equipment, announces the launch of its redesigned UC Series hardmount washer-extractors. The washer-extractor series offers supreme efficiency, helping on-premises laundries reduce operating costs and increase throughput. Using newly developed, advanced technology, the UC Series now uses 33 percent less electricity than two-speed models and 11 percent less water on average than previous models. The utility reductions are due to UniMac’s proprietary advanced inverter drive technology and minimized sump design that optimizes the cylinder water, which also maximizes cleaning results. The machines achieve an extraction speed of up to 200 G-Force, which removes...

VANCOUVER, B.C.—The Energex energy management system is delivering significant savings to Delta Whistler Village Suites, Energex reports, solving the problem of heating and cooling systems running at full blast while guests are out of their rooms. Between March 2011 and March 2012 the system led to a decrease of 18 percent in natural gas usage for heating and cooling.The 391 rooms at the resort were retrofitted with the Energex system in February 2011. A sensor was installed in each room that switches the heating/cooling system into conservation mode when the room is unoccupied, saving thousands of dollars in wasted...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Lodging Technology as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. Lodging Technology is the originator of infrared sensor-based energy conservation, and has been serving the lodging industry for more than 30 years. The company’s products reduce guestroom energy expense 35 percent to 45 percent by automatically resetting room temperature to an energy conserving level, pre-selected by the hotel, only while guests are out of the room. The systems are available in both wireless (GEM Link®) and hard-wired (GEM System®) versions, and can connect to any HVAC system...

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.—Costa Dorada Associates, Miami, is behind an effort to install six 40-foot, 4 kilowatt wind turbines on the roof of its 375-key Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort. The turbines will be positioned on each corner and center of the hotel’s rooftop. Installation is expected to begin in September with completion by the end of the year. The estimated cost is $500,000, part of which Costa Dorada Associates hopes to pay through rebates from state and federal government.Andreas Ioannou, general manager, Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, said the wind turbines are part of a larger effort to increase...

CHICAGO—A multi-hotel complex and convention center planned for development near Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport aims to set the standard for eco-friendly architecture and design in the hospitality industry, and boost the city’s efforts to be a global leader in the green movement. A Chicago Convention Center development promises to be the world’s first zero carbon platinum LEED convention complex, aiming for zero carbon emissions and a 100 percent allergen-free structure. Plans call for the greenest building standards, including state-of-the-art technology that supports “guestrooms of the future,” equipped with high-tech amenities that encourage sustainable behavior. Business guests will be able...

SAN RAMON, CALIF.—EnOcean Alliance announced that with 50 percent growth in membership within one year, it is currently undergoing the strongest growth rate since its founding in 2008. The independent nonprofit organization now has a membership base of 300 companies worldwide, developing innovative automation solutions for sustainable building projects. New EnOcean Alliance members include Adura Technologies, Somfy, Telefunken Smart Building, Deuta Controls, Weinzierl, Dooya, Viessman, Waldmann, NEC, Omron, Vimar and NTT. The Alliance’s core technology consists of the EnOcean batteryless wireless technology, which is based on the international standard ISO/IEC 14543-3-10. The technology has been integrated into 1,000 interoperable products....

BARAHONA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC—What was once a family retreat for the Schiffino family, Casa Bonita Lodge is making its mark as one of the most sustainable destinations in the Caribbean. Set on 160 acres of unspoiled land in the Dominican Republic’s Barahuco Mountains, the lodge is partially powered by a 6.5-kilowatt hydroelectric generator situated on the Riosito River. The generator meets 30 percent of the 14-villa lodge’s electricity needs. According to Sandra Beltran, vice president of sales and marketing for Prohotel International, the company that manages the lodge, the goal is to upgrade the hydro plant so that it supplies...

OGUNQUIT, MAINE—Committed to sustainability and preserving the environment, The Cliff House Resort & Spa has installed one of Maine’s largest solar thermal projects. The installation uses 2,100 tubes on 70 collectors. That’s 10 times the size of an average solar project. The solar installation will save an estimated 11,000 gallons of propane annually and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 140,000 pounds per year.Solar energy will be used to provide heat and hot water for the resort’s spa building, which includes 32 guestrooms and 10 treatment rooms. The resort estimates it will reduce fossil fuel consumption in this...

MENOMONEE FALLS, WIS.—Alto-Shaam recently added a new, smaller Combitherm oven capable of holding four full-sized hotel pans and eight half-sized hotel pans in a compact footprint. The new 4.10ESi CT Express Combitherm oven equals all the performance benefits associated with Alto-Shaam’s larger Combitherm ovens.The new “bistro size” oven measures just more than 20 inches wide, 36 inches deep and slightly more than 30 inches high. Its EcoSmart design uses less electricity and water than other compact models.The CT Express Combitherm is available in an array of colors and has a controller with basic LED inputs, ExpressTouch controller with 200...

ATLANTA—Acuity Brands, Inc., a provider of energy-efficient lighting and control solutions, announced the addition of wireless capabilities to its nLiGHT network lighting control technology. The nWiFi solution from Sensor Switch uses existing WiFi network infrastructure to further simplify control installation and reduce hardware costs.The nWiFi solution adds conventional WiFi technology (802.11n) to nLight devices, such as occupancy sensors and relays, enabling them to seamlessly communicate with both wired and wireless nLiGHT lighting control zones. Additionally, nWiFi devices can directly communicate to locally wired nLight devices through CAT-5 cables.“The addition of nWiFi makes nLight unique, integrating both wired and wireless...