WALTHAM, MASS.—American DG Energy Inc., a leading on site utility offering clean electricity, heat, hot water and cooling solutions to hospitality facilities, is now operating a combined heat and power (CHP) system at the Doubletree Guest Suites Boston, an all-suite hotel. Revenue from the project is estimated at $1.3 million over the 15-year agreement. In December 2010, American DG Energy began producing clean energy in the form of space heat and domestic hot water at the Doubletree Hotel. The energy is produced with a 75 kW combined heat and power system, located at the hotel but owned and operated by...

NIANTIC, CONN.—INNCOM International Inc., a leader in advanced guestroom automation systems for hotels and resorts, addressed several hundred delegates at the China Cleantech Industry Investment Summit in Beijing to promote its “cleantech” energy strategy in China designed to reduce coal consumption and carbon dioxide emissions by millions of metric tons. With offices in Hong Kong and India, the company’s Asian customer base is growing. INNCOM’s goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the region and become part of the overall green solution for China. “INNCOM is still a relatively small corporation, and yet our presently installed systems are saving...

STAMFORD, CONN.—eco Hybrid Solar, LLC, a Stamford, Conn.-based solar energy firm, announced that their brand new Hybrid Solar Water Heating System is now available. Three years in the works, the proprietary hybrid system is unique in that it combines the use of two technologies for water heating, providing greater cost savings to users. “Solar hot water heating systems have been around for 50 years,” says company owner Gordon Whelan. “The difference with ours is that it’s the only system to maximize the efficiency of existing technologies by integrating solar thermal and recycled waste heat from refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment into...

DALLAS—An interactive dashboard that integrates in-room electronic systems and status including occupancy, locks, safes, lighting, energy management and more, allows hotel properties to manage subsystems remotely over the hotel LAN or Web-based connection. This software-based system, Integrated Room Control Dashboard, is an integral part of Orion by VingCard Elsafe, the new intelligent energy management solution from VingCard Elsafe. The energy management system was designed to automatically control temperature settings as guests travel in and out of their rooms, thereby reducing energy costs while ensuring guest comfort. As it integrates with a hotel’s wireless online locks, safes, lights and other networked...

BOSTON—In the early stages of an $18 million renovation project, one that will see a complete guestroom and corridor redesign, the 38-story, 803-room Westin Copley Place in Boston is preparing to add to its long list of environmental achievements. In 2010 the property earned Green Key and Green Seal certification, an Energy Star rating, and significantly reduced its energy consumption, water consumption and waste sent to landfill. The hotel’s green team, which deserves much of the credit for the accomplishments, is led by Jeff Hanulec, director of engineering, an industry veteran constantly on the lookout for ways to improve operational...

MILWAUKEE, WIS.—Telkonet, Inc., a company specializing in integrated intelligent networking and smart energy management solutions, is generating savings through a new SmartEnergy installation within the Springhill Suites hotel on Paradise Road in Las Vegas. This recently completed installation has enabled the hotel to expand its environmental awareness initiatives while recognizing significant savings on its energy reduction. By using Telkonet’s SmartEnergy platform, the hotel is able to implement a program that ensures guest comfort while optimizing energy savings. With 300 guestrooms and nine conference rooms totaling more than 4,500 square feet of conference space, the Springhill Suites recognized a significant opportunity...

NEW YORK—LG Electronics recently showcased advancements in energy-saving technologies and luxury design elements at the 2010 International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show. LG highlighted its Multi-V Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) technology and its stylish Art Cool units, demonstrating new ways to reduce energy output and climate control costs without sacrificing design. “As hoteliers continue to look at LEED and green initiatives, LG is proud to offer innovative solutions in our ever-expanding line of commercial HVAC products,” said Steve Schmitt, director, Commercial Air Conditioning, LG Electronics USA. “Our current line of commercial HVAC products demonstrates enhanced air flow options and low...

PHOENIX—Phoenix-based Easy Energy just announced the completed installation of a solar water heating system at the Orange Tree Golf Resort, one of Arizona’s finest luxury golf resort destinations. The solar water heating system is designed to offset the natural gas usage in the nine large boilers throughout the Scottsdale Golf Resort. It is estimated that the new system will save 465 tons of CO2 annually, which equates to planting 34,500 trees each year. The new system provides all 160 Orange Tree Golf Resort guestrooms and on-site laundry facilities with water heated by the Arizona sun. “Solar water heating is the...

DEZHOU, CHINA—Located in China Solar Valley in the Economic Development Zone of Dezhou, the Solar Valley Micro-E Hotel is part of Sun-Moon Mansion, the largest single solar powered structure in the world. Sun-Moon Mansion, an 800,000-square-foot building, includes more than two thousand solar collectors on its roof. The hotel opened in December 2009 and is part of complex that features solar air collectors, seasonal heat storage, solar heating and cooling, ceiling radiation, geothermal system, photovoltaic (PV) electricity generation, PV lighting, energy-saving glass, sun-shading panels, external wall insulation, and rainwater collection. The five-star Solar Valley Micro-E Hotel was constructed by Himin...

PARIS—Euro Disney S.C.A. Group (“Euro Disney”) and Groupe Pierre & Vacances Center Parcs (“Pierre & Vacances”) recently unveiled their new concept of a vacation destination based on the search for harmony between man and nature. The destination would be, in its design and in its operations, a unique model of sustainable development for tourism and be called Les Villages Nature de Val d’Europe (Villages Nature). As a mixed-use resort, Villages Nature will work with visionary landscape architects to develop new lodging and leisure experiences that will provide multiple opportunities for visitors to interact with nature. These activities would be...