PORTLAND, ORE.—The Green Building Initiative (GBI) announced the release of the most significant upgrade to the Green Globes for New Construction (NC) program since it first became available in the United States in 2006. Green Globes is a web-based program for green building guidance and certification that includes an on-site assessment by a certified third party. The program is a user-friendly and affordable alternative to LEED used to advance the overall environmental performance and sustainability of commercial buildings.Green Globes NC is now based on an ANSI standard: ANSI/GBI 01-2010: Green Building Assessment Protocol for Commercial Buildings. The standard was...

CHICAGO—As the primary in-room amenities provider for Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, Disney Cruise Line and Disney Vacation Club properties, H2O Plus has announced the expansion of a multi-year strategic alliance agreement that will extend the H2O Plus presence internationally. Through the new deal, H2O Plus products will now also be available at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, Disneyland Resort Paris, and Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawaii. In addition, H2O Plus will sponsor five runDisney races at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts.“We’ve enjoyed a wonderful, long-standing relationship with Disney and we are pleased...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Willard InterContinental and top D.C. property developers-owners including Carr Properties, joined with Silver Bullet, a water treatment company, to introduce a system that increases building sustainability. The new patented technology creates hydrogen peroxide (natural non-toxic biocide) when injected into water, killing all bacteria, removing scale and preventing corrosion. The technology cuts water usage, electricity and toxic chemical delivery, storage and removal.“We appreciate the opportunity to be among the first commercial entities in the nation’s capital to utilize this cost-effective and environmentally sound commercial technology,” said Patrick Birchall, general manager of the Willard InterContinental.Silver Bullet estimates the historic,...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Sustainable Travel Leadership Network (STLN) introduced TravelWell, a new sustainability tool, at a recent event co-hosted by Virgin Holidays and Condé Nast Traveler in Montego Bay, Jamaica.TravelWell will help the travel industry to make informed decisions on investments in destination development. The tool will also encourage sustainability at the destination level, helping governments to assess and benchmark their environmental and social practices and policies, while providing specific guidelines for sustainable destination management.Drawing from the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria for Destinations, the self-assessment tool is a survey of 20 key indicators that will allow destinations to evaluate where...

VANCOUVER, B.C.—GSky Plant Systems, Inc., a provider of living green wall systems, recently installed a 106-square-foot Versa Green Wall in a new dual-brand hotel, the Hampton Inn & Suites and Homewood Suites by Hilton Denver Downtown-Convention Center. The property, which includes 302 rooms and 4,355 square feet of meeting space, will split a lobby between the two brands. This shared lobby is where the living green wall has been installed.“The green wall adds a unique urban touch to our new property,” said Tom Sprankle, general manager of the Hampton Inn and Suites and Homewood Suites by Hilton Denver Downtown-Convention...

MANCHESTER, N.H.—Xeros, Inc., a subsidiary of Xeros Ltd., the U.K.-based innovator of an ultra-low water cleaning system, will formally showcase its system to the worldwide commercial laundry market at the June 2013 Clean Show in New Orleans.Xeros has installations underway in three distinct segments of the U.S. commercial laundry market—hotel on premise laundry, industrial laundry and retail dry cleaners.The 2013 Clean Show will be held June 20 to 22 at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. In attendance will be Bill Westwater, CEO of Xeros Ltd., along with several of Xeros’ affirmation partners and industry supporters. Seventy Percent...

SAVUSAVU, FIJI—Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, Fiji, one of the most renowned and environmentally friendly vacation destinations in the South Pacific, announces the debut of Jean-Michel Cousteau by Maricoid, a new eco-friendly guest amenity collection by famed ocean explorer, environmentalist, and filmmaker, Jean-Michel Cousteau. Inspired by the beauty and wonders of the oceans and reflecting Cousteau’s lifelong commitment to the environment, Jean-Michel Cousteau by Maricoid will be available in refillable bottles in the resort’s individual bures (Fijian style bungalows) as well as in the spa boutique for purchase.“As an award-winning luxury eco-resort, we’re thrilled to begin offering Jean-Michel Cousteau’s line of...

SANTA BARBARA—Mighty Bright, designer and manufacturer of LED lighting products, will unveil three new LED task and floor lights designed for corporate workplaces, hospitality environments, and residential interiors markets at NeoCon 2013, June 10 to 12, 2013, at The Merchandise Mart, Chicago.LUX high-performing LED task lights reduce energy usage while enhancing spaces with style. Streamlined and sophisticated, LUX LED Lights are functional, eco-friendly and embody a simple aesthetic elegance, compromising neither form nor function.At NeoCon 2013, Mighty Bright will showcase three new lights designed to enhance spaces and provide the best sustainable lighting available on the market today:•    LUX...

BOWLING GREEN, OHIO—Systems Associates Inc. (SAI), a provider of building automation systems for energy management and hotel maintenance, announces the acquisition of Scientific Control Systems (SCS). As a distributor of SAI’s CONTROLIQ energy-management solution and owner of the Scientific Atlanta hotel property-management system interface, this acquisition is positioning SAI to serve as a comprehensive resource for building automation.“We are always looking at opportunities to expand our product offering to better assist hotel owners and operators with their struggle to conserve energy and streamline building communications,” said David Codding, SAI president. “We have worked with SCS for many years. Their...

ATLANTA—Onity, a leading provider of electronic locks and energy management solutions, has been selected by Larson Companies to provide the Onity SensorStat DDC Energy Management System (EMS) to a new full-service Holiday Inn in Eau Claire, Wis. Onity is part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp.“Through a collaborative effort with Custom Energy Solutions, the company that installed the system, Onity’s SensorStat DDC EMS provides efficient and affordable solutions to conserve energy, improve guest comfort and save money,” said Steve Lyons, product manager, energy management systems, Onity.The SensorStat DDC EMS manages the heating, ventilation...