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...

HOUSTON—Toshiba’s new candelabra 180 series is a direct replacement for a 25W incandescent candelabra and is designed to fit standard E12 and E26 socket fixtures. The lamp uses up to 84 percent less energy than incandescent candelabras.“This new lamp creates inviting, warm light that brings out the colors and elegance of any room,” said Peter DallePezze, vice president of marketing and product development, Toshiba International Corp. LED Lighting Systems Division. “This is exactly what designers, architects and homeowners have been looking for in energy-efficient lighting. Not only are LEDs known for their energy-saving performance, they’re also known for their...

NEW YORK—Designtex, a Steelcase company, announced that Susan Lyons has joined the organization as of June 18, as their new president. Lyons was previously with Designtex as creative director and executive vice president of design. She left in 2002 to form a collaborative design studio that focused on material research, product and color strategy, product design and sustainable materials development. For the last six years, she has also worked as the creative director for materials at Herman Miller.“Susan is a perfect fit for this role,” said Frank Merlotti, president of Coalesse. ”She is a systems design thinker who understands...

NEW HYDE PARK, N.Y.—Evolve Guest Controls, a provider of guestroom controls and Intelity, a hospitality software solution company, have announced that the companies will establish a partnership. This decision comes after more than a year of successfully working side by side in guestrooms at Philadelphia’s Hilton Inn at Penn.Through this new agreement, Evolve will take advantage of the Intelity ICE (Interactive Customer Experience) enterprise platform to power its Evolve room controls with guest service applications. Intelity’s customers will also be able to use Evolve’s room controls, which are capable of manipulating factors such as lighting, temperature, room status and...

COOPERSBURG, PA.—Light control manufacturer Lutron Electronics has released a vandal-resistant version of its wireless PowPak Stairwell Fixture. The easy-to-install, tamper-proof fixture features a heavy-duty lens and hidden wireless control that will withstand high-abuse applications in public spaces.Lutron PowPak Stairwell Fixtures work in conjunction with Radio Powr Savr wireless occupancy sensors to reduce lighting electricity use by automatically adjusting light output based on stairwell occupancy. The fixtures and sensors communicate via Lutron Clear Connect radio frequency technology, providing enhanced flexibility to determine occupancy sensor quantities, mounting configuration, and placement requirements per the stairwell design.Fully assembled and ready to install, the...

ATLANTA—The Newell Rubbermaid Global Headquarters in Atlanta has been designated a BOMA 360 Performance Building by the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International. The BOMA 360 Performance Program validates and recognizes commercial properties that demonstrate best practices in building operations and management. Newell Rubbermaid was able to achieve this recognition as a result of utilizing solutions from its Rubbermaid Commercial Products brand for washroom solutions, material handling and recycling products, and green cleaning solutions, improving worker well-being, green practices and sustainability. “It was exciting to take the general practices we already had in place and connect them to the BOMA...

DALLAS—VingCard Elsafe, a leader in hospitality security and part of the ASSA ABLOY Group, announced an integrated product solution with Lutron Electronics, a leading designer and manufacturer of light and shade control solutions for commercial and residential applications. Through this collaboration, VingCard Elsafe and Lutron have developed a total guestroom control solution package for luxury hotels, which integrates Lutron’s premier lighting, drapery and shade control modules with VingCard Elsafe’s Orion energy management system, as well as guestroom door locks, electronic safes and minibars. Using this solution, hotels can provide their guests with total in-room comfort and increase energy efficiency with...

LAS VEGAS—Bartech, a provider of automatic minibar solutions, will debut its new Green Automatic Minibar (G32 model) at HITEC 2012. It uses advanced compressor technology that consumes 70 percent less energy than typical absorption minibars. Thanks to a new and improved insulation known as cyclopentane, that is thicker and more environmentally friendly, the G32 minibar stays cool longer. Once its target temperature is reached, a eutectic plate mounted in the rear of the unit provides more than 12 hours of cooling without consuming additional electricity.Bartech’s green technology extends to a remote digital component as well. A standard feature on...

NIANTIC, CONN.— INNCOM will unveil its new, programmable switch series to complement its Integrated Room Automation System (IRAS) at the 2012 Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition & Conference (HITEC). Built on the same core as MODEVA, the EVORA Switch allows hotel guestroom designers to create lighting scenes and provide a pleasing light control environment and combine it with the ability to also control temperature, drapes and shades and guest annunciation functions without the expense of horizontal wiring within the room.“EVORA was developed to extend INNCOM switch capabilities beyond those offered in the well-established S-Series and the innovative MODEVA series,” said...

SAN MATEO, CALIF.—BuildingIQ, a provider of energy efficiency and demand response software, announced an exclusive agreement with NV Energy to trial a new energy efficiency program concept for commercial customers. As part of its long standing Market and Technology trials program, NV Energy will roll out the program concept to leading commercial customers in Las Vegas. The program concept leverages at its core the BuildingIQ technology platform to offer dynamically optimized HVAC operations in pursuit of significant energy savings. NV Energy will also be working with BuildingIQ to identify and deliver other significant opportunities for energy savings and peak...