CHICAGO—Among the more than 2,000 exhibitors at the 88th Annual National Restaurant Assn. Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show here in late May were many selling highly innovative “green” products. These products ranged from energy-efficient ovens to furniture made from recycled plastic. Many of the products were featured in a special Green Restaurant Products Pavilion along with the Green Restaurant Assn.
Below are descriptions of just some of the many environment-oriented products featured at the show:
• Sloan Valve Co., Franklin Park, Ill., featured its new Dual-Flush Flushometer for commercial flush valve style bowls. Lifting the handle up initiates reduced flush (1.1 gpf), eliminating liquid and paper waste, saving a half gallon of water. Pushing the handle down initiates full flush (1.6 gpf), eliminating solid waste and paper. The distinctive green handle signifies water savings. Sloan also featured its Solar-Powered Faucet, Flushmate toilets and many other water-saving products.
• Great Lakes Specialty Products, Delafield, Wisc., displayed an extensive line of outdoor furniture and other items made from recycled plastic. Some of the items included benches, picnic tables, chairs, waste enclosures and smoker urns. The company has been selling plastic furnishings made mostly from milk jugs for 10 years.
• T&S Brass and Bronze Works Inc., Travelers Rest, S.C., featured its low-flow spray valves that include a flow rate of just 1.2 gpm. The company says its B-0107-C model cuts through grease faster than any other low-flow spray valve.
• U.S. Cooler, Quincy, Ill., displayed its energy-efficient walk-in coolers and freezers that include extruded polystyrene insulation. The company says this type of insulation offers significant energy savings compared to those incorporating polyurethane—up to more than $5,000 annually in savings for a 10’ x 12’ x 7’6″ freezer operating at a 32.5ºF mean temperature.
• Bottle Disintegration Systems, Northfield, Ill., demonstrated its BDS Bottle Crusher. The bottle cruncher helps lower dumpster pick-up charges by reducing the volume of bottle waste by up to 85 percent. The machine is compact and can crush beer, liquor and wine bottles up to magnum size.
• Rinnai, Peachtree City, Ga., featured its line of continuous flow water heaters. The company says the tankless heaters can save up to 70 percent on water heating bills. The electric heaters heat water only when it is needed. Traditional tank heaters use more energy because they heat what is in the tank 24 hours a day. Noritz, Lake Forest, Calif., also was at the show selling its line of tankless heaters.
• Tiger Natural Gas, Tulsa, Okla., exhibited at the show to educate hoteliers and restaurateurs about the benefits of using a natural gas management service. A spokesperson at the company’s booth said the company can help save a company up to 20 percent on its gas bill.
• Biocorp, Becker, Minn., was in Chicago to offer its new line of biodegradable and compostable paper cups. The cups come in three sizes (10 oz., 12 oz., 16 oz.) and are free from chlorine. Water-based inks are used in the printing that can be customized for hotels and restaurants.
In addition to Sloan Valve Co. and T&S Brass and Bronze Works Inc., the other companies exhibiting at the Green Restaurant Products Pavilion included Waterless Co., Huhtamaki, Excel Dryer Inc., and Cascades Tissue Group.
Glenn Hasek can be reached at greenlodgingnews@aol.com.
