ODESSA, FLA.—Green Lodging News has added a “Face Masks” category to its Green Product & Service Directory. The first company in the category is Sterling Sleep Systems. Sterling Sleep Systems, a maker of sustainable mattresses with interchangeable, replaceable parts, has switched manufacturing gears to meet the needs of hotels in need of face masks. Its 100 percent cotton face masks are 2-ply and include 1/4″ elastic strips. They are machine washable and made in the USA. The face masks feature SaniCare by Cramer: a special cleaning method for cotton that, when appropriately used, inhibits the production of mildew and...

NEW YORK, N.Y.—With a global shortage of N95 masks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, N95Maskco has stepped in to fill the supply gap with its KN95 mask. The company has been producing KN95 masks for medical professionals, government workers, hospitals, and first responders. Now, it is making excess inventory available to the public to help prevent the spread of the virus from all angles. N95Maskco firmly believes that all citizens should be empowered to take charge of their well-being during these dangerous times. Distributing the excess inventory furnishes the public with the resources to do just that. The adjustable KN95 mask...

I will be chatting soon with someone from Dyson about the importance of handwashing and, just as important, proper hand drying—both extremely important in this new COVID-19 world. According to the PR person who contacted me about handwashing and Dyson, damp hands can transfer up to 1,000 times more bacteria than dry hands. I found a press release from 2009 that backs this up. The hand dryer versus paper towel for public restrooms debate has been going on a long time. I have written about it previously for Green Lodging News. With COVID-19 everything is about touch points and of...

With all the precautions you are taking to protect your guests and staff against COVID-19, you should pay special attention to your drains and pipes. The interconnection of all parts of a hotel building by the wastewater plumbing system makes it vulnerable. The plumbing can be the conduit for the spread of the virus and stagnating water could increase the growth of Legionella bacteria and other pathogens. A recent article published in The Lancet explains how wastewater plumbing systems have the potential to enable airborne transmission of COVID-19. Buildings that have gone dormant for long stretches of time are especially...

HAMILTON, ONT.—Reduce the chances of slips and falls on surfaces throughout hotel settings with the new TracSafe Anti-Slip Sealer from Daich Coatings. With anti-slip ratings up to twice the OSHA standard, TracSafe provides aggressive anti-slip performance with all-weather durability for both interior and exterior areas around any hotel. New TracSafe Anti-Slip Sealer performs double-duty, as both a high performance clear coat that strengthens and protects surfaces, while also helping to protect the hotel guests and employees who walk on it from slip and fall mishaps. Its high-performance, odorless water-based technology bonds firmly to all types of flooring materials, from concrete,...

MCCOMB, OHIO—Crushproof Tubing launched its Simple Drain product (see video), an easy-to-clean and self-plunging drain trap, to the hotel industry. The decline in customers throughout the hotel industry is resulting in rooms being empty for extended periods of time. This can result in a very dangerous situation called “dry trap” where the water evaporates out of the traps that are critical in keeping sewer gasses from coming into living spaces through drain pipes. “We have heard from several hotel chains that they are paying people to flush toilets and run water in their sinks and showers to avoid the potential...

ATLANTA—ASHRAE has published two statements to define guidance on managing the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 disease (Coronavirus) with respect to the operation and maintenance of heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems in buildings. “In light of the current global pandemic, it’s critically important that ASHRAE responds with guidance on mitigating the transmission of the virus, as well as ventilation and filtration recommendations,” said 2019-20 ASHRAE President Darryl K. Boyce, P.Eng. “ASHRAE has a significant role to play in ensuring safe and healthy building environments and these statements offer the expert strategies needed at this time.” ASHRAE developed the...

Like a Tsunami coming at us with nowhere to hide, we’re all facing COVID-19 head-on. There’s no way out but charging head-on through it. It is encouraging that some things are under our control. For our partners and customers, we offer the following food for thought. We Can Provide Healthy Air When fresh outside air circulates through a building, it helps maintain a healthy indoor climate, which is especially critical these days. Investing in high-quality air filters using the latest technology will go a long way toward promoting occupant health. According to Justin Lendowski, Sales Engineer at Telkonet, “the higher MERV rating, the...

NATIONAL REPORT—Whether in fixed areas such as air handling systems or in portable devices such as air purifiers or germ-killing robots, ultraviolet (UV) radiation is being used to help combat the threat of coronavirus (COVID-19). UV radiation is present in sunlight and constitutes about 10 percent of the total electromagnetic radiation output from the sun. In manmade lamps, more highly concentrated UV rays can be highly effective at killing germs, bacteria and viruses. UltraViolet Device, Inc. (UVDI), in a press release issued this month, says coronavirus is highly susceptible to germicidal UV irradiation. The susceptibility of coronavirus to UV rays...

ATLANTA—Oxy-Gen Powered, a leader in innovative air-freshening solutions, has entered into an agreement with Denver-based Sunlight Sales to represent its products in the Western United States. Sunlight Sales joins Oxy-Gen Powered’s network of manufacturers representatives groups, allowing Oxy-Gen to serve the entire U.S. market. “This is a significant strategic solution for our ongoing sales and marketing blueprint,” said Chris Whiting, Executive Vice President, Oxy-Gen Powered. “We now have the entire U.S. market covered with the highest quality sales organization. Sunlight Sales will be instrumental in introducing new customers to our products and supporting their long-term needs.” Sunlight Sales will be responsible...