BOSTON—enVerid Systems, Inc. announced that BUILDINGS magazine has selected its HVAC Load Reduction (HLR) 1000E technology as a 2017 Money-Saving Product winner. The finalists were evaluated by the BUILDINGS editorial staff for the money-saving qualities they offer to building owners and facility managers in areas such as energy efficiency, water savings, and maintenance. enVerid’s technology is a part of an elite group of 13 products selected in the “HVAC Boosters” category in the June 2017 issue of BUILDINGS and online. “We are honored to receive this recognition for our HLR technology as a 2017 Money-Saving Product,” said Dr. Udi Meirav,...

NORCROSS, GA.—A report this week from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) citing a two-fold increase in cryptosporidium, more simply known as “crypto,” outbreaks points to the need for ultraviolet lights to enhance public swimming pool sanitization, according to Steve Pearce, Executive Group Vice President, ChlorKing, manufacturer of Sentry UV systems and salt-based chlorination systems. Cryptosporidium is a microscopic parasite that can make otherwise healthy adults and children feel incredibly sick with stomach cramps, nausea and bouts of diarrhea that can last up to three weeks. Its levels can be mitigated by treatment. “UV lights are designed to destroy...

NATIONAL REPORT—Asbestos is a natural mineral, but it is also extremely harmful to human health. Exposure to it can cause tissue damage in the body that over the years ultimately results in serious illness, including the rare but aggressive cancer known as mesothelioma. One of the most common places in which exposure occurs is in older buildings. Remodeling and renovating buildings with asbestos requires careful protection and trained workers. Disposing of asbestos is also problematic, but new research is determining that there may be ways to recycle it. Asbestos was mined for many years and used in a variety of industries,...

KUALA LUMPUR—Marriott International, Inc. announces the debut of the Element Hotels brand to Southeast Asia, with the opening of Element Kuala Lumpur. The hotel was designed by globally-acclaimed architects Foster+Partners. In collaboration with owners IB Hotel Management Sdn Bhd, the hotel is housed within Ilham Tower, making it the tallest eco-conscious hotel, raising the city’s standards in sustainable hospitality. Element Kuala Lumpur is Green Building Index (GBI) certified with eco-friendly design and best practices including a rainwater harvesting system, indoor air quality CO2 monitor and energy-efficient LED lighting. Built green from the ground up, Element Hotels incorporates sustainable design and...

SPRINGFIELD, MO.—John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts (JQH) announced that as a part of the company’s commitment to innovation and an enhanced guest experience, it is collaborating with PURE Solutions to help create some of the freshest sleeping environments in the hospitality industry. Initially, JQH is launching PURE guestrooms in six of the award-winning company’s hotels spanning five states, including Arkansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Tennessee and Texas. With the PURE allergy-friendly hotel rooms, in-room filtration systems remove air particles, while surfaces are treated to minimize growth of bacteria. These hypoallergenic hotel accommodations are nearly 99.9 percent allergen-free. A PURE room...

WASHINGTON – More than 1,000 U.S. companies and organizations signed a letter to Congress and the administration calling for lawmakers to strengthen the ENERGY STAR program that was recently proposed for elimination under the Trump administration’s budget. “ENERGY STAR is a model for successful collaboration between the public and private sectors,” the letter states. “It enjoys a long track record of success and should be strengthened, not weakened, to ensure it continues providing these important benefits to the public while helping us meet our energy and environmental goals.” The letter, which was sent Monday and can be found here, was led...

BUENOS AIRES—Unmistakably green. There is no other way to describe the 26-suite Palo Santo Hotel in the trendy Palermo Hollywood district of Buenos Aires. The hotel’s facade, terraces, balconies, patio and roof are covered with plants. A specially designed iron structure on the building’s exterior serves as a support for the vertical gardens that reach 90 feet high. In total, more than 900 plants are spread throughout the building. The plants provide a natural insulation against climate extremes, absorb excess water, and help reduce the hotel’s carbon footprint by 80 percent by providing oxygen and absorbing CO2. The plants are...

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA—A University of Melbourne researcher has found that one-third of Australians report health problems—ranging from migraine headaches to asthma attacks—when exposed to common fragranced consumer products such as air fresheners, cleaning products, laundry supplies, and personal care products. The research was conducted by Anne Steinemann, Professor of Civil Engineering and Chair of Sustainable Cities, from the University of Melbourne School of Engineering and published in the journal Preventive Medicine Reports. When exposed to fragranced products, 33 percent of Australians suffer adverse health effects, such as breathing difficulties, headaches, dizziness, rashes, congestion, seizures, nausea, and a range of other physical problems. The...

It was more than 10 years ago now that I wrote a column about the dangers of carbon monoxide. Too many innocent hotel guests have been killed by it. In the first annual Green Lodging Survey last year, Greenview and Green Lodging News asked survey participants, “Are tests for carbon monoxide and radon regularly conducted?” Globally, 52 percent said yes. In the U.S., 60 percent said yes. While the question was not 100 percent specific to carbon monoxide, it does indicate there are many who do not monitor for unsafe levels of carbon monoxide. On April 1 this month, a...

EDENTON, N.C.—Five leaders in a growing movement to encourage the elimination of harmful chemical inputs to consumer products, have come together for an initiative that will encourage the elimination of dangerous substances common in furnishings products. The “What’s it made of?” initiative launched last month. The Initiative consists of a simple Pledge to ASK, and an online tool to support signatories to the pledge in seeking assurance that their suppliers are fully disclosing information on production inputs. The partners plan to expand their efforts with seminars and training sessions within the industry and with consumer outreach. David Levine, CEO of the...