PHILADELPHIA—National Energy Technologies LLC is releasing a new product line that saves energy by purifying air. Along with the need to remove smoke, odor, allergens and bacteria, mechanical air purification reduces the need to vent massive amounts of conditioned air to the outside. This system utilizes four advanced technologies as well as fan driven filtration for maximum effectiveness.Smoke and odor as well as spring allergies can be difficult or seem impossible to control with conventional air filtration. Bars and restaurants that still allow smoking are eager to attract and protect nonsmoking customers. Fortunately, recent advancement in air purity on...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed two rules to help protect Americans from exposure to the harmful chemical formaldehyde, consistent with a Federal law unanimously passed by Congress in 2010. These rules ensure that composite wood products produced domestically or imported into the United States meet the formaldehyde emission standards established by Congress. Formaldehyde is used in adhesives to make a wide range of building materials and products. Exposure to formaldehyde can cause adverse public health effects including eye, nose and throat irritation, other respiratory symptoms and, in certain cases, cancer.“The proposed regulations announced today reflect...

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...

NEW ORLEANS—At the 2013 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS), Panasonic Eco Products Division introduced the WhisperRecessed LED, providing builders, remodelers and architects with an efficient ventilation option, complete with an elegant design. Available starting August 2013, the WhisperRecessed will be offered with a 10W LED lamp.The WhisperRecessed LED incorporates an Energy Star certified down light into a powerful 80 CFM fan that exhausts indoor pollutants, allergens, and moisture from the air using only 20.5W. The adjustable recessed LED bulb helps minimize glare, and LED bulbs in general use about 75 percent less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and...

ANN ARBOR, MICH.—NSF Sustainability, a division of global independent public health organization NSF International, has partnered with emissions testing leader Materials Analytical Services, LLC (MAS) to offer VOC (volatile organic compounds) emission testing for the commercial and institutional furniture industry. This new service will help companies save costs and time by providing all testing and validation services needed to complete BIFMA level certification for sustainable furniture.Third-party validated low-VOC emission claims are important to companies as well as institutional and government organizations that are looking to protect occupants’ health by sourcing safer building and furnishing products. VOCs are a large...

SAN DIEGO—Nonsmoking rooms in hotels operating a partial smoking ban don’t protect their occupants from tobacco smoke, reveals research published online in Tobacco Control. Non-smokers should give hotels that allow smoking in certain rooms a wide berth, say the authors, and instead choose completely smoke free hotels.The researchers analyzed the surfaces and air quality of rooms for evidence of tobacco smoke pollution (nicotine and 3EP), known as third hand smoke, in a random sample of budget to mid-range hotels in San Diego. Ten hotels in the sample operated complete bans and 30 operated partial smoking bans, providing designated nonsmoking...

When it comes to green cleaning, an often underemphasized area is the need for matting at all hotel entries. Stopping dust, soils, and contaminants before they ever enter a facility helps reduce the need for cleaning and enhances indoor environmental quality. This is why it makes sense to place effective matting systems at the heart of any green cleaning program. The most effective type of mats are referred to as high-performance mats, which are higher-quality mats that have a performance life of several years. These mats are often part of what is called a soil “source control” strategy. Hotel managers, even...

NATIONAL REPORT—Air curtains, also known as air doors, can play an important role in a hotel’s energy conservation strategy—especially hotels with foodservice operations. In use for almost a century now, air curtains have become more sophisticated and effective in recent years and the number of applications for them has grown. Air curtains can now be used in entryways—both in the front and back of the house—with walk-in coolers, warewashers, and even in laundry areas. Air curtains help to contain heated or air conditioned air, and are essential in stopping the infiltration of flying insects, dust and dirt.Air curtains employ...

SEARCHLIGHT, NEV.—Cottonwood Cove Resort and Marina on Lake Mohave has made history, becoming the world’s first floating green building to receive LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Spearheaded by the National Park Service and Forever Resorts, LLC, the marina building opened June 2011, serving as the marina’s operations office.From decking made of rice hulls to exterior stucco made of recycled tires, from the beginning, the marina was lauded for its use of green materials. The floating eco-friendly structure features sustainable modular construction and state-of-the-art energy-efficient and environmentally responsible materials...

NATIONAL REPORT—On a winter’s day when the temperature in the Washington, D.C. area soared into the 70s, the ASAE Convene Green Alliance (CGA) took an adventurous group of 20 meeting professionals and industry partners on a behind-the-scenes “Green Safari” tour of the sustainability program at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View, one of only three LEED Gold certified hotels in Virginia. Participants received bandanas to wear and were greeted by Renaissance associates dressed in pith helmets and safari gear to set the theme for this unique learning format. The Green Safari demonstrated how the property earned LEED Gold status and how it...