CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Odorfree Naturally as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. Odorfree Naturally is the U.S. distributor of all natural Nature’s Air Sponge products. The products work to passively neutralize and remove odors and pollutants from the air and objects in hotels, motels, resorts, inns and other living and storage areas. The products also help remove allergens and spores from the air to retard the spread of mold and mildew. Tobacco and cooking odors can also be eliminated.Nature’s Air Sponge products come in a gel form, spray liquid...

PULASKI, N.Y.—Amsterdam’s De L’Europe recently opened 10 allergy-friendly PURE Room guestrooms and suites in partnership with PURE Global. PURE Room uses a patented seven-step process specially treating all surfaces, and purifying the indoor air to greatly reduce allergy and asthma symptoms. The seven purification steps include: 1. Air sanitization via units that heat and cool air entering the room.2. Maintain sanitized air with tea tree oil, an organic disinfectant.3. Clean all soft surfaces with PURE Clean to remove dirt, bacteria, mold and other allergy triggers.4. Perform a one-time ozone shock treatment to remove any lingering odors, leaving air crisp and fresh...

LOUISVILLE, CO.—Unearthed Paints, a new natural paint company, brings a new vision and sustainable reinterpretations to the paint industry with its exclusive selection of eco-friendly paints. Crafted with minimally processed natural ingredients such as clay, chalk, lime, and Italian marble, the paints are biodegradable, vegan, and 100 percent VOC-free. All Unearthed paints are tinted with earth and mineral pigments: Ochers, Sienna, Umbers, Ultramarines and Spinels. These pigments give the paint a depth and radiance that cannot be achieved by the chemical colorants used in conventional paints. Pigments are shipped in a powder form, extending the life period of the paint,...

SAINT CHARLES, MO.—FreshStay.com now has more than 5,000 reasons for hotels to go smoke free. With the addition of nearly 200 new hotels, including numerous Comfort Suites hotels, FreshStay.com now has more than 5,000 properties that are committed to being 100 percent nonsmoking. “Reaching 5,000 hotel partners is a milestone that we are not only proud of, but it speaks to the growing commitment throughout the hospitality industry to the health and comfort for frequent breathers everywhere,” says Ray Burger, founder of FreshStay.com, which was launched in 2006. “Eliminating smoking isn’t just a trend, or isolated in a few geographic...

ATLANTA –ASHRAE has published its first ever eBook for use on the Apple iPad. The third and latest edition of “ASHRAE GreenGuide: The Design, Construction and Operation of Sustainable Buildings” is now available in an eBook format to allow iPad users convenient access to the book’s guidance, which covers each stage of the building process, from planning to operation and maintenance of a facility, with emphasis on teamwork and close coordination among interested parties. The eBook follows ASHRAE’s latest mobile apps on duct fitting databases and Standard 62.1, Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality. The GreenGuide eBook includes embedded links...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes T2 Site Amenities as a Founding Sponsor. T2 Site Amenities, Highland Park, Ill., offers a wide variety of products. Recycling containers are constructed from a wide range of sustainable woods, steel, and fiberglass. Recycling containers can be customized using granite, slate and other materials. Planters are available in many different styles and sizes; so too are benches. The company also offers towel valets, bicycle racks, umbrellas, bath collections, air purifiers and other items. For more information, e-mail info@t2-sa.com, call (847) 579-9003, or go to www.t2-sa.com.

NATIONAL REPORT—Bathroom ventilation systems recently introduced by leading suppliers are making it easier than ever to save energy and money while still keeping bathrooms free of odors and moisture. There was a time when fans were noisy and consumed up to 144 watts. Today they are almost as quiet as a mouse and can use as little as 4 watts—a dramatic difference. Motion sensors are now available with some models and turn off fans left running by guests. With some fans, a humidity sensor is included. This ensures that the fan continues to run until the humidity reaches a...

FORT WORTH, TEXAS—A new study published in the Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine finds that the use of HEPA (high efficiency particle air) filters can reduce the risk of heart and blood vessel disease. The researchers found that the HEPA filters reduce the amount of airborne particulate matter in the air. Doing so results in improved blood flow and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. The tests involved 45 adults and were conducted in 25 Canadian homes over a two-week period. HEPA filtration systems were added to the homes’ heating and HVAC systems. Concentrations of airborne particulates in the...

LANCASTER, PA.—Armstrong World Industries, the country’s largest manufacturer of acoustical ceilings, has introduced AirGuard, the first coating for ceiling tiles that actively removes formaldehyde and other aldehydes in indoor air. Initially available on Armstrong Ultima ceiling panels, the breakthrough, patent-pending coating technology for improving indoor air quality converts naturally occurring and man-made formaldehyde present in interiors into an inert substance permanently captured by the ceiling. Applied to the back of ceiling tiles, the AirGuard Coating actively removes aldehydes during the commissioning and early occupancy of a building. Tests show that it eliminates more than 90 percent of formaldehyde during the...

CHICAGO—Most cleaning professionals know vacuum cleaners with high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters can help protect indoor air quality. These filters capture the smallest of particles, down to 0.3 microns in size, 99.97 percent of the time. They can trap smoke, molds, bacteria, dust mites, pollen, and other particles. However, over time, HEPA filters need to be replaced. This is crucial for the vacuum cleaner to operate at optimal performance. But because HEPA filters can last a fairly long time, it is not uncommon for cleaning professionals to simply forget to change them. Daniel Frimml, a service technician for Tornado...