BURBANK, CALIF.—A new UVC Kit for Air Handlers from Steril-Aire, Inc. may be used in a wide range of HVAC applications to destroy microorganisms including flu viruses, bacteria and mold. The easy-to-install kit delivers Steril-Aire’s proven UVC technology to fan coil units, unit ventilator systems and indoor air handlers with coils up to 84" (213.4 cm) with dual access. It delivers energy savings on retrofit installations, maintains factory design efficiency on new units, and improves indoor air quality and infection control in all systems. Applications include air handlers serving patient rooms, classrooms, hotel/motel rooms, apartments and condominiums, and offices in...

BLOOMINGTON, ILL.—Sanitaire, a leading manufacturer of commercial vacuum cleaners, announced that it has doubled its warranty coverage on most of its models, increasing its parts, service and labor warranty from one year to two. The company is calling its newly-extended warranty program the “Sanitaire Promise of Performance” as a means to emphasize its quality commitment to the company’s vacuum cleaner models. The new warranty effectively doubles the warranty on Sanitaire commercial vacuums from one to two full years from the date of purchase. “We have already enhanced the durability of our products by making numerous improvements in...

DALTON, GA.—Healthier Choice Flooring, LLC, manufacturer of premium carpet cushion and acoustical underlayment, will be displaying its unique line of “green” cushions and underlayments designed specifically for the hospitality industry, at HD Expo. Sponsored by Hospitality Design, the expo runs from May 14 through May 16 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas. Healthier Choice hospitality cushions and acoustical underlayments are made in part with eco-friendly soybean oil, lessening dependence on petrochemicals and reducing global warming emissions. Inclusion of Ultra-Fresh antimicrobial prevents the growth of odor- and stain-causing mold, mildew and bacteria for the life of...

PORTLAND, ORE.—What was once a vacant bank building in downtown Portland will open in May as the Courtyard by Marriott—Portland City Center. The 256-room hotel was built to earn LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The structure, which has been given a new shell, three new floors and brand new mechanical systems, is expected to be the first LEED Gold hotel in the Pacific Northwest. Certification is expected this fall. Green hotels are becoming the norm in Portland. The Avalon Hotel & Spa announced its LEED certification last summer, The Nines hotel is expected to be...

MINNEAPOLIS/ST.PAUL—Researchers at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health found most containers employed for storage and transportation of used fluorescent lamps to recycling centers do not provide necessary levels of protection against mercury vapors emitted from broken lamps. The release of mercury vapors, which can be inhaled or absorbed through the skin, presents an environmental and occupational hazard for workers involved with handling and transport. Mercury is a toxic chemical that can lead to neurological damage. The results of the study were published in a recent issue of the Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association. The...

DALTON, GA.—Healthier Choice rolled out its new Double-Term Carpet Texture Retention Warranty for residential carpet cushion. The new warranty applies to all residential carpet cushions manufactured by Healthier Choice. The new cushion warranty effectively doubles the texture retention warranty of any residential carpet installed over Healthier Choice residential carpet cushion. The cushion warranty takes effect upon the expiration of the installed carpet manufacturer’s texture retention warranty and then remains in effect for an equal amount of time. “We are very excited to offer this additional warranty,” said Craig Poteet, Healthier Choice president. “Residential cushions from Healthier Choice carry the industry’s...

With all the “green” talk going around about reducing electrical consumption, one major energy user is rarely discussed—hotel PTAC/VTAC units. A dirty PTAC must often work twice as hard and consume twice the electricity to reach the desired room temperatures of demanding guests. Simply cleaning the filter on a regular basis is not enough. PTACs should be removed and thoroughly cleaned a minimum of once per year. Removing the dirt will increase efficiency significantly, and improve air quality immediately. Hoteliers that put an HVAC deep-cleaning plan into action for the first time can realize huge savings on their electric...

ANNAPOLIS, MD.—Thayer Lodging Group, an Annapolis, Maryland-based private equity real estate investment firm with a portfolio of 14 hotels, announced they will double their inventory of PURE Allergy Friendly rooms from 280 to 560 this year. Thayer has Pure Allergy Rooms in each of its hotels. Based on Thayer’s 2008 financial report, the group reported 171 percent cash on cash return for the PURE room investment. “These are remarkable figures, especially during tough economic times,” says Frederic V. Malek, co-chairman, Thayer Lodging Group. “In 2008, we generated incremental cash flow of $438,000, which increased the value of our hotels...

BERKELEY, CA—Research conducted at the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory suggests that operating buildings more energy efficiently could have benefits for the health of occupants and, surprisingly, also for their comfort. The researchers, Mark Mendell and Anna Mirer of Berkeley Lab’s Environmental Energy Technologies Division, analyzed data collected from 95 air-conditioned office buildings across the United States. The data had been gathered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in a study called BASE (Building Assessment Survey and Evaluation). The study produced data about indoor environmental conditions and the health of occupants in a representative set of U.S....

ATLANTA—What’s lean and green and clean all over? Your next sustainable building project and its indoor air quality, thanks to ASHRAE’s upcoming satellite broadcast. The program, “Clean, Lean, and Green—IAQ for Sustainable Buildings,” will take place April 22 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. EDT. The free broadcast, sponsored by ASHRAE’s Chapter Technology Transfer Committee with support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, will challenge the building community to use good IAQ practices to create a more sustainable built environment. The program will highlight guidance from the publication “IAQ Guide: Best Practices for Design, Construction, and Commissioning,” developed collaboratively...