Home Air Quality

Air Quality

Allergy friendly rooms, air purifiers, smoke-free hotels, chemical sensitivities, volatile organic compounds. As travelers and workers demand clean air and a healthy environment to work and sleep in, hotels are finding new and innovative ways to provide it, and getting a marketing kick to boot. Got news or a story idea to share? Contact Glenn Hasek, editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at: greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.

Air Quality

Home Air Quality
Allergy friendly rooms, air purifiers, smoke-free hotels, chemical sensitivities, volatile organic compounds. As travelers and workers demand clean air and a healthy environment to work and sleep in, hotels are finding new and innovative ways to provide it, and getting a marketing kick to boot. Got news or a story idea to share? Contact Glenn Hasek, editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at: greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.

Radisson Plaza Hotel Minneapolis, Site of First Radisson, Eliminates Smoking

MINNEAPOLIS—The Radisson Plaza Hotel Minneapolis announced that it has completed its conversion to a 100 percent smoke-free facility, including all public areas, meeting rooms and guestrooms. The month-long extensive cleaning process—including shampooing carpet and upholstered furniture, dry cleaning, painting, and other deep cleaning—focused on converting approximately 30 guestrooms to be smoke free at an investment of more than $15,000. “Our decision to become 100 percent smoke free reflects our commitment to providing guests with a clean, comfortable and healthy stay,” said Judith Kalfon, general manager of the Radisson Plaza Hotel Minneapolis. “The conversion is a significant enhancement for the hotel...

Kimberly-Clark Filtration Introduces Gas Phase Filter Media

ROSWELL, GA.—Commercial and institutional buildings have a new way to remove odors and other irritant gaseous contaminants from their HVAC system air stream: new Kimberly-Clark brand odor control filtration media from Kimberly-Clark Filtration Products. The filtration media delivers particulate filtration performance with added odor removal technology to deliver clean, fresh, odor-free air, thanks in part to its two-layer construction. The upstream layer provides particulate filtration and protects the downstream carbon layer from particulate loading, to ensure maximum odor removal capability. The downstream layer is made of activated carbon, one of the strongest physical adsorbents, which rapidly adsorbs and retains gaseous...

Alen Corp. Announces Release of AirMD Air Purifier

AUSTIN, TEXAS—Alen Corp. announced the release of AirMD, an air purifier that is completely lead free, ozone safe, and Energy Star qualified by both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. The four-speed AirMD marries modern décor-enhancing design with a HEPA filtration system, UV lamp set to last three to five years, ionizer, and 24-hour programmable timer. Eco-conscious individuals suffering from the agony of cigarette smoke, pet dander, allergies, cooking odors, dust, pollen, dust, and bacteria now have a powerful yet compact air cleaning solution. “We are delighted to be offering the first lead-free air purifier...

Gaylord Palms Resort Receives Florida Green Lodging Certification

KISSIMMEE, FLA.—Gaylord Hotels and The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) welcomed Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center into the Florida Green Lodging Program. The 1,406-room resort is one of the largest in that state to participate, and the first in Osceola County’s popular Kissimmee resort corridor. In addition, the resort announced the upcoming rollout of a new guest communications program, called “We’re Eco-Logical”, designed to share the spirit of the resort’s eco-friendly initiatives with guests and meeting planners, while encouraging them to take an active role in the programs. “Together with the citizens of Osceola County, we have created one...

Len-Tex Surface iQ Wallcovering Earns Cradle to Cradle Certification

NORTH WALPOLE, N.H.—Len-Tex Corp. announced that the entire line of its Surface iQ non-vinyl wallcovering has earned the Cradle to Cradle (C2C) Certification at the Silver tier for healthy and sustainable product design from McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC). Surface iQ is the only printed commercial grade wallcovering to have earned this certification. In order for products to be certified under Cradle to Cradle guidelines, both the product and all components must pass rigid material requirements for environmental and human health. Additional criteria for certification include product and material reutilization, energy and water usage during production as well as social...

Greenguard Finds Some ‘Green’ Products Still Increase Chemical Exposure

MARIETTA, GA.—In a recently completed study funded by Greenguard Environmental Institute (GEI), there was preliminary evidence that “green” low-emitting products may still cause increased chemicals in indoor environments. The study, conducted by Chi Phuong Hoang, a doctoral candidate at the University of Texas at Austin’s Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering program, revealed that even “green” wall, flooring, ceiling and cabinetry materials can cause “secondary” emission of chemicals when exposed to naturally occurring ozone in the indoor air. Many green materials are bio-based and, as a consequence, may react even with low levels of ozone that naturally occur...

Tornado Introduces Lightweight Backpack Vacuum Cleaner

CHICAGO—Tornado, a leading manufacturer of professional cleaning equipment and supplies, introduces a new lightweight, powerful and “green” backpack vacuum cleaner. The new machine, called the PV6 Pac-Vac Vacuum, weighs less than 11 pounds, has superior noise-reducing systems, yet is powered by a 1.9 HP motor, which delivers static lift of 90 inches and airflow of 120 cubic feet per minute. According to Mark Cuddy, Tornado’s director of sales, eastern region, engineers of the PV6 series placed considerable emphasis on developing a vacuum that could help bolster productivity, while being environmentally responsible at the same time. “The machine has been field tested...

Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton Hotels to Eliminate Smoking

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.—Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced that its Sheraton and Four Points by Sheraton hotel brands will implement a smoke-free policy at more than 300 hotels and resorts throughout the United States, Caribbean and Canada. Sheraton and Four Points by Sheraton have begun converting all smoking guestrooms to nonsmoking in preparation for the new policy. In addition, all public areas will also be 100 percent smoke free. Sheraton and Four Points by Sheraton hotels’ decision to go smoke free reflects both brands’ commitment to providing guests with a clean, comfortable and healthy stay. The new policy also...

LEED Gold-Certified E’Terra Inn is Natural Fit for Niagara Reserve

TOBERMORY, ONTARIO—With its six suites, the E’Terra Inn here serves as one of the best examples of sustainable building in Canada and the United States. Ninety-five percent of products and materials used throughout the inn were made in North America, and the property is one of the first in the world to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold status. It was awarded that designation in 2005 by the Canada Green Building Council. E’Terra sits within the Niagara Escarpment World Biosphere Reserve, at the tip of the Bruce Peninsula separating Georgian Bay and Lake Huron. The luxury property...

Hill Country Introduces Vamoose, a Tobacco Odor Eliminator

AUSTIN, TEXAS—Vamoose, which has been independently tested and verified as the only commercially available odor eliminator with long-term odor removal for cigarettes, pipes and cigars by organically converting the sources of the odors, is now available in service kits for commercial service companies. Service companies, franchise service groups, hotels, motels and restaurants can now easily purchase complete treatment kits and add additional service offerings for room treatment of tobacco odors. Vamoose, when used properly, completely eliminates all second-hand tobacco odors with the patented Novexium technology which molecularly combines with the tar and nicotine molecules deposited by smoking. It converts...