NATIONAL REPORT—Tobacco and marijuana have been smoked in nonsmoking hotel guestrooms for as long as nonsmoking rooms have existed. The task of calculating the costs associated with unauthorized smoking in guestrooms is so challenging that most hoteliers have viewed smoking as a problem without a solution. Now, exhaustive primary and secondary research provides methodically sourced data detailing both obvious short-term and hidden long-term costs of unauthorized smoking. Study results reveal that unauthorized smoking costs hoteliers $5.4 billion each year. Research Digs Deep into True Costs of Smoking To get a handle on all the true costs associated with smoking, FreshAir Sensor...

CYPRESS, CALIF.—As we continue to see relaxed COVID-19 restrictions—leaving the onus of safety in the hands of business operators, owners and facilities managers—global visual technologies company Christie has introduced its newest CE- and UL- certified commercial UVC-LED disinfection light fixture for occupied, indoor spaces. Christie CounterAct UR10 with UVC-LED and patented Care222 far-UVC - plus visible light, in a single unit, is recommended for commercial offices, government facilities, schools, transit hubs, retail shops, and medical buildings—for enhanced and safe airborne and surface disinfection wherever people gather indoors, in public places. CounterAct UR10 builds on the release of the CA20, Christie’s...

Hotels are the backbone of the tourism industry, which is still recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic, flight delays and lower bookings than usual. However, there’s an additional concern that the industry is facing. Studies show that tourists are hesitant to stay in rooms with poor or questionable indoor air quality. Findings show that air purification improvements can reduce Covid-19 infection by a factor of 10. In addition to Covid-19, headaches, throat and eye irritation, fatigue and dizziness are all symptoms of poor indoor air quality (IAQ). These symptoms can be debilitating and affect one’s health long term. In fact, airborne...

NORWOOD, MASS.—Aircuity, a global leader in creating healthy and sustainable buildings, introduced an enhanced version of its industry-leading data analytics platform, MyAircuity. These new features both enhance security and add further depth to Aircuity’s unique suite of analytic insights that help clients achieve their goals of real carbon reduction and healthier indoor air quality (IAQ). This latest set of enhancements reflect the most updated customer feedback and include the following: Room-level Tracking of the ASHRAE Laboratory Ventilation Design Level (LVDL): This new datapoint identifies the risk level of exposure to airborne chemical hazards in a specific laboratory space and will...

SAN FRANCISCO—The Hyatt Regency San Francisco Downtown SoMa, which debuted in February of this year, announced its collaboration with MindClick, a Product Intelligence company that rates the environmental and social impact of manufacturers and their products. In support of carbon reduction, the heath of people and the planet, Highgate—which manages the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Downtown SoMa—worked closely with MindClick to carefully select products for the hotel. During the hotel’s $70-million-dollar reimagination, this partnership dramatically improved the project’s environmental impact while also supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the supply chain. “From the very beginning of this milestone renovation located in the heart of San Francisco, we...

SAN CARLOS, CALIF.—Wynd Technologies, Inc., a California-based maker of proprietary AI-powered indoor air monitoring and purification technologies, announced the launch of Sentry, its latest proprietary indoor environment sensor and the only monitor of its kind that can reliably detect cigarette and marijuana smoke, vape usage and excessive noise. Sentry’s groundbreaking features afford property owners peace of mind by acting as a deterrent to unwanted smoking and disturbances, providing evidence for damage claims and assuring guests that they are staying in a verifiably smoke-free property. Sentry’s airID smoke speciation technology sends alerts to property owners’ smartphones about unwanted smoking, while Sentry’s noise...

LOMBARD, ILL.—Radonova, a global leader in radon measurement, has relocated from their Westmont, Illinois address to just 5 miles up the road to Lombard, Illinois as part of a long-term growth plan. The new facility more than doubles their capacity to sell and process radon tests and measurements in the United States and Canada. The new office, located at 1 East 22nd Street, Suite 200 in Lombard, Illinois offers space for additional inventory and future expansion. “We had been in our old office location for 6 years and were outgrowing the space,” says Radonova, Inc. Operations Manager Steve Leslie. “The move...

ROSEMONT, ILL.—The Global Biorisk Advisory Council, (GBAC), a Division of ISSA, announced that Dr. Deborah Birx, world-renowned medical physician, infectious disease expert, and diplomat, will be the keynote speaker at the GBAC Symposium on Air Considerations, August 16 to 17, at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. The inaugural GBAC Symposium will bring together scientists and industry thought leaders to share innovations and best practices for improving indoor air quality in nonhealthcare settings. “The GBAC Symposium is our next step in driving innovation and advancement to make our world safer,” said GBAC Senior Director Michael Diamond. “This event will bring together environmental safety and...

SOLON, OHIO—A worldwide leader in sustainable and innovative flooring solutions, Tarkett is launching a new collection that imagines a more balanced world, one where mankind’s influence on nature is less apparent. Inspired Nature is a new collection of modular carpet and Powerbond hybrid resilient sheet, along with a coordinating digitally printed LVT, that explores the wonder of nature and its ability to heal. The collection was born at the height of global isolation—a time when we saw the natural world beginning to restore itself to a healthier balance. We saw a resurgence of cleaner air. A reduction in water and noise pollution....

NATIONAL REPORT—Ask a child to draw you a house and you’ll get something made up of rectangles and triangles. It’s still recognizable as a house you’d see on any street, but there’s nothing soft about it. Sharp edges and harsh lines dominate the majority of human architecture. It’s an effective form of construction, but it has left us decidedly disconnected from the natural world. This disconnect isn’t harmful, but as the world shifts toward a greener and more sustainable future, we’ve started taking more inspiration from nature. What is biophilic design and what are the benefits of this type of design...