MOUNT PROSPECT, ILL.—ESCO Institute announces the release of Green Awareness, a new publication that provides a basic understanding of green concepts, terminologies, systems, and the latest in green mechanical technology. Every day the word “Green” enters our lives. We read about it in the news, we see it on TV and we hear about it on the radio, but what is it and how does it affect us? When it comes to mechanicals, (HVAC/R, plumbing and electrical) “Green” means maximizing the energy efficiency of existing equipment, specifying the most efficient systems available for the application and the available...

NEW YORK—Perf Go Green Holdings, Inc. (“Perf Go Green”), a marketer and distributor of biodegradable plastics, has completed the company’s first major commercial conversion with the Grand Hyatt hotel in New York City. Beginning this fall, the Grand Hyatt will use Perf Go Green custom-sized commercial trash bags in three different sizes for their entire hotel operations, including executive offices, hotel trashcans, steward stations and ice bucket containers. Grand Hyatt’s conversion to Perf Go Green is part of a larger environmental program through the Hyatt Corp., known as Hyatt Earth, which outlines a timeline for the company’s 365 hotels to...

COUR D’ALENE, IDAHO—Two cleaning agents recently introduced by U.S. Products as part of their new Professional Series line of cleaning chemicals for carpet, upholstery, and hard-surface floors have been green certified by multiple environmental eco-labeling programs. The two products are: • Environmental Carpet Cleaner/Rinse (ECC), for both portable- and truck-mount-extractor use, helps turn soils and residue into free-rinsing soaps for easy removal and has been certified by EcoLogo and Envirodesic. • Environmental Heavy Duty Degreaser, a multiuse cleaner/degreaser for both portable- and truck-mount-extractor use, dissolves heavy soils for removal and has been certified by both EcoLogo and Envirodesic. According to Nick Wiebe,...

NATIONAL REPORT—Going green is no longer a passing trend but an important initiative for every business to consider. Today’s customers are becoming more environmentally conscious consumers and looking toward companies that are both responsive to their needs and environmentally aware. Some consumers are going as far as to change their shopping behaviors to only purchase from “green” companies. In the hospitality industry, where customer satisfaction drives the success of an establishment, hoteliers understand the importance of going green. From energy efficient lighting to limited laundry services, there are numerous ways that hoteliers have implemented green practices to provide a more...

VISTA, CALIF.—Waterless Co. LLC is reporting a surge in both sales orders and requests for sales information after the company introduced a new line of soybean urinals approximately four weeks ago. According to Niki Bradley, marketing manager for the company, she did expect some excitement with the introduction, “but nothing like what has happened in the past few weeks.” She attributes much of the interest to the fact that more and more manufacturers—even the manufacturers of urinals—are looking for more sustainable ways to produce products. Waterless Co. is one of the largest manufacturers of no-water urinal systems in the...

SAGINAW, MICH.—The Duro-Last roofing system has been installed on the Bardessono Inn & Spa in Yountville, Calif. The spa is scheduled to open in February 2009, and will be submitted to the U.S. Green Building Council for LEED Platinum certification. The spa consists of five separate buildings that are protected by almost 80,000 square feet of Duro-Last’s single-ply PVC roofing system. The spa’s prefabricated roofing system was manufactured at Duro-Last’s Grants Pass, Ore., facility and installed by authorized contractor Fidelity Roof Co. of Oakland, Calif. Fidelity is also an approved installer for SunPower, the manufacturer of the PowerGuard solar electrical...

PARSIPPANY, N.J.—Health-conscious travelers—especially those suffering from allergies and asthma—may breathe easier at Wyndham hotels thanks to the upscale chain’s new Wyndham ClearAir initiative to offer allergy-friendly guest accommodations. While eight Wyndham hotels offer the rooms today, all will be required to convert 10 percent of their room inventory or a minimum of 25 rooms into allergy-friendly environments by the end of 2009. Wyndham Hotels and Resorts is the first national upscale lodging chain to mandate allergy-friendly rooms systemwide. The chain’s move responds to guest concerns over rising consumer health issues and costs associated with allergic reactions. According to the Asthma...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Since issuing GS-33, the Environmental Standard for Lodging Properties, in 1999, Green Seal, Inc. has certified many lodging properties in a number of states. The standard has been revised in minor ways twice, and remains a leadership standard that challenges the lodging industry to operate more sustainably. After reviewing its Green Lodging Program and the progress it has made over the years, Green Seal has decided to propose a provisional revision of GS-33. This revision will primarily enable properties to be certified at three different levels to reflect the range of performance and the difficulty in achieving a high...

SEATTLE—A University of Washington study of top-selling laundry products and air fresheners found the products emitted dozens of different chemicals. All six products tested gave off at least one chemical regulated as toxic or hazardous under federal laws, but none of those chemicals was listed on the product labels. “I first got interested in this topic because people were telling me that the air fresheners in public restrooms and the scent from laundry products vented outdoors were making them sick,” said Anne Steinemann, a UW professor of civil and environmental engineering and public affairs. “And I wanted to know, ‘What’s...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes HD Supply Hospitality Solutions as a Founding Sponsor. HD Supply is committed to doing business in a manner that is responsible to its associates, customers and the environment. With HD Supply’s new ideallygreen icon, the company has made it easy for its customers to identify environmentally preferable products throughout its catalogs and at www.hdsupplysolutions.com. Products marked with the ideallygreen icon can increase energy efficiency, help reduce water consumption, create a healthier indoor environment, facilitate waste reduction, and prevent hazardous materials from entering the environment. HD Supply is one of...