BOULDER, COLO.—If you would like to learn about the Boulder Outlook Hotel & Suites’ zero waste program, I suggest checking with the property’s Ambassador of Cool (owner Dan King)—or maybe its Green Goddess (environmental champion Diane Schevene). Believe it or not, those are the titles the two have given themselves. Both have worked hard to push the property toward zero waste. Is zero waste possible in a hotel that has a full-service restaurant, 3,800 square feet of meeting space and 162 guestrooms? It is if one considers only the waste generated by staff. Because the hotel cannot control what guests...

READING, PA.—EcoLogo, North America’s oldest Green-certification organization, announced that several products made by a variety of jansan manufacturers have recently been Green certified and may now place the well-known EcoLogo mark on their packaging and marketing materials. In addition to meeting EcoLogo’s stringent requirements, Green certification means, among other things, that the products and their ingredients have been analyzed and verified by independent, accredited laboratories and have been shown to have a reduced impact on the environment. Additionally, these products are made with ingredients that are rapidly biodegradable and nontoxic, meet specific ISO (International Organization for Standardization) standards, and are not...

FRANKLIN PARK, ILL.—Sloan Valve Company’s new HYSO sensor-operated door handle dispenser automatically releases a burst of cleaner on a door handle on a pre-set basis. The battery-powered dispenser is a welcome convenience that helps address the concerns of germ-conscious users who appreciate restroom cleanliness. The HYSO dispenser is ideal for handles on public restroom exits and stalls. Other applications include doorknobs and handles in hospital patient rooms, assisted-living facilities, medical centers/laboratories, school classrooms, foodservice establishments and health clubs. The dispenser mounts inches above the target surface and only releases cleaner when the sensor detects that users are out of range. By...

PETERBOROUGH, ONT.—Burke Supply, one of the largest and, at nearly 60 years old, one of the oldest jansan distributors in the New York City area, has just partnered with Enviro-Solutions to market the company’s green cleaning products and supplies. Burke Supply has approximately 180 employees and serves more than 9,000 customers. Enviro-Solutions is a leading manufacturer of environmentally preferable, green-certified cleaning products based in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. “We are proud that Burke has become an Enviro-Solutions distributor,” says Mike Sawchuk, the company’s vice president and general manager. “Not only are they one of the largest distributorships in the country, but...

HOUSTON—Facility management professionals from around the world will converge on the Big Easy to analyze the latest industry trends and rediscover New Orleans during the International Facility Management Association’s (IFMA) World Workplace 2007 Conference & Expo, Oct. 24-26, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in the heart of New Orleans. Long recognized as the world’s premier educational and networking conference for facility managers, World Workplace brings industry leaders from the world’s top business and government organizations together with educators and exhibitors to focus on the future of facility management. Now in its 28th year, the conference will...

BLOOMINGTON, IND.—The Green Cleaning Network, a nonprofit clearinghouse that shares information and educates the marketplace in order to accelerate the adoption of green cleaning, announces the launch of its new website. The timing coincides with two important announcements including the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) release for public comments of its revision to LEED for Existing Buildings Rating System (LEED-EB) and the Building Owners and Managers Assn. (BOMA) joining the Network and its board of directors. The website’s Discussion Forums will provide the opportunity to review the current and proposed documents, and discuss issues associated with them. According to Doug...

WINCHESTER, VA.—Rubbermaid Commercial Products (RCP) announces its “Smarter Recycling” solution: The Glutton Recycling Station. It combines the trusted Glutton and Slim Jim strength and durability into a high-capacity station that can separate up to four waste streams for more efficient recycling. “Supporting our customers’ recycling efforts while working to help reduce their waste disposal and labor costs is our priority for the Glutton Recycling Station,” says Victoria Ciupak, product manager for Rubbermaid Commercial Products. “For a recycling collection to be successful, the receptacles have to be as easy to maintain as they are to use. And with Rubbermaid Commercial...

ATLANTA—In today’s marketplace, a green building means an energy efficient, healthy building, but nothing can tarnish that sparkling image faster than indoor mold growth. Lenders and insurers as well as building owners and managers know that when mold takes hold, it can cause deterioration of building materials, which can be expensive and inconvenient to replace. Indoor mold growth also can become a source of indoor air pollutants, which can lead to serious health problems, including allergic reactions and asthma attacks. To help take the guesswork out of selecting building materials that resist mold growth and to support product manufacturers in...

VISTA, CALIF.—One of the questions facility managers and building service contractors (BSCs) often ask when waterless urinals are installed in their facilities is, “How do you clean them?” Because waterless systems are becoming more and more popular in commercial buildings, Waterless No-Flush urinals, Vista, Calif., has added an online video that covers virtually all the maintenance issues related to cleaning and maintaining these no-flush systems. Although most waterless urinals are cleaned much like conventional urinals, there are differences that BSCs should be aware of. For instance, abrasive cleaners and brushes often used on traditional urinals can scratch and mar a waterless...

PHILADELPHIA—National Chemical Laboratories, Inc. has unveiled SHA-ZYME, a no-rinse daily cleaner and degreaser for use on porous hard surfaces such as concrete, quarry tile, ceramic tile, brick, or any grouted floor surface without floor finish or wax. Especially in kitchens and food preparation areas, SHA-ZYME removes grease and grime below the surface to make quarry tile floors (and grout) more slip resistant. SHA-ZYME removes breeding sites for unwanted pests (such as fruit flies) by dissolving organic waste on floors that attracts insects, creating a more sanitary condition in these areas. A specialized SMB (Synergized Multi-Blend) biologically engineered bacteria/enzyme combination continues...