WASHINGTON, D.C.—With the Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group’s EarthCare program as its guide, the 82-room Hotel Madera is quietly making a positive impact with its subtle approach to green hotel operations. “Our story here is ‘Conscious Living,’” says Marco Scherer, general manager of the Washington, D.C. boutique hotel. “Throughout their entire stay, we try to remind our guests to live in a conscious manner. We let them decide to what degree they want to participate.” Opened as a Kimpton hotel five years ago, the Hotel Madera has been a green hotel for just a couple of years. The property is owned...

MONTREAL, QUEBEC—After 16 years working to create an environmentally sustainable restaurant industry, the Green Restaurant Assn. just endorsed the first cleaning chemical to meet its high standards—Montreal-based Earth Alive’s RapidAll. Restaurants expose their customers and staff to an array of toxic chemicals that are harmful to one’s health and to the environment. Earth Alive’s products are so safe that they do not need to be regulated and have MSDS sheets of 0 across the board. Earth Alive’s RapidAll will do what traditionally harmful and dangerous acidic chemicals can do such as heavy duty degreasing. It is exempt...

CINCINNATI—Procter & Gamble Professional (PGP), the away-from-home division of consumer products giant Procter & Gamble (P&G), has launched a website outlining its approach to providing environmentally responsible cleaning products to the janitorial/sanitation and lodging industries. The P&G Pro Line Green Guarantee website, found at www.greenguarantee.com, highlights PGP’s stringent environmental standards, as well as the holistic approach its research and development team follows for creating each product. “From the environmentally responsible nature of our products to the solid reputation of P&G, PGP has a great story to tell,” says J.F. Couture, brand manager for PGP. “This site will help...

SAINT CHARLES, MO.—Pineapple Hospitality’s new compact fluorescent (CFL) Fresh Bulb not only improves the guest experience by providing superior light quality and eliminating strong odors, but it also demonstrates a commitment to helping preserve the planet’s precious resources. “Environmentally conscious customers will appreciate knowing their stays at your hotel will have less impact on the environment, and this leaves a positive impression of your property,” says Ray Burger, president of Pineapple Hospitality. “You also benefit, as the Fresh Bulb provides a complete payback in just a few months and a 20-fold overall return on investment in lighting cost-savings....

KATY, TEXAS—Designed to replace hazardous chemical pesticides to reduce toxic exposure and costs associated with insect control, DiaSource Crawling Insect Killer is an easy-to-use healthier method that manages crawling insects. It is the most effective and economical solution for hotels where mites (bed bugs, head lice, etc.), cockroaches, ants, earwigs, spiders, fleas and other crawling insects are of concern. DiaSource Crawling Insect Killer combines the power of laboratory testing, field verifications, an EPA Registration, a 100 percent natural product, and application consultation to protect any indoor area. Qualities include being indefinitely effective (until physically removed), an EPA registration...

Many business owners and managers are well aware of the problems caused by hard water—from clogged pipes and iron stains to spotty glassware and inferior drinking water. What they’re not always aware of, however, is the impact of hard water on energy use and the associated costs. In hotels there are several types of equipment that can be affected by hard water, in terms of impaired efficiency and wasted energy: boilers, hot water heaters, cooling towers, humidifiers, washing machines, dishwashers, and shower heads to name a few. Let’s take a look at how hard water affects the energy efficiency of boilers....

SAINT CHARLES, MO.—With thousands of hotels trying to make the conversion to and maintain a completely smoke-free environment, Pineapple Hospitality’s Nature’s Mist Deodorization System is experiencing a record number of users in its 10th year serving hotels, resorts, bed-and-breakfasts and lodges worldwide. “We used to use an ozone machine, but it took too long and only masked room odors,” says Rande Repke, executive assistant for Sybaris Clubs International, which operates about 130 cottages across five locations in Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin. Within 30 minutes to two hours the smells would return.” “We need to turn around our...

SAN DIEGO—Earth Care Products of San Diego introduces its line of natural non-toxic odor removal products specially designed to tackle the most difficult pet smell challenges left by four-legged guests. Fourteen years ago, creator Bill Vaughn created a special formula of natural and non-toxic minerals that are environmentally friendly and safe to help eliminate pet odors and help with pet odor control. His products are now available in a variety of options based on different applications. Earth Care Products can be used to eliminate odors by simply placing a bag near the odor, or by sprinkling granules...

NATIONAL REPORT—Over the past few years we have heard a lot about the dangers of mold and mildew and especially what has been termed “toxic mold.” The danger is real. In fact, there are an estimated 64,000 types of mold and fungi, and 90 percent of them have airborne spores. They are present in every breath we take. Fortunately, there is lot you can do to control this problem. Fungi can cause health problems to both humans and animals by several different biological mechanisms: infections, allergenic or hypersensitivity reactions, irritant reactions, toxic reactions, and in certain cases they can even...

CHICAGO—Enviro-Solutions announced that two of its hand soaps—ES 50 Deodorant Lotion Soap and ES 59 Soy and Walnut Shell Hand Cleaner—have just been certified by the EcoLogo Program. The certification, CCD 104 Criteria for Institutional and Industrial Hand Soaps, verifies that these hand soaps: • Perform as well as or better than conventional hand cleaners; • Have limited toxicity, helping protect waterways, aquatic life, and other organisms; • Are biodegradable, producing minimal waste; • Contain no ingredients or have a reduction of ingredients considered likely to negatively affect health and the environment; and • Are derived from...