CHICAGO—At the recent ISSA/Interclean trade show in Chicago, Tornado Industries released its Commitment to Environmental Sustainability, establishing the company’s goals when it comes to cleaning, health, and protecting the environment. Tornado, which recently became a member of the U.S. Green Building Council, is an 80-year-old manufacturer of professional carpet and floor care equipment based in Chicago. According to its statement, the company has manufactured and will continue to manufacture products that, “enhance indoor air quality (IAQ), use less water and chemical, create less noise, and contribute to source reduction.” Mike Schaffer, president of Tornado Industries, says...

The use of cleaners in hotels has a long history. Until recently, the products available to housekeeping professionals have been limited to one of two evils: acid- or bleach-based cleaners. Neither presents a healthy alternative. When green cleaning products made an appearance on the market several years ago, their popularity was curtailed by two facts: they were not as effective as their toxic sisters, and they were more expensive. Today, green cleaning products are competitively priced but some still remain toxic. Several “environmentally friendly” cleaners continue to contain ingredients that pose alarming health and safety hazards. To name a few,...

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIF.—Sunshine Makers Inc., the manufacturer of Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner, announces the launch of a new line of disinfectant and sanitization products—Simple Green d Pro 3 and Simple Green d Pro 5. The Simple Green d Pro products were developed specifically to tackle today’s public health threats from bacteria and viruses. Just a few of the public health concerns that the new Simple Green d Pro products address are Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Staphylococcus epidermidis, HIV-1 (AIDS virus), Adenovirus Type 3, Rubella (German Measles), Hepatitis B & C, Avian Influenza, and many more. Simple...

NEW YORK—Starwood’s new aloft brand, a vision of W Hotels, has announced a “see green” program with guest awareness in mind. The program was created to introduce and promote ecologically friendly products and services, and highlights options both inside and outside each hotel. The aloft landscaping plan takes what used to be the standard parking lot and re-imagines it as an outdoor park-like environment, with a variety of deciduous trees and shrubbery. A special area of parking spots will be reserved specifically for hybrid cars, raising awareness of the benefits of environmentally friendly vehicles. The aloft team is...

SAN FRANCISCO—Orbeco Inc. announced that it has signed contracts of two years each with two of the world’s leading hotel chains. The companies represent more than 5,000 hotels. The chains chose Orbeco because it offers safe and environmentally friendly green cleaning products. Orbeco offers products ranging from carpet cleaners to drain cleaners. Orbeco products are harmless to humans, animals and aquatic life. The formulas, all patented, have been designed by a French chemist. The cleaning products include safe, raw materials. All the products have been certified by Green Seal and Woolsafe and are in the process of...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Queenaire Technologies, Ashburn, Va., as a Founding Sponsor. Queenaire, with a management team with more than 30 years in the ozone industry, provides ozone generating products that deodorize and eliminate odors safely and effectively. The company sells five different machines for different size rooms and applications. Queenaire also produces the Newaire Plugin, a portable plug-in unit that can deodorize rooms up to 500 square feet in size. All of Queenaire’s products are ideal for eliminating in-room odors caused by smoke, mold and mildew, pets, and other sources....

BURBANK, CALIF.—Steril-Aire Inc. has published a new application bulletin describing how its multi-patented UVC technology can protect offices, stores and other commercial buildings while reducing costs. The bulletin, titled “UVC and Commercial Buildings,” explains how UVC devices installed in the air handling systems can result in a wide range of benefits, including mold and microbial control, enhanced indoor air quality, and energy and maintenance savings. The bulletin includes an overview of UVC features and benefits, a four-year cost-saving example, and product information on the different types of UVC devices for commercial HVAC applications. Customer testimonials are also included....

TALLAHASSEE, FLA.—The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has partnered with DadePaper Co. to help Florida’s lodging industry improve indoor air quality in hotels and motels across the state. The partnership is the latest component of DEP’s Green Lodging initiative, which encourages hotels and motels to adopt cost-saving green practices that conserve energy, reduce water consumption, protect air quality and reduce waste. “By participating in the Green Lodging Program, DadePaper becomes an example and leader within the lodging industry,” says DEP Secretary Colleen M. Castille. “Their environmental commitment serves as a challenge to hotels, suppliers, trade associations and...

PETERBOROUGH, ONT.—Enviro-Solutions introduces its Green-certified Haze Away Neutral Floor Cleaner. With foot traffic, ice melts placed at building entries in wintry climates can leave a hazy white film on hard-surface floors. This ruins the appearance of the floor and also increases the likelihood of slips and falls. Haze Away safely removes ice melt, salts and other mineral deposits, keeping floor and carpet entries clean, bright, and healthy. For more information, visit Enviro-Solutions.

DUNEDIN, FLA.—Mintek Mobile Data Solutions has released a white paper entitled, “The Case for Automated Asset Management & Preventive Maintenance.” The document makes the case for implementation of an automated solution such as Mintek’s Lodging Asset Management Suite to protect and extend the life of a hotel’s physical assets. The white paper includes examples of hotels that have implemented the company’s handheld, bar code and ASP-based systems. “Smart hotel owners and operators know that proper maintenance and management of hotel’s assets will result in extended asset life and fewer breakdowns,” says Lind Hutton, executive vice president and c.o.o....