DULUTH, GA.—Duravit has launched HygieneGlaze 2.0. The original HygieneGlaze ceramic finish was first released in 2015, but Duravit’s research and development team has now further advanced its innovative antibacterial glaze to create the 2.0 version. Duravit USA President Tim Schroeder explains, “At Duravit, our focus goes beyond the aesthetics of our products to the wellbeing of their users. HygieneGlaze 2.0 ensures a healthful and clean bathroom environment thanks to its unique chemical composition and the innovative spirit of the Duravit team.” The new HygieneGlaze 2.0 is not only powerful on toilets and urinals, but also rapidly effective. After 12 hours, 99.9...

EAST LONGMEADOW, MASS.—Excel Dryer, Inc., creator of the high-speed, energy-efficient hand dryer category, announced the publication of the industry’s first dry time and energy use results in compliance with the first global Product Category Rule (PCR) published by UL Environment (a business division of Underwriters’ Laboratories). SGS, the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company was selected by Excel Dryer to test the XLERATOR Hand Dryer models. The original, patented, high-speed, energy-efficient XLERATOR Hand Dryer recorded an 8 second dry time and 3.7 Wh of energy per use while the XLERATOReco Hand Dryer recorded 10 seconds, 1.7 Wh,...

FORT WASHINGTON, PA.—Sofidel, a leading global provider of paper for hygienic and domestic use, launched Dry Tech Heavy-Duty hand towels, which have an absorbency per sheet that is more than double competitors’ towels. The towels are also constructed with negative embossing to eliminate linting. Dry Tech Heavy-Duty is ideal for cleaning glass, aluminum and other glossy surfaces where dust and lint can be highly visible after cleaning. “Disposable hand towels must be designed to withstand rigorous cleaning tasks and hand drying,” said Fabio Vitali, Vice President AFH Marketing & Sales for Sofidel America. “We’ve built Dry Tech Heavy-Duty towels with...

ODESSA, FLA.—Hasek Communications, the Odessa, Fla.-based publisher of Green Lodging News, has added a HydroTech Solutions, LLC case study to its website. The case study details the success a Fortune 100 headquarters had in utilizing HydroFLOW electronic water conditioning for its cooling system to improve water conservation, energy savings and chemicals reduction. The headquarters campus features two buildings; each with a 1,000-ton cooling tower situated on the rooftop. The cooling towers exhibited scale buildup on infrastructure, fill, and piping. The chiller units are opened for cleaning and inspection annually, with scale accumulation at entry sections. Three cycles of concentration were allowed...

NATIONAL REPORT—When a new Residence Inn by Marriott opened in Denver last month, it did so with fully-equipped guestroom kitchens that each include a radiant electric ceramic cooktop. According to Suzanne Owens, VP, Sales, Kenyon International, Inc.—the company that supplied the cooktops—the hotel’s owners made a wise, green choice because of the energy efficiency of the ceramic cooktops. Compared with gas cooking with average efficiencies of 50 percent, cooking with smooth top ceramic cooktops is 75 to 80 percent efficient. Coil cooktops, still found in many extended-stay hotels, are about 65 percent efficient. While requiring more investment, cool induction...

LONG GROVE, ILL.—Fresh Wave IAQ announced the launch of its innovative Smoke Away Air & Fabric Liquid eco-friendly odor-control solution, which is specifically designed to safely and effectively eliminate severe cannabis and tobacco smoke odors without the use of harsh chemicals. Ideal for commercial environments where smoke odors can be an issue—hotels, resorts, casinos, and vehicle rental companies—Fresh Wave IAQ Smoke Away Air & Fabric Liquid is a new proprietary solution that is natural, non-toxic, biodegradable, and completely safe to use around staff and guests, including pets. Without masking odors with synthetic fragrance, this new solution instantly bonds to and eliminates...

ATLANTA—The Ellis Hotel has a heart of green. The recently renovated property, downtown Atlanta’s only independent hotel, has earned Silver certification to Green Seal’s Standard for Hotels & Lodging Properties (GS-33). This achievement, which has only been attained by four other Georgian hotels, is based on a rigorous, independent evaluation of The Ellis Hotel’s features, operations and processes. “We salute the Ellis Hotel for its leadership in sustainability as a Green Seal-certified hotel,” said Arthur B. Weissman, Ph.D., Green Seal’s president and CEO. “Its continual innovation shows how sustainability can position hotels at the cutting edge of the market and...

DURHAM, N.C.—Global solar energy production is taking a major hit due to air pollution and dust. According to a new study, airborne particles and their accumulation on solar cells are cutting energy output by more than 25 percent in certain parts of the world. The regions hardest hit are also those investing the most in solar energy installations: China, India and the Arabian Peninsula. The study appears online June 23 in Environmental Science & Technology Letters. “My colleagues in India were showing off some of their rooftop solar installations, and I was blown away by how dirty the panels were,” said...

NATIONAL REPORT—The survey that is the basis for the annual Green Lodging Trends Report has launched and will remain open through 7 p.m. EST June 20. Click here to participate! The Green Lodging Trends Report is the lodging industry’s annual exercise to assess and catalyze green innovation, best practices, and awareness regarding the state of sustainability across hotels worldwide. Participants benefit from a free compare report—an opportunity to learn how their property is aligned with best practices, and where it is behind among peers locally and worldwide. Participants also have an opportunity to discover new innovative practices that hotels are...

ROCHESTER, N.Y.—The GreenShield Co. has announced the launch of a new website to support the GreenShield finish, a nanoparticle based innovation that reduces the health and environmental impact of stain resistant finishes. GreenShield dramatically lowers the amount of fluorochemicals needed for superior water and stain resistance on textile products. The GreenShield website is designed to educate and inform customers on the realities of the negative environmental impact of textile finishes and offer transparent information on the new technology behind the GreenShield finish. “Products can only be as sustainable as the materials and processes used to make them,” said Michael Duffy,...