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,...

NORCROSS, GA.—A report this week from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) citing a two-fold increase in cryptosporidium, more simply known as “crypto,” outbreaks points to the need for ultraviolet lights to enhance public swimming pool sanitization, according to Steve Pearce, Executive Group Vice President, ChlorKing, manufacturer of Sentry UV systems and salt-based chlorination systems. Cryptosporidium is a microscopic parasite that can make otherwise healthy adults and children feel incredibly sick with stomach cramps, nausea and bouts of diarrhea that can last up to three weeks. Its levels can be mitigated by treatment. “UV lights are designed to destroy...

NATIONAL REPORT—Standing out as a small business is all about setting yourself apart, highlighting the things that make you better than competitors. A great way to do that today is to be ecologically responsible. One of the best things about taking an eco-friendly approach to operating your hotel is that it can become a marketing tool for you. Travelers today, like consumers of all kinds, have expectations beyond simply the products and services they consume. They have particular issues that they care about, and they want to support companies that feel the same way. The environment is a major one. While...

SPRINGFIELD, MO.—John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts (JQH) announced that as a part of the company’s commitment to innovation and an enhanced guest experience, it is collaborating with PURE Solutions to help create some of the freshest sleeping environments in the hospitality industry. Initially, JQH is launching PURE guestrooms in six of the award-winning company’s hotels spanning five states, including Arkansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Tennessee and Texas. With the PURE allergy-friendly hotel rooms, in-room filtration systems remove air particles, while surfaces are treated to minimize growth of bacteria. These hypoallergenic hotel accommodations are nearly 99.9 percent allergen-free. A PURE room...

NATIONAL REPORT—During a hotel stay, guests expect their bathrooms to have a fresh and modern look.  Old, dated or damaged bathtubs, wall surrounds, vanities or toilets reflect poorly on the hotel’s brand. As such, many hotels regularly replace bathroom components to maintain customer satisfaction and earn positive reviews and loyalty in return. Fortunately, for the lodging industry the bathroom is also an area with the most opportunity for a “green” remodel. In addition to water and energy saving possibilities, selecting eco-friendly construction materials that are recyclable should also be on every owner or manager’s list of requirements. According to Environmental Protection...

WASHINGTON – More than 1,000 U.S. companies and organizations signed a letter to Congress and the administration calling for lawmakers to strengthen the ENERGY STAR program that was recently proposed for elimination under the Trump administration’s budget. “ENERGY STAR is a model for successful collaboration between the public and private sectors,” the letter states. “It enjoys a long track record of success and should be strengthened, not weakened, to ensure it continues providing these important benefits to the public while helping us meet our energy and environmental goals.” The letter, which was sent Monday and can be found here, was led...

STATE COLLEGE, PA.—A fungal biopesticide that shows promise for the control of bedbugs is highly effective even against bedbug populations that are insecticide resistant, according to research conducted by scientists at Penn State and North Carolina State universities. The study suggests that Aprehend, a mycoinsecticide developed at Penn State, likely will provide an important new tool for managing bedbug infestations, which have surged in recent years. “Bedbugs were all but eradicated from the United States and other industrialized nations after World War II, likely due to the use of DDT and other broad-spectrum insecticides,” said study co-author Nina Jenkins, Senior...

CYPRESS, CALIF.—Earth Friendly Products, the maker of ECOS environmentally friendly cleaning products, is celebrating 50 years of green cleaning innovation, a significant achievement in the cleaning products industry. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the family-owned and –operated company, and it will celebrate this important milestone with gala celebrations at its four sustainable manufacturing facilities across the United States. The celebrations will occur throughout the month of April in conjunction with global Earth Day celebrations, in honor of the company’s long-standing commitment to environmental protection. Earth Friendly Products has achieved many firsts in developing safer cleaning products. The company...