STOCKHOLM—Blueair, a leading indoor air purification specialist, will use the upcoming IFA Berlin 2015 electronics trade show running September 4 to 9 to unveil new smart connected appliances to help pollution-wary consumers efficiently tackle hidden airborne threats at home or work.“We will present a stellar lineup of new technologies, products and design bringing people the very latest and best of indoor air purification technology geared to enhance health and wellness,” says Karin Kruse, Blueair Head of Global Product Marketing.Kruse said Blueair’s new technologies embrace a number of clever functions that will warn consumers when their indoor air is becoming...

ATLANTA—With 12 confirmed dead and more than 120 cases of infection due to legionellosis, New York City Council last week adopted legislation that requires adherence to part of ASHRAE’s newly published Legionella standard.The legislation addresses registration and inspection of cooling towers. It requires owners to create and file a plan to maintain equipment to comply with Section 7.2 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 188-2015, Legionellosis: Risk Management for Building Water Systems.The standard provides minimum Legionellosis risk management requirements for the design, construction, commissioning, operation, maintenance, repair, replacement and expansion of new and existing buildings and their associated water systems and components.“Standard...

BOISE, IDAHO—Cary Thomas and Ruth Hurt, owners of QuickRinse.net, announced the launch of their first product, Quick Rinse, a new way to rinse showers during the cleaning process that is six times faster and uses up to 83 percent less water than the traditional method of rinsing with a cup. The Quick Rinse vinyl bladder, ideal for hotel housekeeping, is placed over an existing showerhead and is secured in place by a velcro strap. Just seconds after turning on the shower, water flows through the natural rubber tubing for fast, efficient rinsing. Quick Rinse is designed for all types...

According to a recent National Sleep Foundation survey, 91 percent of all people identified the pillow as being most important to a good night’s sleep (second only to the mattress at 93 percent). Yet very few hotels actively manage their pillow inventory. Currently, most properties leave it up to the subjective opinion of their housekeeping staff to pull pillows out of service when they no longer meet the hotel’s standards. This works for pillows that are obviously stained, or are flat, or lumpy. However, this practice does not allow a housekeeper to know what might be on the inside of...

ATLANTA—Long awaited industry guidance on legionellosis is now available in a new standard from ASHRAE. The document establishes minimum legionellosis risk management requirements for building water systems.“The industry interest and input into developing this standard has been tremendous,” Presidential Member Tom Watson, chair of the committee that wrote the standard, said. “With 8,000 to 10,000 cases of Legionnaires’ Disease reported each year in the United States, and with more than 10 percent of those cases fatal, it is vital that we set requirements to manage risk of this bacteria.”Legionella can also cause a less-severe influenza-like illness known as Pontiac...

ST. PAUL, MINN.—Ecolab Inc. recently released its 2014 Corporate Sustainability Report. This annual profile of the company’s commitment to sustainability highlights how Ecolab helps make the world cleaner, safer and healthier while protecting people and vital resources.Ecolab’s mission is to provide and protect what is vital: clean water, safe food, abundant energy and healthy environments. Through partnerships with customers, NGOs and communities, the company helps address some of the world’s most urgent resource and business challenges.“Our company was built on our dedication to finding solutions to complex problems,” said Douglas M. Baker, Jr., Ecolab Chairman and CEO. “Today, we...

NEW YORK—To mark its centennial anniversary, the International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show (IHMRS) is unveiling a new brand and mission to better capture the dynamic innovation of the hospitality industry. HX: The Hotel Experience—Rooms to Restaurants (HX), will debut November 8 to 10, 2015 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York City and represents a bold new strategic direction.This multimillion-dollar investment aimed at revitalizing the largest hospitality trade event in North America is founded on the belief that true hospitality is anticipating a guest’s needs to create a memorable and unique experience. To achieve that, HX...

LOS ANGELES—Stephen Ashkin, President of The Ashkin Group and frequently referred to as “the Father of Green Cleaning,” was inducted into the International Green Industry Hall of Fame (IGIHOF) at a recent ceremony held at the University of California, Santa Barbara.This is the fifth year the IGIHOF has held this annual event. The organization asks the general public to nominate individuals and organizations that have embraced green technologies, have reduced waste, have promoted sustainability, or are actively working to promote green and sustainability issues, either in their own operations or for people and organizations around the world.The IGIHOF considers...

NATIONAL REPORT—Dig into The Bedbug Registry a bit and you just might find your own hotel listed as a place where travelers encountered bedbugs. In this social media age, where a bedbug report can go viral in seconds, it makes sense to take the necessary steps—hopefully eco-friendly ones—to keep bedbugs out and, if necessary, kill them effectively. Fortunately for those concerned about the safety of their guests and staff, there are a wide range of environmentally safe products available to detect, protect against, and kill bedbugs.It makes sense to utilize greener approaches because bedbugs have an incredible ability to...

WEST CHICAGO, ILL.—Tornado, a leading manufacturer of professional cleaning tools and equipment, has launched a new website dedicated to the professional cleaning industry with a focus on helping end-customers. According to Sean Martschinke, Marketing Director for Tornado, compared to previous company sites, this new website has an “entirely new look and feel, with a heavy emphasis on a bright, attractive visual design, along with a completely renewed structure, providing advanced features and functionality.” Navigation on the new website has been simplified, making it easier for distributors and end-customers to access product information in a friendly and fast way.  It is also...