WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has introduced a draft of its LEED v5 Operations and Maintenance (O+M) rating system for existing buildings. LEED v5 is the newest version of LEED. It marks a transformative milestone in the built environment’s alignment with a low-carbon future and addresses critical imperatives such as equity, health, ecosystems, and resilience. The LEED rating system is the world’s preeminent green building certification system, with more than 100,000 projects certified globally. While the launch of LEED v5 begins with existing buildings, LEED v5 for Building Design and Construction (BD+C) will roll out in 2024. In conjunction with the...

MENOMONEE FALLS, WIS.—Bradley Corp., a leading handwashing innovator for more than 100 years, expands its suite of lavatory systems with its Express TLX Series 4-station lavatory system. With its extended multi-user design, this new model provides a durable, seamless, and complete handwashing package. Designed to provide value and hygiene while delivering long-lasting performance, Bradley’s TLX 4-station model creates a sleek and streamlined look that comfortably provides personal handwashing space for up to four users. Easy to specify and ADA compliant, its elongated, open trough design is compact enough to save on wall space, expanding flexibility. Express ELX 4-station lavatories are cast-formed in resilient Terreon Solid...

SACRAMENTO, CALIF.—California lawmakers have advanced a bill to ban the toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS from household and institutional cleaners sold in the state. The bill cleared the Legislature and now heads to Gov. Gavin Newsom for his signature. Assemblymember Dr. Akilah Weber (La Mesa-San Diego) authored Assembly Bill 727 to protect the health of consumers and workers from PFAS. They are known as forever chemicals because they don’t break down, and they pose a health risk to the millions of people exposed to them through cleaners and many other products. If enacted, the ban would take effect on January 1, 2026, and make California the...

ROSEMONT, ILL.—The International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA) will be holding its ISSA Show North America from November 13 to 16 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center. The annual tradeshow brings together leaders from the commercial, institutional, and residential cleaning community. In addition to having access to hundreds of cleaning supply companies, show attendees will be able to attend 11 educational sessions focused on various aspects of Environmental, Social Responsibility and Governance (ESG). According to ISSA, the mission of ISSA Show North America is to be the leading resource for information, education, innovation, networking, and commercial opportunities for firms within the worldwide...

ATLANTA—HD Supply, a leading national wholesale distributor, is a sponsor of the 2023 Wyndham Global Conference taking place September 12 to 14 in Anaheim, Calif. The conference will connect thousands of hotel owners and managers with premier suppliers. This is the first Wyndham conference since 2019 and is projected to have the largest turnout to date. As a Diamond Sponsor of the conference, HD Supply’s show presence will feature training sessions specific to preventive maintenance with live demos of PTAC and floor cleaning units from Namco and Sanitaire, as well as Restorair room recovery units. Attendees will have the opportunity to interact with products...

When was the last time you stayed at a hotel with a PTAC and noticed an extra air filtration cover over the PTAC? You most likely have not experienced this but at a trade show earlier in the year I discovered a company, RZ Industries, that makes an air purifying filter that attaches to the front of the PTAC. Called the RZ AIRflow, it improves the air quality of the guestroom by removing 99.7 percent of airborne particulates from inside and outside. The system uses carbon filters and a HEPA filter. There is no added noise when using the...

MINNEAPOLIS—Tennant Co., a world leader in designing, manufacturing, and marketing solutions to reinvent how the world cleans, has released its annual Sustainability Report. The report, detailing achievements for the 2022 fiscal year, also details the development of the company’s new Thriving People, Healthy Planet framework. “By embedding sustainability into how we work, we’ll continue to deliver solutions that help our customers solve their biggest challenges and meet their sustainability targets,” said President and CEO Dave Huml. “Working within our own business and with our stakeholders, we’ll help people thrive and contribute to a healthier planet.” The 2023 (FY22) report marks the conclusion...

As a homeowner, I do the best I can with preventive maintenance (PM) but sometimes the tasks can get overwhelming. For example, I had some plumbing work done this past week and the plumber looked at my water heater and asked if I flush and drain it at least annually. I was honest and said I had not drained it since we bought our home eight years ago. Arghh. The tank is probably 24 years old and original to our home. Maybe I need some PM software to make sure I don’t miss important tasks? As has been written...

One of the impacts of the pandemic was of course a reduction in housekeeping. It was for safety reasons and ultimately due to a shortage of housekeepers. According to Gary Leff of “View from the Wing,” at least one brand is going back to the old days of housekeeping—Hilton, and at least with some of its brands. According to an internal Hilton communication reviewed by View From The Wing, “Daily housekeeping will be a brand standard at all full-service hotels, and every other day at limited-service properties though in both cases either more or less housekeeping will be at the...

NATIONAL REPORT—Keeping your pipes open and clean keeps the plumber away, repair-related costs down, rooms sellable, and keeps unhappy guests from sullying your property’s reputation online. Unfortunately, says Jeff Vance, Sales Director for Instant Power Corp., most hoteliers take a reactive approach to drain issues. “The guest complains, and the hotel manager/worker reacts,” he says. Sound familiar? Proper drain maintenance is critical in a hotel environment. “Hotels have vertical and horizontal/lateral plumbing lines,” Vance says. “Typically, plumbing issues arise when lateral lines get clogged with hair, grease, soaps, toothpaste, fats, oils, paper, and other objects. In addition to those issues,...