WASHINGTON, D.C.—Sol Systems announced the addition of David Vickerman as Chief Financial Officer. Vickerman brings decades of executive and energy-industry experience to the Sol Systems team and will be focused on corporate and structured finance and development. Sol Systems is currently developing over 2 GW of new solar projects worth over $1 billion across the U.S. Vickerman joins Sol Systems amid a generational shift toward renewable energy in the U.S. Although supply-chain delays and other logistical challenges persist, the solar industry is rapidly growing and is currently valued at over $33.1 billion. The renewable energy industry accounts for over 40...

PINEBROOK, N.J.—Fujitsu General America, a leading provider of ductless cooling and heating systems and VRF technology for residential and commercial use, introduces its award-winning Split Terminal Heat Pump (STHP) HVAC series for use in hotel, motel, and all other types of lodging properties. The innovative inverter-driven heat pump offers a more energy-efficient, reliable, and quieter alternative to conventional Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner (PTAC) and Packaged Terminal Heat Pump (PTHP) units—ideal for either system upgrading or new construction. The 2022 Dealer Design Award-winning system offers an array of features and benefits to optimize overall return-on-investment and end-user guest experience. STHP units...

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK—Scandic has opened Scandic Nørreport, a boutique hotel located in central Copenhagen, providing guests with a new type of hotel experience featuring 100 stylish rooms and a rooftop bar overlooking the city. Scandic Nørreport will also be the first Danish hotel to be certified according to the Nordic Swan Ecolabel’s new, stricter requirements. Located next to Nørreport Station and Kongens Have, Scandic Nørreport is Scandic’s ninth hotel in downtown Copenhagen and 29th hotel in Denmark. The hotel has been designed with a focus on providing an ultra-comfortable stay in the heart of the city and features a rooftop bar with spectacular...

Two recent initiatives announced by the White House will help spur additional energy efficiency and decarbonization upgrades in new and existing buildings. President Biden invoked the Defense Production Act to expand domestic manufacturing of a number of critical clean energy technologies, including heat pumps and building insulation. The White House also recently debuted its National Initiative to Advance Building Codes, which will bring together federal agencies to help lower energy costs for families, while making homes and buildings more resilient against the effects of severe weather. Taken together, these policies are a great start toward strengthening the market for important clean energy technologies such as heat...

SINGAPORE—Trip.com Group, a leading global travel service provider, has announced its long-term goal to build green tourism, covering three key areas, including: working with partners to launch over 10,000 low-carbon travel products; promoting sustainable travel concepts and engaging 100 million travelers in low-carbon practices; and aiming to further reduce carbon emissions across its own operations. Trip.com Group aims to launch over 10,000 eco-friendly travel products, with several initiatives already underway in the Group’s long-term plan. Trip.com and Skyscanner, sub-brands of Trip.com Group, have partnered with CHOOOSE, a company dedicated to offsetting the CO2 emissions for flights by supporting impactful climate solutions worldwide...

SEATTLE—SportsArt, a leader in socially responsible fitness solutions for over 40 years, has been selected by Astore—Accor Group’s Procurement Organization—to become a global preferred vendor outfitting their fitness centers with SportsArt’s patented ECO-POWR cardio equipment. One of only four fitness suppliers selected by Accor, both brands share a similar mission to promote environmental sustainability and offer socially conscious options to help create a better tomorrow. “We're excited to provide Accor Group’s properties and the partners of Astore Procurement with integrations and applications that will give their hotels even more opportunities to inspire the health and wellness of their guests and our...

SANTA MONICA, CALIF.—Autonomy, the nation’s largest electric vehicle subscription company, has partnered with EV Mobility, LLC., the leading all-electric vehicle car-sharing platform. EV Mobility provides electric vehicles on demand 24/7 as an amenity to luxury hotels, multifamily apartment buildings, and commercial buildings through its easy-to-use mobile app. “The partnership with EV Mobility is mutually beneficial in that it helps us achieve our scaling goal of 10,000 Autonomy subscribers within the next 12 months,” said Scott Painter, founder and CEO of Autonomy. “EV Mobility’s business is complementary to our business model and launches our B2B channel. At Autonomy, we are focused on revenue quality...

BACHENBÜLACH, SWITZERLAND—Juice Technology AG, producer of electric charging stations and software and a market leader in portable chargers for electric vehicles (EVs), announced that it now supports EV charging with renewable energy via the j+ pilot app. The software solution now also integrates with Juice Power AG, provider of ecological energy generation from renewable sources including hydropower, to guarantee use of sustainably produced electricity during battery charging. For EV drivers that wish to power their vehicles with clean electricity, ensuring the clean source of energy at EV power stations is challenging and unreliable. Juice Power delivers verifiably clean hydroelectricity—while it...

MCLEAN, VA.—As the world returns to travel, doing so sustainably and responsibly has never been more important. With growing impacts from climate change and rising demand for more sustainable hospitality options, Hilton is evolving its environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitments to help preserve the destinations where it operates and create inclusive growth in communities around the world. Hilton launched its 2030 goals four years ago as part of its ambitious ESG strategy, “Travel with Purpose,” making it the first global hospitality company to set science-based climate targets. Now, after a strategic review of those goals, evolving climate science and best practices,...

For years the EPA has been relaying evidence that indoor air can be more seriously polluted than outdoor air even in the largest and most industrialized cities. Given that people spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors, that is not a good thing—especially for the young, the elderly and the chronically ill. These groups often spend time in your hotels. With the coming of COVID-19 and its many related variants, air quality (and surface quality) has finally got the attention it deserves, says Randy Mount, Owner & CEO of Extreme Microbial Technologies, who I spoke with for this column....