LACHINE, QUEBEC—Verdant, a leader in commercial energy management solutions, released a redesigned version of the award-winning VX energy management thermostat at the IHG Americas Sales Conference. Now available in black or white to suit all color palettes, the redesigned VX boasts the same powerful energy saving features of the previous generation in a more compact and ergonomic design. Verdant thermostats cut hotel energy bills by nearly 20 percent by reducing unnecessary energy consumption when rooms are unoccupied. Each thermostat can be managed and configured online via a cloud-based portal. The Verdant VX energy management thermostat is an easy-to-use self-install product,...

Dumping toxic waste. That is what most of our industry has been doing for years with partially used cans of chafing dish fuel gel. I wrote about the problem two and one-half years ago. According to industry experts, that is still happening. Most chafing dish fuel gels found today are made from corn-based ethanol, methanol and other additives to help the product burn hotter. Methanol is added to make it too toxic for consumption. Fuel gel using methanol and other additives is considered hazardous waste and should be treated as such. Methanol gel is poisonous and contains dioxin and...

ROCK HILL, S.C.—HyLite LED Lighting, a division of ARVA, LLC, announced the expansion of its retrofit lamp product lines with new 347V & 480V options. These new high voltage models are available in the HyLite LED Omni-Cob, Arc-Cob, & Lotus series sizes 20W and up. The new models replace metal halide and high pressure sodium lights up to 1000W. HyLite LED Retrofit lamps allow customers to retrofit their existing fixtures with a low initial investment and installation cost while saving up to 80 percent in energy with years of maintenance-free operation. The new High Voltage models will expand the range...

NEW YORK—New York Convention Center Operating Corporation (NYCCOC) President and CEO Alan Steel announced the issuance of the Javits Center’s first-ever Sustainability Report, which outlines the efforts to green the largest convention center in New York. The 31-page report details a host of sustainable initiatives implemented at the Javits Center, including a significant reduction in the building’s energy consumption, the creation of a wildlife sanctuary and the establishment of partnerships with educational and community institutions, as well as customers and other government organizations. To read the entire report, visit www.javitscenter.com. Since 2014, 26 bird species have been observed on or...

CORTEZ, FLA.—A new recreational focused resort and marina is coming to Cortez from the developer behind Mirabella, the LEED Platinum certified, 160 home, adult community in nearby Bradenton, Fla. The 148 cottage community, named Hunters Point Resort and Marina, will also feature 49 boat slips, a public marina and community center, all designed to provide a modern, environmentally respectful and energy efficient fishing village style community to the historic town of Cortez, Fla. Of the 148 “Cracker” cottages, 62 are designed as hotel rooms for short term rentals. The development seems to be in line with the long-time quest of...

VISTA, CALIF.—What is likely an example of things to come, the city of Los Angles has recently passed an ordinance requiring buildings of 20,000 square feet or more to benchmark their use of energy and water consumption; disclose (provide) this information to the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety; and demonstrate steps being taken to reduce energy and water consumption. In Los Angeles, and likely true in other large urban areas, commercial buildings are the single greatest source of greenhouse gas emissions. Further, in Los Angeles 4 percent of the city’s buildings are responsible for half of the total...

TROY, OHIO—Vulcan, the food equipment manufacturer known for quality, energy efficient commercial cooking equipment, announce that it is expanding its business development team with the hiring of an experienced food equipment industry pro. Kimberly Robinette has joined Vulcan Steam Cooking in Troy, Ohio, as its new Business Development Manager. A Certified Foodservice Professional (CFSP) and a ServSafe Food Protection Manager, Robinette brings with her a wealth of foodservice equipment sales experience. She joins Vulcan Steam Cooking from Reinhart Foodservice where she was the Corporate Manager for equipment and non-food items. Prior to Reinhart, Robinette held a Regional Sales Manager position...

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...

BEAVERTON, ORE.—Urban Solar announced that all of its solar powered LED systems are now UL Listed. This listing covers all transit-related lighting products as well as all commercial solar LED lighting systems for applications including pathways, roadways, parking lots, and general illumination. Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is a global independent safety science company with more than a century of experience testing, reviewing, and innovating safety solutions to help customers make informed decisions before purchasing a wide range of technology products. Obtaining this listing is costly, time-consuming, and requires the dedication of staff over the course of many months. Urban Solar strongly stands...

LAS VEGAS—This week, MGM Resorts International released its Annual Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report, a comprehensive publication that details the company’s corporate citizenship efforts across the 12 month span of 2016. The annual report, titled “MGM Cares”—the company’s CSR brand—is available now for download at the company’s website. The report describes MGM Resorts’ CSR philosophy, governance and culture, and summarizes MGM Resorts’ developments in the pillars of Diversity and Inclusion, Philanthropy and Community Engagement and Environmental Sustainability. Last year’s CSR efforts were a continuation and expansion of a commitment the company made officially in 2000, when MGM Resorts pioneered the...