RACINE, WIS.—Dominion Properties, developer of two LEED Platinum multifamily buildings in southeastern Wisconsin, has just achieved LEED Gold for its boutique Hotel Verdant that utilizes geothermal, solar and wind technologies—a renewable energy trifecta not found in any other U.S. hotel. The 80-room property, with a Scandinavian vibe, is located in downtown Racine, Wis., and was once the Zahn’s Department Store building. The building sat empty for 40 years until Dominion Properties transformed it into a business anchor for downtown Racine. Dominion Properties’ Michael O’Connor and his business partner Christopher Adams are the visionaries behind the hotel project. They first met while...

SHELTON, CONN.—Budderfly, a sustainability partner for businesses with repeatable footprints, announced a corporate partnership with restaurant platform company Craveworthy Brands to drive down energy consumption at Cravewothy’s corporate and franchise-owned restaurants. Craveworthy Brands owns, operates, and franchises multiple restaurant brands across the country, including Genghis Grill: where Budderfly’s Energy as a Service (EaaS) offering will first be rolled out to 21 corporate-owned restaurant locations and 11 franchise locations over time, generating an estimated 30 percent reduction in energy usage at each site. This corporate partnership underscores the impact and scalability of Budderfly’s solution. The cost-saving and sustainability outcomes stemming from this...

MIAMI—Underscoring its commitment to sustainability, Carnival Corporation & plc, the world’s largest cruise company, unveiled a new solar park at its Amber Cove Cruise Center in the Dominican Republic. The park’s 1,800-plus solar panels will supply 80 percent of the port’s energy demand. Carnival Corporation, Carnival Cruise Line and Amber Cove Cruise Center celebrated with a ribbon cutting that was attended by government, industry, and community leaders, including Joel Santos, Minister of the Presidency of the Dominican Republic, and Christine Duffy, President of Carnival Cruise Line. “As we bring guests to enjoy the beauty and rich culture of the Dominican Republic, we also take our environmental stewardship here...

ATLANTA—Gotham Lighting, an established innovator and manufacturer of architectural downlighting, unveiled its highly anticipated brand refresh at the recent LEDucation event, marking a significant milestone in the company’s 85-year legacy. The brand refresh represents Gotham’s commitment to innovation, quality, and delivering unparalleled lighting experiences to its customers. “For over 85 remarkable years, we have been the downlighting leader, dedicated to developing products and technologies to meet lighting design needs,” said Rosa Peredo, Senior Product Manager of Brand and Product Commercialization, Gotham Lighting. “Now, Gotham is evolving as a brand, marking a monumental moment in our journey to transforming the way...

VERONA, PA.—The electrification and decarbonization of the commercial kitchen is becoming a hot topic throughout the hospitality industry. Green Lodging News recently addressed the topic in a Publisher’s Point of View column which highlighted the work of the William J. Worthen Foundation. The Foundation addresses all-electric kitchens in its “The Building Decarbonization Practice Guide.” Also championing a transition to all-electric and less carbon-intensive kitchens is Chef Christopher A. Galarza. A strong proponent of electric induction cooking, he is the author of Understanding the Green Industrial Revolution, An Interdisciplinary Look At the Hospitality Industry, Founder/Culinary Sustainability Consultant with Forward Dining...

SACRAMENTO, CALIF.—Skycharger, a leading provider of EV charging infrastructure solutions, announced the appointment of Johannes Copeland as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO). With a distinguished background in renewable energy and operational leadership, Copeland brings a wealth of expertise to his new role. A former US Marine Corps Officer with two deployments in Iraq, Copeland’s journey in renewable energy began after studying Economics at the University of Chicago. Over the past decade, he has held key positions at renowned companies such as SolarCity, Tesla Energy, and ChargePoint, where he led initiatives in solar energy deployment and electric vehicle infrastructure development. At Skycharger, Copeland...

ST. LOUIS—Copeland, a global provider of sustainable climate solutions, announced that it has won the 2024 Energy Star Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award for the fifth consecutive year. “President Biden’s Investing in America agenda creates unprecedented opportunity to build a clean energy economy, and private sector partners through programs like Energy Star are leading the way,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “I congratulate this year’s Energy Star award winners for their innovation and leadership, in delivering cost-effective energy efficient solutions that create jobs, address climate change, and contribute to a healthier environment for all.” The Energy Star...

LONDON—Pentair, a leader in helping the world sustainably move, improve, and enjoy water, announced it has received the 2024 Energy Star Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy. This is the twelfth consecutive year Pentair has received this award. “Pentair strives to create a better world for people and the planet through smart, sustainable water solutions that improve energy and water efficiency and improve customer outcomes,” said Karla Robertson, EVP, General Counsel, Secretary and Chief Social Responsibility Officer. “We are proud to provide our customers with energy-efficient...

GLENVIEW, ILL.—ITW Food Equipment Group announced that it has received the 2024 Energy Star Partner of the Year—Sustained Excellence award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The Sustained Excellence award is the highest honor among Energy Star awards. This year marks the 17th consecutive year ITW Food Equipment Group has been recognized as an Energy Star Partner of the Year and 15th consecutive year receiving the Sustained Excellence award. “The development of energy-efficient products is an absolute priority for our brands—Hobart, Traulsen, Vulcan, Wolf, Baxter and Stero—and we are honored to be...

PALMDALE, CALIF.—U.S. Architectural Lighting, a leading American manufacturer of contemporary area and street lighting, introduces the AXIM Series of contemporary columns and bollards that complement architectural compositions. With clean contemporary styling, the AXIM Series of products are elegant luminaires suitable for both modern and classic architecture. Available in height ranges from three feet to 16 feet for varying scale and applications, the high-performance AXIM Series is composed of two column lights and a bollard built around U.S. Architectural Lighting’s paramount PLED Optical System. The AX Series can light human scale pedestrian applications such as parks, pathways, entries, plazas, and walkways. The...