CYPRESS, CALIF.—The Ramada Silicon Valley in Sunnyvale, Calif. recently announced the completion of a photovoltaic (PV) system by Sky Power Solar with solar modules from Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc. The 269 kW system includes 996 Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Premium solar modules and is projected to produce 426,000 kWh of power annually. The electricity generated by the system is expected to power at least 70 percent of the hotel’s 175 guestrooms, public lighting and three EV charging stations. The clean energy produced by the system is expected to equal a reduction of 8,727 tons of CO2 over 25 years or planting 203,000 trees. In...

NATIONAL REPORT—Hotels and resorts around the planet are utilizing the sun’s infrared radiation and ultraviolet (UV) rays to preheat and heat water for on-property consumption—the Marriott Hotel Port-au-Prince in Haiti, the Brando in Tetiaroa, French Polynesia, the Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead, and the Hilton Garden Inn Exton/West Chester in Exton, Pa. are some examples. Not all properties use the same technology but they share the benefits of an ROI that can be relatively quick—in just a few years or less with incentives or rebates factored in. Solar water heating systems can also significantly extend the life of boilers...

WEST CALDWELL, N.J.—MaxLite has been named a 2017 Energy Star Partner of the Year—Sustained Excellence Award winner for continued leadership in protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency achievements. MaxLite’s accomplishments will be recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy in Washington, D.C. on April 26, 2017. MaxLite is receiving the Energy Star Partner of the Year Award for the fourth year in a row, and fifth time overall, for its leadership in manufacturing lighting products that earn the Energy Star, the government-backed symbol of energy efficiency. “We are honored to receive the Energy Star...

MUSKEGON, MICH.—EarthTronics, dedicated to developing innovative energy efficient lighting products that provide a positive economic and environmental impact for its customers, offers its new Type A direct install T5 LED linear tube to easily replace T5 fluorescent lamps working on program start high output ballast systems for high bay warehouse and industrial fixtures. The Type A direct install T5 LED linear tube uses just 25 watts and produces 3500 lumens for 140 lumen per watt performance. It is available in 4000K and 5000K color temperatures with a color rendering of greater than 80 percent. In addition, the T5 LED linear...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Informa Exhibitions U.S. and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced the release of the 2016 Greenbuild Sustainability Report, highlighting valuable metrics and key benchmarks regarding the impact on energy use and waste management at the 2016 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo, held last October at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles. “Each year, we celebrate our victories with the release of this report and set the bar a little higher for the next year, to continue positively impacting the events industry with environmentally responsible management in the planning, operations and execution of Greenbuild,” said Lindsay Roberts,...

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND—Providing unobstructed views from every direction, New Zealand’s PurePods are free-standing glass accommodations designed for up-close and uninterrupted encounters with nature. Set in an open clearing on private farm land, the four PurePods provide a singular boutique hotel experience, a one-room home that offers comfort, luxury and dramatic vistas without neighbors. Due to their setting and location, complete privacy is ensured. The PurePod stay is part of a New Zealand itinerary arranged by New Zealand travel experts New Zealand In Depth. The PurePod concept is all about the view. Constructed almost entirely from glass with no carpet, curtains...

SOMERSET, N.J.—Philips Lighting introduced a simplified path to connected ready lighting with the introduction of Philips InstantFit LED T8 lamps with EasySmart technology. The first and only wireless, network-capable linear lamp retrofit, the Philips InstantFit LED with EasySmart technology enables intelligent control from the Leviton Wireless Room Controller System with the simplicity of a plug and play installation that reduces energy and costs. Upgrading LED lighting can reduce energy consumption by up to 50 percent as compared to fluorescent lighting. When enhanced with controls such as dimming, sensor-based occupancy sensing and daylight harvesting, the upgraded lighting system can save an...

Name: Nathaly Stanley Title: Sustainability and Certifications Manager Property: Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort in Aruba Years with resort: Less than one Primary responsibilities: “To ensure all departments continue to operate in a sustainable manner. Every day is different.” Company’s most significant sustainability-related accomplishment: “Getting recertified every year for four different certifications. The owner has such a deep interest in it.” Company’s most significant sustainability-related challenge moving forward: “Identifying new solutions for sustainability and having the ability to weigh the different solutions against one another.” EAGLE BEACH, ARUBA—As Sustainability and Certifications Manager at Aruba’s Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, Nathaly Stanley is carrying on a commitment...

SPOKANE, WASH.—Ecova, a leading energy and sustainability management company, has been selected by Summit Hotel Properties, Inc. to provide comprehensive energy management strategy and minimize utility costs across 82 hotels with a total of 11,095 guestrooms located in 23 states. Ecova will provide several energy and expense management services, including expense and data management, energy supply management, historical facility energy use analysis and energy performance reporting. Ecova maintains the largest database of utility data for the hospitality market, which drives robust benchmarking for organizations. Ecova clients leverage this global data to compare multiple sites that were previously evaluated on a...

GLENVIEW, ILL.—For the tenth year running, ITW Food Equipment Group is being recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its commitment to energy efficiency. ITW Food Equipment Group has earned the EPA’s Energy Star Partner of the Year— Sustained Excellence Award for 2017, the agency’s highest industry honor. By maintaining a focus on energy savings and efficiency, ITW Food Equipment Group has earned Partner of the Year—Sustained Excellence awards since 2010 as well as Energy Star Partner of the Year in 2008 and 2009. “ITW FEG has always been committed to energy and resource efficiency, for our customers,...