NEW ORLEANS—Control4 Corp., a leading global provider of automation solutions, introduced the new Control4 Hospitality Solution. Offering hotels in-room automation functionality, along with back-end management software, hotel staff are provided extensive guestroom status updates, whether that is a need for new batteries for a remote control or a mini-bar requires a restock. With Control4, hotels can greet guests with automated lighting, shades, entertainment and climate control as soon as they enter their rooms. The Control4 Hospitality Solution maximizes operational efficiencies gained through hotel room automation throughout the property.“From doors to drapes, Control4 provides a complete automation solution for the...

SANTA CLARA, CALIF.—Lunera Lighting, Inc. announced a new lighting and control technology platform called SensAble Technology. This new platform integrates advanced Doppler radar occupancy sensors, IR daylight sensors, power usage monitoring and Zigbee wireless connectivity into Lunera’s next generation commercial Helen Lamp Linear T8, Helen Lamp PL and Susan Lamp HID plug and play LED lamp families. The new Helen ST and Susan ST lamps, which automatically respond to their environment when plugged in (no commissioning required), will deliver up to 30 percent more energy savings compared to standard LED lamps, while eliminating the need for discrete sensors. Installation is...

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CALIF.—The new Commercial Water Heater System from Noritz America is designed to speed and simplify the installation of multiple tankless water heaters for plumbing and mechanical contractors. Noritz combines commercial-grade tankless units with system controllers, manifolds and other necessary components and accessories into fully assembled metal rack systems for shipment anywhere in North America. The prefabricated system significantly reduces the burden on the installer, who needs only to connect the water and gas lines, build the vent runs and set up the pre-wired system controller.“Our goal is to reduce installation time and expense while maximizing safety, performance...

Recent advancements in battery technology, rising electricity demand rates, and the advent of no/low-risk financing models have made energy storage systems a financially attractive option for hoteliers. However, critical questions remain for hotel managers and owners even after they have decided to invest in energy storage: What is the best way to finance the system and how can it generate the highest ROI? In this article, we’ll evaluate the costs, benefits, and risks of a proposed hotel energy storage system given three financing options and using actual utility cost and use data. California is currently the only state that offers...

AUSTIN, TEXAS—Hubbell Control Solutions has announced an update to the wiSCAPE Gateway. The wiSCAPE system makes it easy to manage, monitor and measure wireless outdoor lighting networks.The wiSCAPE Gateway manages up to 1,000 wiSCAPE fixture modules, controlling dimming, scheduling and motion detection features. For enhanced network management and security, the device operates on Windows 7 Professional Edition. IT administrators can easily manage it as they do all the PCs on their network. The wiSCAPE Gateway is now available with BACnet IP built-in support. This allows a Building Management System BACnet controller to see the Gateway as a BACnet device. After...

OJAI, CALIF.—SimpliPhi Power and California Solar Electric have completed the second phase of an off-grid solar plus storage installation at the Taft Botanical Gardens in Ojai, Calif., which are part of an eco-resort owned by the nonprofit Conservation Endowment Fund. The second phase of the installation included an additional eight PHI2.6 kWh batteries (doubling the PHI power storage), providing enough extra power capacity to run electrical loads well into the night without utilizing a generator for a total of 41.6 kWh of stored PV power.Taft Gardens was challenged to preserve the pristine natural environment of the gardens while at...

NEW YORK—New York’s Hotel Pennsylvania announced that it has won the 2015 Energy Star National Building Competition for demonstrating leadership in water conservation. The hotel competed against more than 1,600 buildings with the goal of reducing its water use and protecting the environment. The recognition was awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “We are pleased to be recognized for our water conservation efforts,” said Gene Nicotra, General Manager at the hotel. “Not only do we offer excellent location and value, but we also continue to improve efficiencies in reducing our carbon footprint.” The Energy Star is the national symbol...

PLANO, TEXAS—NexRev LLC, experts in improving energy efficiency and reducing utility and operational costs for retail, entertainment, commercial, industrial and institutional facilities, announced the company’s flagship HVAC energy reduction solution—DrivePak—has saved customers $100 million since its introduction to the market in 2008. This amount represents a savings of nearly 1 billion kWh and 700,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of removing 140,000 cars off the road for one year. “One hundred million dollars in savings is a significant milestone for NexRev as it reinforces the proven energy reduction technology behind DrivePak and its substantial contribution to our clients’...

SAN FRANCISCO—Leaders from Philips Lighting met with energy ministers attending the seventh Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM7) summit in San Francisco last week, where the company announced a commitment to sell more than two billion energy efficient LED light bulbs by 2020. Reaching this goal is estimated to save an amount of energy equivalent to that generated by 60 medium-sized coal-fired power stations with emissions equivalent to those from 24 million cars by 2020. The company also reaffirmed its pledge to make its global operations carbon neutral by 2020 and said that it expects electricity for its U.S. operations to...

ODESSA, FLA.—Hasek Communications, the Odessa, Fla.-based publisher of Green Lodging News, and Greenview, a leader in advancing hotel sustainability, welcome Aquawing Ozone Laundry Systems as a Green Lodging Survey sponsor. Aquawing is a global leader in ozone laundry technology with more systems using the Aquawing process installed and operating than all other manufacturers combined (8,000+). Aquawing offers as much as 90 percent savings on hot water, up to 40 percent total water savings, and is clinically validated to kill superbugs like MRSA & C. diff. Aquawing is the only system properly clinically validated. Aquawing’s patented variable ozone system automatically...