CHICAGO—Champion Industries, manufacturer of a full line of premier commercial warewashing systems, introduces the UH330 ADA, its shortest ventless undercounter warewasher designed to accommodate thick countertops. This undercounter machine has an exterior height of 29.5 inches allowing it to be installed even under the thickest countertops meeting the 34-inch ADA requirements. The UH330 ADA will be on display at the NRA Show, May 21 to 24 at McCormick Place, booth #5006.Like Champion’s other UH330 models, the UH330 ADA solves two of the biggest problems smaller foodservice operations face: limited undercounter space and steam rollout traditionally associated with high temperature...

SANTA CLARA, CALIF.—ENGIE announced that it has acquired an 80 percent stake in Green Charge Networks, an industry-leading battery storage company based in California. Green Charge, utilizing its advanced patented software algorithms and analytics, deploys, owns, operates, and optimizes battery systems at commercial & industrial (C&I) and public sector customer sites in the United States. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.With offices in Santa Clara, New York, and San Diego, Green Charge has developed a portfolio of 48 MWh of battery storage projects either deployed or under construction across more than 150 sites. To date, the company has...

WAILEA (MAUI) HAWAII—Fairmont Kea Lani’s commitment to responsible tourism practices and sustainable hotel management will take another leap forward next month with the completion of a rooftop photovoltaic (PV) project. The Fairmont Kea Lani’s latest sustainability project includes the installation of 1,528 rooftop PV solar panels. The 500 kilowatt solar installation is expected to offset more than 10 percent of the resort’s current energy demand and reduce CO2e emissions by 457 metric tons of CO2e annually. This reduction in CO2e emissions is the equivalent of 96 passenger cars or 138 homes.“At the Fairmont Kea Lani we are committed to...

PENSACOLA, FLA.—QMotion recently expanded its commercial and residential product offerings with new hardwired motor controls and communications applications for its roller shades—the Qadvanced Intelligent System Motorized Roller Shade Collection (QIS) and new Qadvanced with ZigBee Home Automation v1.2 battery operated shades with two-way communication.QMotion continues to evolve communications technologies for interactive motorized shade controls, and the hardwired control applications enhance new construction in light commercial and residential applications. The hardwired motor controls interface through leading automation systems, such as Vantage and Control4, or can be stand-alone units. Features and accessories include single or dual hardwired switches, multiple power distribution...

COOPERSBURG, PA.—According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, 60 percent of U.S. commercial buildings were constructed before 1980, representing a tremendous need for retrofit products. This staggering number, combined with the ongoing contractor labor shortage, means that demand is high for time and labor-saving products and solutions. To address these issues, lighting control provider Lutron Electronics has launched its Vive wireless lighting control, which makes it easy to bring energy savings and comfort enhancing benefits into new and existing commercial buildings.Leveraging Lutron’s Clear Connect wireless technology, Vive is easy to design, simple to install, and extremely flexible, easily adapting...

LONDON—As part of Responsible Business Week and marking Earth Day, April 22, Green Hotelier named the winners of the Green Hotelier Awards 2016. The winning hotels in four regions around the world represent those which have made the biggest commitments to sustainability with innovative programs that positively impact their people, their community and the planet. Judge and editor of Green Hotelier Siobhan O’Neill said, “We were honored to receive dozens of applications for the Awards this year, and judging them all has been both difficult and delightful. In previous years the winning hotels often stood head and shoulders above...

VANCOUVER, B.C.—The Victorian Hotel, a boutique hotel in Vancouver, B.C., announced the installation of a new Electric Vehicle Charging System. Guests with electric cars can now enjoy this complimentary service while staying at the hotel. The upgrade is timely; conveniently coinciding with Tesla taking orders for their new, more affordable Model 3. In just a week, the company received almost 325,000 reservations, or about $14 billion in future sales. The implication seems to be that there will be more electric cars on the road in the near future—and more people will require amenities for charging.The charging station at the Victorian...

ODESSA, FLA.—Hasek Communications, the Odessa, Fla.-based publisher of Green Lodging News, has added a Hubbell Lighting case study to its website. The case study details Extended Stay America’s efforts to improve the exterior lighting at its hotels. From a lighting perspective, the technology used to light up the buildings, parking lots and common areas were outdated. The desired light levels were unachievable, and maintenance costs were unsustainable. The InSite Group and Hubbell Lighting partnered to develop a solution that would replace the existing pole and wallpacks with LED luminaires.Beacon Products and Spaulding Lighting both feature a product portfolio of...

OBERLIN, OHIO—One of the world’s most innovative green hotels—The Hotel at Oberlin—is just one month away from its soft opening in Oberlin, Ohio. The hotel is owned by Oberlin College and eventually will qualify for the rare LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The 70-room Hotel at Oberlin is the first LEED Platinum hotel owned by a college and anchors the Peter B. Lewis Gateway Center, the cornerstone of Oberlin’s Green Arts District, an ongoing development conceived by the city and college to transform Oberlin into a model for environmentally aware economic development based on education...

SPOKANE, WASH.—Ecova, a leading global energy and sustainability management company, announced that it has published its 2015 Corporate Responsibility Report. It details the company’s impact on clients, the environment, employees and communities. The report also shows significant reductions in Ecova’s carbon footprint, important investments in new solutions and improved performance in climate change reporting.2015 marks the third year of Ecova’s Corporate Responsibility Report. During the first two years, Ecova established the structure of the program, developed strategies that aligned with the business and set measurable goals. In 2015 Ecova put key initiatives into action across the organization.“We are in...