CHICAGO—More energy-efficient elevators can significantly reduce the costs of operating a building, but the information needed to help building owners identify the appropriate elevator system—and the savings associated with it—aren’t readily available, according to a new study published by a leading policy group. The study, by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, was published with the support of UTC Building & Industrial Systems, the parent organization of Otis, the world’s largest manufacturer and maintainer of people-moving products.Elevators and escalators make up 2 to 5 percent of the energy used in most buildings, but can reach as high as...

NATIONAL REPORT—The Association of Green Property Owners and Managers (AGPOM), along with the International Tourism Partnership (ITP), are planning several educational webinars. The first one, “How to measure and report your carbon footprint using the Hotel Carbon Measurement Initiative (HCMI) methodology,” will take place on Tuesday, March 17.More than 21,000 hotels around the world have adopted the HCMI methodology that allows them to calculate and communicate the carbon footprint of hotel stays and meetings in a consistent and transparent way.During the webinar one can learn to:•    Provide the carbon footprint information your customers are requesting;•    Understand your environmental impacts...

MUSKEGON, MICH.—EarthTronics introduces a new 12-watt LED, LPD12/G24Q/830 to easily replace 18-watt G24q-2 base compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) that increases energy savings and performance life. Saving 33 percent more energy than the CFLs, the LED Plug In illuminates identically to the CFL it replaces. The lamp produces 1100 lumens and works directly on existing instant start electronic ballasts for easy “plug and play” installation. No rewiring is necessary.The 12-watt Plug In is available in 3000K, 4000K and 5000K colors with a color rendering index (CRI) greater than 80. The product design replicates the look of the lamp is it...

TORONTO—Fairmont Hotels & Resorts announced that it has achieved World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Climate Savers Program targets, reducing its operational CO2 emissions by 20 percent below 2006 levels. In doing so, the luxury hotel brand known for its industry leading sustainability programming becomes the first hotel brand to meet this ambitious environmental goal.WWF’s Climate Savers Program was designed to inspire companies to change their thinking about climate solutions, while also encouraging them to transform themselves into low-carbon leaders. This leaves member companies better placed to avoid carbon-related risks while realizing opportunities within their long-term business strategies. Fairmont joined Fortune...

LAS VEGAS—Possibly by August of this year, 26 percent of the electricity needs of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino will be met by a more than 8 megawatt (MW dc) photovoltaic array sitting atop the property’s convention center roof. “Juice” is already flowing from the first phase of the installation—a 6.4 MW dc array. The remaining 2 MW dc amount will be operational once solar panels are installed atop an expansion of the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. The array is already the world’s largest rooftop solar array on a convention center.According to Chris Brophy, Vice President of Corporate...

LOS ANGELES—Energy Smart Lodging has launched a website to cater to multi-hotel operators who want to reduce their energy costs. Energy Smart Lodging provides guestroom HVAC and lighting controls, Energy Star rated LED lighting fixtures and Energy Star rated LED light bulbs. Energy Smart Lodging has partnered with Lodging Technology, one of the leading developers and manufacturers of guestroom HVAC and lighting controls. Lodging Technology has sold its products across the United States for more than 30 years. “We are pleased to partner with Energy Smart Lodging because they truly understand the needs of hotel management companies,” said William Fizer, President...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that Energy Star certified clothes dryers are now available nationwide through major retailers. At least 45 models of dryers earning the Energy Star label, including Whirlpool, Maytag, Kenmore, LG, and Safemate, are at least 20 percent more efficient and now available at prices comparable to standard dryers.“Dryers are one of the most common household appliances and the biggest energy users,” said U.S. EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “EPA’s Energy Star certified clothes dryers offer Americans an opportunity to save energy and do their part to combat climate change. By working with industry,...

QUINCY, MASS.—Next Step Living’s EcoThermal Filter System has earned the Green Restaurant Assn. endorsement by meeting its rigorous environmental endorsement standards.The EcoThermal Filter System can earn a restaurant up to nine GreenPoints towards becoming a Certified Green Restaurant. This one step can help restaurants achieve 90 percent of their energy requirements.“Installing an EcoThermal Filter System is a big step towards helping commercial kitchens save energy, while making use of what’s already in kitchens: the cook line,” says Michael Oshman, CEO and founder of the Green Restaurant Assn. “It’s not often that such an innovative product comes to the marketplace...

TAMPA, FLA.—Hasek Communications, the Tampa, Fla.-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Laundrylux Inc. as a Green Product & Service Directory partner in the “Ironers” category. According to Laundrylux, using a Electrolux IC4 4832 FLF series Ironer is a more efficient and faster way to dry linen than drying with hot air from a conventional dryer. What makes the Electrolux model so appealing is that it can be mounted against a wall and accomplish the work of four people with only one operator. The Ironer comes with automatic feeding and folding with the linen always returning to the operator....

CHICAGO—When Virgin Group opened its first hotel last month—the 250-room Virgin Hotels Chicago—what was not talked about much in the media was the green story behind the renovated historic Old Dearborn Bank Building at 203 N. Wabash Ave. Richard Branson, Virgin Group founder, and member of the B Team leaders who recently called for a global commitment to net-zero greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050, established a hotel brand with the goal of LEED Silver for each hotel. Virgin Hotels Chicago’s green story begins with its site selection. Rather than building new, Virgin Hotels chose a historic bank building and kept...