In today’s cost conscience business environment, the owners and developers of hotels and motels (“hotels”) are always looking for ways to gain a competitive advantage. Those in the hospitality industry may not be aware that they may have significant savings available. Sadly, most are not taking advantage and that money could be lost. The following programs are just an example of some of the savings programs available to the industry: engineering-based property cost allocation; Energy EPAct/179d; property tax reduction; and energy auctions. Our experience has shown that hotels can see a savings on average of $240,000. Engineering-based Cost Allocation Engineering-based cost...

STAMFORD, CONN.—Officials of the Sheraton Stamford Hotel recently announced the completion of the hotel’s next step to achieving its sustainable goals to improve environmental efficiencies that help the hotel as well as its community. The Sheraton Stamford Hotel just completed a $200,000 project, in which they upgraded their lighting to LED throughout the hotel. According to a study from the Connecticut Energy Efficient Fund, over the life of the fixtures, the hotel’s increase in LED usage will have saved an estimated 7,412,770.00 kWh. This is equivalent to 3,755,988 pounds of coal not burned, 308,755 gallons of oil not burned,...

OSHKOSH, WIS.—Following 60 years of hard-mount washer development and innovation, Continental Girbau Inc. recently released its most advanced hard-mount washer line yet. The new G-Flex Washer-Extractors generate extract speeds of up to 200 G-force, offer a highly programmable control, and deliver results using less water and energy. Available in 40- and 55-pound capacitites, G-Flex Washers also deliver the flexibility of six programmable extract speeds, including 100, 140 and 200 G-force. G-Flex Washers offer high-speed extract for bolstered productivity.As extract speeds increase, according to Joel Jorgensen, Continental Vice President of Sales and Customer Services, so does the amount of moisture...

WICHITA, KAN.—This week Value Place announced the opening of a newly constructed hotel in Columbus, Ohio. The company, with nearly 190 hotels in 32 states, has been on a roll lately. Almost every month this year the company has either opened a property or announced the construction of one. Value Place, a leader in the extended-stay segment, is known for offering an affordable, clean, safe and simple place to stay. What it is not known for is the steps it has taken to be as environmentally efficient as possible—a result of the company’s fanatical attention to keeping costs down.“From...

WEST CALDWELL, N.J.—Generating significant reductions in energy costs and power consumption for the hospitality market, MaxLite introduces the Wet-Listed Marquee LED Lamp. The 2.5-watt LED lamp is ETL wet-listed and designed to replace inefficient incandescent and cold-cathode fluorescent (CCFL) lamps for outdoor signage applications at hotels, casinos, restaurants, resorts and amusement parks.“Converting from incandescent or CCFL lamps to our latest LED marquee replacement lamp will reap major benefits for facility managers and owners,” said Product Marketing Manager Alex Truong. “For today’s green-conscious consumer, the LED lamp offers 50 times the lifetime of a standard incandescent and is constructed without...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Those looking for assurance that ozone laundry technology does indeed reduce energy, water and related costs can find proof in study results recently released by the U.S. Department of Energy (D.O.E.) Building Technologies Office. The D.O.E., with the assistance of outside consultants, conducted a demonstration project to evaluate ozone laundry technologies for reducing the energy and water use of multi-load washers in healthcare and hospitality facilities.The D.O.E. report, entitled, “Demonstration of Advanced Technologies for Multi-Load Washers in Hospitality and Healthcare—Ozone Based Laundry Systems,” documents the demonstration of two ozone laundry system installations. The first installation took place at...

NEW HOLLAND, PA.—Construction started recently of the new Mills Park Hotel in Yellow Springs, Ohio with the installation of precast concrete wall panels from Superior Walls of East Tennessee. Designed by Axis Architecture, the 28-room hotel will rely on a Superior Walls Xi foundation system for the 32,000-square-foot structure, plus a four-story precast concrete elevator shaft.“I’ve successfully used Superior Walls foundations for more than 20 years in my projects, so it made extreme sense for us to specify these energy-efficient products as part of Mills Park Hotel,” says Tedd Donnell, project architect and construction manager with Axis Architecture, Inc....

OAHU, HAWAII—Turtle Bay Resort, Oahu, Hawaii, has completed the installation of an innovative green roof that covers a total of approximately 60,000 square feet as part of its commitment to environmental sustainability.“We are dedicated to preserving Hawaii’s delicate and natural resources as stewards of the land,” said Scott McCormack, Vice President of Real Estate for Turtle Bay Resort. “We have received positive feedback from our resort guests who appreciate the project’s eco-friendly benefits and are enjoying enhanced guestroom views of the ocean and landscape art atop the newly designed roofs.”The lower flat roofs of Turtle Bay Hotel were completely...

OSHKOSH, WIS.—Girbau Industrial recently introduced the PC-80 Flatwork Ironer. The PC-80—available in 118-, 130- and 138-inch finishing widths—features up to three 32-inch diameter rolls, delivers up to 93 percent energy efficiency, produces ironing speeds reaching 147 ft./min, and offers optional GHelp remote diagnostics. Models are available in natural gas, thermal oil or steam.“The PC-80 not only offers total control over the ironing process, it delivers superior ironing results and greatly improves productivity,” said Joel Jorgensen, Continental Girbau Inc. Vice President of Sales and Customer Services. “It perfectly fits the needs of mid- and high-volume laundries looking to finish hospitality...

MCLEAN, VA.—Hilton Worldwide announced that, following a comprehensive upgrade to its LightStay global environmental management system, more than 4,200 of its properties around the world are now ISO 50001 (energy management) certified. This certification complements the company’s other global system-wide ISO certifications of ISO 9001 and 14001.ISO provides internationally recognized frameworks and standards for organizations in the areas of products, services and systems. Hilton Worldwide achieved ISO 9001 (quality management) and 14001 (environmental management) certifications in 2011, and was fully recertified to both of these standards this year. With these certifications, Hilton Worldwide is one of the first multinational...