SANTA MONICA, CALIF.—Santa Monica’s Shore Hotel has installed power saving technology by Green Charge Networks, which will save the hotel an estimated 50 percent in demand charges annually. GreenStation, an intelligent energy storage system, combines historical energy use patterns with real-time weather data to predict demand and store and discharge energy accordingly. The system’s installation will further showcase the hotel’s commitment to sustainability and propel it towards the prestigious LEED Platinum certification.“Many of our customers have seen significant reductions in demand charges, some by 50 percent or more,” said Vic Shao, CEO of Green Charge Networks. “We’re excited to...

SAN DIEGO—Hilton San Diego Bayfront has been named the number one most sustainable Hilton hotel in the United States of America by Hilton Worldwide. Hilton San Diego Bayfront has recently received a number of green sustainability awards for the property’s multitude of recycling and energy conservation efforts. These notable recognitions come from a national and local level. In addition to being named the most sustainable Hilton property in the United States, City of San Diego has awarded the hotel with the 2014 Director’s Recycling Award, and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) recently recognized the hotel as the Energy...

EAST LONGMEADOW, MASS.—Excel Dryer, Inc., manufacturer of the original, patented, high-speed, energy-efficient XLERATOR hand dryer, introduces the new XLERATOReco hand dryer. The XLERATOReco uses new “no heat” technology to dry hands in 15 seconds using only 500 watts.“The XLERATOReco ‘no heat’ technology significantly reduces energy consumption required by hand dryers with heated air and has the smallest carbon footprint of any other hand dryer,” said William Gagnon, Excel Dryer’s Vice President of Marketing. “At Excel Dryer, we put a lot of energy into saving it. XLERATORecocontinues Excel Dryer’s commitment to providing the most cost effective and energy-efficient hand dryers...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the first-ever Energy Star label for clothes dryers. If all residential clothes dryers sold in the United States meet these new requirements, the utility cost savings will grow to more than $1.5 billion each year and more than 22 billion pounds of annual greenhouse gas emissions would be prevented. Informed by extensive input from manufacturers, retailers, the U.S. Department of Energy and environmental groups, the new specifications will recognize a selection of highly efficient electric, gas, and compact dryers that will use approximately 20 percent less energy than what is required...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—SemaConnect, Inc. announced that they were chosen by Bacara Resort & Spa to install six electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at their location in Goleta, Calif. “We are excited to offer visitors to the Santa Barbara area another convenient place to charge their vehicle,” said Mark Pastrone, V.P. of Business Development at SemaConnect. “There has been a dramatic increase in electric vehicle use in this area and we have made it our mission to innovatively keep up with this growing demand.”SemaConnect’s networked electric vehicle charging stations and web-based management software makes it easy for station owners to deploy...

MANCHESTER, N.H.—Xeros, the innovator of an ultra low water cleaning system, announced that Choice Hotels International has selected it as a qualified vendor for its more than 5,000 U.S. franchises. Xeros’ nearly waterless laundry system helps hotels significantly reduce laundry costs, increase the life of linens, and helps hotels advance their commitment to green operations.“We were one of a select group of qualified laundry vendors that showcased the Xeros system at the recent 60th Annual Choice International Convention and the franchisees showed great interest,” said Jonathan Benjamin, President, Xeros North America. “We were selected by Choice because of our...

RIPON, WIS.—IPSO introduces the Cygnus Ultra Pro control system on washer-extractors for on-premises laundry managers. Cygnus Ultra Pro builds on the features of Cygnus Ultra.  “The Cygnus Ultra Pro control system allows on-premises laundry managers to have complete control of their equipment,” said Kathryn Rowen, North American Sales Manager for IPSO. “With increased usability and flexibility, Ultra Pro gives laundry managers the tools they need to easily achieve peak efficiency.” The new Cygnus Ultra Pro control includes 10 optimized wash program options, allowing for 60 customizable wash cycles to meet the needs of any on-premises laundry room. Extra wash...

NEW YORK—The Wyndham New Yorker Hotel has made tremendous strides over the past several years to support its eco-friendly initiatives. In honor of Earth Day, the iconic hotel recently recommitted itself to upholding these standards in an effort to preserve the environment. As the hotel embarks on a fresh look with the rollout of a five-year, multi-million dollar renovation that will modernize the 912-room property, it will continue to purchase energy produced by green power like solar, hydro or wind power. The hotel also buys carbon credits to offset the energy they purchase, which is produced by burning fossil fuels....

LAS VEGAS—The Lighting Energy Efficiency in Parking (LEEP) Campaign has recognized MGM Resorts International for its dedication to sustainability and energy-efficient lighting. The company was recently honored with two Campaign awards: “Highest Absolute Annual Savings in a Retrofit at a Single Parking Structure” for a major lighting retrofit at MGM Grand Detroit, and “Largest Percentage of Facilities Upgraded (minimum of five facilities)” for MGM Facilities in Michigan and Nevada.LEEP is co-sponsored by the Business Owners and Management Association, Green Parking Council, International Facility Management Association and Better Buildings through the U.S. Department of Energy.“Our outdoor lighting projects are truly...

INDIANAPOLIS—Buckingham Companies and The Alexander, a Dolce Hotel, announced that they’ve been awarded LEED Silver certification in LEED’s New Construction & Major Renovations category. The Alexander is the only hotel in Indianapolis with LEED certification and is part of the 10-acre CityWay neighborhood, located at South and Delaware streets, developed by Buckingham Companies.“Sustainability was central to the vision for The Alexander and CityWay,” said Scott Travis, Senior Vice President of Development at Buckingham Companies. “From construction through completion, environmentally-friendly practices were a priority.”LEED is the primary program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. More than 44,000...