GURNEE, ILL.—KeyLime Cove Indoor Waterpark Resort has been honored with the StayGreen designation from the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association (IHLA) for its continued efforts to proactively use eco-friendly products and services to reduce its impact on the environment.IHLA’s StayGreen designation standards are extensive and specific. Environmentally friendly efforts outlined in the StayGreen questionnaire include efforts such as recycling and waste management programs, the use of Energy Star products throughout guestrooms and hotel, the use of only non-phosphate, nontoxic, biodegradable concentrated cleaning products and laundry detergent, and consumable paper products made from recycled fibers, such as tissue, napkins, paper...

WILSONVILLE, ORE.—FLIR Systems, Inc., a leader in thermal imaging technology, announces the launch of FLIR ONE, the first personal thermal imaging device especially targeted at the consumer market. Unveiled at CES 2014, FLIR ONE places powerful thermal imaging technology in the hands of consumers, dramatically extending the limits of human vision and unlocking a full spectrum of practical applications.As the first and only personal thermal imager for the consumer market under $350, FLIR ONE is compact, easy-to-use, compatible with the iPhone5 and 5s and fits on the phone like a protective case. Once mounted, the device displays a live...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry (UA) and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) have reached an agreement on a landmark proposal to save energy and water in new buildings. The two organizations jointly submitted a proposal to the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) to require the insulation of hot water piping in new buildings.Today, many Americans waste millions of gallons of water by letting water run until it’s hot enough for use in showers and sinks. To curtail this waste in new buildings, NRDC and the UA...

BOURNE, MASS.—Onset, a leader in data loggers, announced the HOBO kWh Monitoring Kit, a low-cost, portable system for measuring and recording energy consumption in buildings. The new kit, which bundles a matchbox-sized HOBO State data logger with Continental Control System’s revenue-grade kWh and current sensors, gives energy engineers, auditors, building commissioners, and others a simple and cost-effective way to log building electric use at a fraction of the cost of meter-based solutions.The kit provides rapid deployment and high accuracy measurements, and is ideal for use in commercial, industrial, and residential applications. Key advantages include:•    Flexibility to log up to...

RIVERSIDE, CALIF.—SolarMax announced that they have launched the Commercial PPA Program across the state of California. This program, according to SolarMax, is the same concept as the Residential PPA and is an easy way to finance a commercial solar system without taking on the upfront cost.A SolarMax PPA allows commercial and nonprofit companies and organizations to go solar without any capital investment. This way, they save money from day one. The lease also includes all maintenance and monitoring. Whether buying or leasing, customers can expect a high ROI.SolarMax also allows their customers to lock in their KWh price for...

KNOXVILLE, TENN.—EcoGreenHotel, a leader in sustainable solutions for the hospitality industry, announced approval of $500,000.00 of energy solutions over three Alabama hotels with an ROI under 2.5 years. EcoGreenHotel focused on three hotels to work closely with Abundant Power and the Alabama Saves Program. “The detail of the solutions within our Energy Efficiency Analysis (E2A) was impactful in the approval process,” said Scott Parisi, president of EcoGreenHotel. “The in-depth analysis of the report allowed for discussion to progress quickly with Abundant Power, allowing the hotel’s bottom lines to be immediately impacted by the delivery of operational savings.”“It was a pleasure...

GUIYANG, CHINA—Johnson Controls, a leader in building technology and services, recently helped Hyatt Regency Guiyang become Hyatt Group’s first hotel in China to achieve gold certification in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, New Construction (LEED-NC Gold). Peter Templeton, vice president of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), and Nellie Cheng, China director of USGBC, officially awarded the certification to Qiao Gencai, general manager of Hyatt Regency Guiyang.“Zhongtian Group promotes a sustainable lifestyle, builds green cities, practices energy conservation and reduces emissions in our work to develop western China,” said Luo Yuping, chairman of Zhongtian Urban Development Group and...

TAMPA, FLA.—Hasek Communications, the Tampa, Fla.-based publisher of Green Lodging News, has added a Verdafero case study to its Vendor Case Studies section. The case study details the implementation of the MyVerdafero—Utility Optimization Software Platform at the Hilton Concord in Concord, Calif. To help hotel management gain greater transparency into the impact of their sustainability initiatives, Verdafero, a San Francisco provider of SaaS software and services, worked alongside Hilton Concord management and Hotel Sustainability Solutions, Inc. (HSSI), to implement their software platform at the hotel. HSSI, a consulting firm providing comprehensive expertise and management of integrated sustainability systems, technologies...

INWOOD, N.Y.—Your laundry staff is a busy bunch. Sorting loads, transferring them from washer to dryer and finally, finishing, folding and getting them shelved. Still, most days they find time to unknowingly dump a bucket of money in the trash. True, the bucket reference may be a bit dramatic, but chances are there is an activity going on in your laundry that is costing the operation money—human error. Managers employ a variety of tactics to help prevent human error. They focus on bringing in quality employees and spend ample time training them. But short of constant supervision, which, let’s face it,...

TAMPA, FLA.—Hasek Communications, the Tampa, Fla.-based publisher of Green Lodging News, has added an Electrolux Professional Laundry Equipment Case Study to its website. The case study details the Hilton Concord’s recent installation of new Electrolux Professional washers and dryers. Roseville, Calif-based A2Z Laundry Systems spearheaded the installation of the equipment at the 329-room hotel. Lead consultant on the Hilton Concord’s overall sustainability efforts is Charles Smith, CEO of Hotel Sustainability Solutions Inc. (HSSI).As HSSI began the task of evaluating options, key factors considered were the efficiency of the equipment, availability of rebates or incentives, distributor/manufacturer service and support, and...