NATIONAL REPORT—An increasing number of solar thermal systems are being used by the hospitality industry. Almost every brand has invested in this technology to lower heating bills. These systems work in a wide variety of climates from southern Singapore to northern Denmark and throughout the United States. What is a Solar Hot Water System? Solar thermal systems are a proven technology that has been around since the early 1900s. However, the technology has greatly advanced. Today’s solar collectors are very efficient and have a lifespan of more than 25 years. Evacuated tube solar collectors are a popular choice for solar hot...

SANTA CLARA, CALIF.—WattStopper has introduced the rugged FSP-211 Digital High/Low Passive Infrared Fixture Integrated Outdoor Sensor to conveniently control lighting in areas such as parking facilities and pathways. The sensor, which was accepted into the 2011 IES Progress Report, mounts in a lighting fixture and provides motion-based multi-level control combined with optional hold off daylighting control. Its feature set provides the flexibility to quickly and easily customize control parameters for each project to ensure energy savings while also addressing security concerns. All parameters are adjustable via a wireless configuration tool capable of storing and transmitting multiple sensor profiles. The sensor...

ST. LOUIS—Drury Hotels Company, a family owned and operated company based in St. Louis, is in the process of rolling out amenity dispensers in the bathrooms of its guestrooms in all 123 of its Drury branded properties. The five Drury brands include Drury Inn & Suites, Drury Inn, Drury Suites, Drury Plaza Hotel, and Pear Tree Inn by Drury. Drury properties can be found in 20 states. Alison Casler, director of training and communication for Drury Hotels Company, says the new dispenser standard will save the purchase and disposal of at least 1.8 million amenity bottles a year. Drury...

SEATTLE—Furthering its commitment to sustainable hotel operations and guest services, Seattle’s Cedarbrook Lodge announces additions to its sustainability initiatives, including electric vehicle (EV) charging stations powered by ECOtality, Inc., and freshly filtered and purified drinking water through a partnership with Nordaq FRESH. “Since its inception, Cedarbrook has strived to be a leader in responsible, ‘green’ hotel operations,” said Scott Ostrander, general manager of Cedarbrook Lodge. “We’re excited to launch several new elements and additions to our extensive sustainability initiatives both on the operational and guest service levels of the property.” Cedarbrook is the first hotel in Washington state to partner with...

HOUSTON—Toshiba International Corp. announced that it is introducing new PAR38 and MR16 lamps that offer higher lumen output while still providing energy savings when compared to similar lumen halogen bulbs. Toshiba’s new PAR38 1100 Series is a direct replacement for 90 to 110W halogen lamps, offers outputs of up to 1,170 lumens and uses up to 75 percent less energy than halogens. Toshiba’s new MR16 450 Series is a direct replacement for 35W halogen lamps, offers lumen outputs of up to 475 lumens, and uses up to 80 percent less energy than halogens. Both models are dimmable, contain no mercury...

SAN RAMON, CALIF.—The EnOcean Alliance, a leading consortium of companies working to standardize and internationalize energy harvesting wireless technology for green intelligent buildings, announced that this year’s AHR Expo in Chicago, January 23 to 25, will include 30 EnOcean Alliance members showcasing the latest energy harvesting, wireless solutions for HVAC applications. EnOcean Alliance will be hosting innovative solutions developed by Leviton, BSC Software, Echoflex, Magnum Energy Solutions, Alps Controls, Ecologix, Titus, Marlow, and Kieback & Peter. Several other EnOcean Alliance members will be displaying their products, including two of its newest members—Delta Controls and Ruskin. This year marks a milestone...

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, COLO.—Its tracking mechanism may not be the most sophisticated in the industry—it consists of a master spreadsheet file—but there may be no better company in the world at tracking its environmental impact than Xanterra Parks & Resorts. For almost 11 years now Xanterra has been tracking everything from its carbon emissions to the percentage of solid waste diverted. Xanterra calls its tracking system “Ecometrix.” It falls under the company’s larger “Ecologix” program. Introduced in the company’s most recent sustainability report is yet another term—“Ecometabolism”—which is defined as “a measure of resource usage normalized by annual dollars of...

BLUE ISLAND, ILL.—Robertson now offers a line of Instant Start T8 ballasts that comply with and are listed under the UL Type CC requirements. The fundamental Type CC requirement prescribes that the ballast not sustain an arc at the lamp socket if the connection to the lamp pin is loose or intermittent. Conventional T8 instant start ballasts do not have this type of protection and therefore limit a fixture designer’s ability to meet UL Luminaire standards for linear fluorescent fixtures without the use of expensive Type I sockets. Retrofitters who want to incorporate this latest safety technology while upgrading to...

MILWAUKEE, WIS.—Telkonet, Inc., developer of the new EcoSmart energy management platform, announced that it has been awarded a contract to provide energy management solutions in 10 Southern California-based hospitality properties through Pacific Energy Services & Facilities, Inc. Each guestroom received an HVAC system upgrade when integrating Telkonet’s SmartEnergy energy management platform. All of the hotels elected to participate in Southern California’s utility ratepayer program, and have received the maximum incentive for implementing Telkonet’s technology. The Telkonet solution minimizes energy consumption by reducing equipment runtime in unoccupied rooms, delivering savings of 20 percent to 40 percent. Because Telkonet’s energy management...

COOPERSBURG, PA.—Michael W. Pessina has been appointed president of energy-saving light control manufacturer Lutron Electronics Co., Inc. In his 35-year career with Lutron, Pessina has acquired broad experience in the engineering, quality assurance and manufacturing areas. After being promoted through several management positions, he was appointed to senior vice president in 2000, to executive vice president and chief operating officer in 2002, and to president, Office of Product Development in 2009. Pessina is also a member of Lutron’s Executive Board and Lutron’s Advisory Council. A licensed professional engineer in Pennsylvania and certified senior quality engineer through the American Society of...