SANTA CLARA, CALIF.—WattStopper has launched new universal dimming room controllers for line voltage lighting loads. The versatile devices can control virtually all load types including LEDs, and are part of the company’s Digital Lighting Management (DLM) suite of intelligent controls. Applications include daylight harvesting, lumen maintenance and scene control in areas from classrooms to offices, conference rooms, restaurants and galleries. As more jurisdictions adopt new energy codes (ASHRAE 90.1-2010 and IECC 2012), professionals must comply with multi-level control mandates. WattStopper’s universal dimming room controllers provide multi-level control solutions while also accommodating a variety of lighting types within each space. When...

MILWAUKEE—Eighty-five percent of building owners and operators globally depend on energy management to drive operational efficiency, according to a survey released by Johnson Controls, a provider of solutions that increase energy efficiency in buildings. This represents a 34 point increase in the last two years. Energy cost savings and financial incentives are leading this shift, but more than half say they are also looking to improve their public image and increase the value of their buildings. The 2012 Johnson Controls Energy Efficiency Indicator, a global survey of 3,500 building owners and operators, was released at the 23rd Annual North...

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ.—Marriott International, Inc. announced the first hotel to open as part of its LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environment) Volume Program—The Courtyard Scottsdale Salt River in Arizona. The hotel is also the first Marriott-branded property built on U.S. tribal land in cooperation with the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, creating nearly 30 jobs.“This partnership is a symbol of Marriott’s commitment to working with diverse business partners,” said Eric Jacobs, chief development officer, North American Lodging, Marriott International. “Our business thrives on partnerships with organizations that share similar philosophies and values. We believe that we have found a great...

COLUMBIA, MD.—A high-efficiency, high-visibility solar-powered car-charging system made by a Maryland company is giving electric vehicle owners a means to refuel their vehicles with clean energy—and just as important, a way for businesses to attract and serve this new class of consumer: the EV driver.Advanced Technology & Research Corp., an engineering and manufacturing firm based in Columbia, Md., recently installed its first high-efficiency, small-footprint Sun-Tracking Solar EV Charging Station at an auto-related business, Win Kelly Chevrolet/Buick/GMC of Clarksville, which sells the Chevy Volt. A ribbon-cutting gave business owners from several different fields—including automotive, hospitality and real estate—the opportunity to...

OSHKOSH, WIS.—Continental Girbau Inc. recently released the new Express Flatwork Ironer line, a team of waxless ironers capable of finishing up to 50 feet of linen per minute. Available in 13- and 20-inch roll diameters and up to 125-inch finishing widths, Express Flatwork Ironers boast new conveniences, including significantly enhanced processing speeds; an easily accessible lint cleanout; a wide, metallic feeding tray; reinforced lateral bearings; and multiple heating systems and types. All models are available in natural gas or electric heating, and the 20-inch is also available in steam heating. Making the most of available space, these return-to-feed ironers...

MORRISTOWN, N.J.—Honeywell International Inc. said Monday that it has acquired INNCOM, a Connecticut-based, privately held manufacturer of advanced software-based energy management solutions and in-room controls for lodging, healthcare and educational institutions. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Honeywell said the acquisition will enhance its existing building management control systems offerings and broadens its customer base into the high-growth global lodging industry, particularly in the Middle East, India and Asia Pacific. INNCOM’s lodging customers include leading global brands ranging from mid-scale hotels to five-star luxury properties, including Hilton, Sheraton, Hyatt, St. Regis, Four Seasons, Radisson, Kimpton, among many others. INNCOM had...

LAKE GENEVA, WIS.—What if a hotel or building could install cogeneration with no investment, purchase electricity at a discount and reduce their carbon footprint? It may sound impossible, but the Green Leaf Inn in Delavan, Wis., has signed a 15 year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with a third party owner-operator of cogeneration, or combined heat and power systems, providing the benefit of on-site cogeneration with no investment in equipment, and an electricity bill 20 percent below the local utility cost.The key benefit for the inn and any business is savings—both in energy cost and capital equipment. Similar to wanting...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Green Energy Products as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. The Verdant eNviro iQ Energy Management system from Green Energy Products, LLC, specifically designed for the hospitality industry, delivers energy savings without compromising guest comfort.The system incorporates a large touch-screen, user-friendly thermostat with an occupancy sensor to save energy when rooms are unoccupied and ensures guest comfort when rooms are occupied. Built-in wireless mesh-networking enables remote management capabilities and facilitates the installation. Hotels using the system can reduce HVAC energy consumption by more than 40 percent.For...

DALLAS—The Omni Dallas Hotel, which opened its doors last November, has received LEED Gold New Construction (NC) certification, making it the first and only LEED Gold hotel in Texas and the largest LEED Gold hotel in the United States outside of Las Vegas. This designation was made possible by the development and execution of a highly disciplined plan that included the use of recycled and regionally-sourced materials, reduced construction pollution and water conservation initiatives. Upon opening, the hotel has also instituted practices to operate at LEED Gold standards.“The Omni Dallas Hotel is living up to its expectations in every...

INDIANAPOLIS—CityWay, a transformative new 14-acre neighborhood in the heart of downtown Indianapolis, is incorporating a number of sustainable initiatives into the new community, including plentiful green space, energy and water efficiency, a recycling program, enhanced indoor environmental quality, carpooling and electric vehicle support. It is also pursuing LEED certification for the new Alexander Hotel, a Dolce Hotel, affirming CityWay’s support for environmentally-conscious design, construction and living for downtown.“Sustainable living and working are central to the vision for CityWay,” said Scott Travis, senior development director of Buckingham Companies. “From the construction phase through its completion, CityWay will remain on the...