ORLANDO, FLA.—Clean the World, an Orlando-based social enterprise dedicated to collecting, recycling and distributing hotel soap to battle preventable diseases and protect the planet, is teaming with a high-technology incubator to fuel a series of socially responsible innovations and sustainable energy projects in the hospitality industry and beyond.Looking to expand its recycling and upcycling opportunities worldwide, Clean the World has formed a joint venture with Eco Convergence Group Inc. (ECG), an Orlando-based engineering and technology development company focusing on the sustainability market. The partners are developing several forward-thinking initiatives including advanced mobile waste processors, geopolymer green construction materials, hydroponic...

NEW YORK—Hampton Inn Elmira Horseheads (N.Y.), part of the global brand Hampton Hotels, announced that the hotel achieved LEED Silver certification, as recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the internationally recognized green building certification, which provides third-party verification that a building was designed and operated to provide enhanced energy savings, water efficiency, emissions reduction and overall environmental quality.“This is a great achievement for the Hampton Inn Elmira Horseheads,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “A LEED silver certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership by ownership and management.”“This is a wonderful accomplishment...

SYRACUSE, N.Y.—November 17 was a day to celebrate for Syracuse, N.Y.-based Woodbine Group. It was then that the company learned that its 58-room Hotel Skyler had earned LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED Platinum is a rare feat as only two other hotels in the United States—the Proximity Hotel in Greensboro, N.C., and the Bardessono in Yountville, Calif.—have earned the designation. “We took a piece of Syracuse’s history and reclaimed it,” says Tom Fernandez, director of marketing and product development for Woodbine Group. Positioned at the center of the Syracuse University campus, Golisano Children’s Hospital, Upstate Medical...

RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J.—Samsung Electronics America, Inc. announced the availability of Samsung’s first LED lighting solutions for the U.S. consumer market. Available through Lowe’s, Samsung’s initial product lineup includes A19, PAR20/30/38 and MR16 bulbs—all designed to easily replace traditional incandescent, halogen and CFL bulbs. Seven Samsung lighting products are available immediately on Lowes.com and at select Lowe’s home improvement retail stores nationwide. The bulbs include: • A19 Bulbs: Samsung’s A19 bulb is a directional bulb that is sized to easily replace a conventional incandescent bulb in any fixture where directional light is needed, from certain lamps to vanity lights and wall sconces....

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J.—LG Electronics USA announced it will voluntarily reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 50 percent by the end of 2020, compared with a 2007 baseline. Like most companies, LG’s energy use represents the vast majority of its GHG emissions. LG Electronics USA, the principal North American subsidiary of global leader LG Electronics, has operations in a dozen states with facilities using about 19.4 million kilowatt hours annually. “LG Electronics has long been proud of how our highly efficient Energy Star qualified products help consumers reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said Wayne Park, president and CEO of LG Electronics...

ATLANTA—Seeking to promote best practices and offer a “how-to” approach, ASHRAE has released updated guidance on building energy audits. While energy audits are a commonly used component of the industry, there is great diversity in the services delivered to customers, and little industry standardization. The second edition of “Procedures for Commercial Building Energy Audits” promotes best practices, provides “how-to’s” and fills a void in available information for engineers, building owners, managers and government entities. The new publication includes time-saving tips for energy auditors, how to hire an auditor, what to ask for in a comprehensive audit report and how...

COLUMBIA, S.C.—“It just happened that way,” says Hema Patel, in regard to her company’s Holiday Inn & Suites Columbia-Airport opening on Earth Day 2010. Planned or not, it certainly was appropriate that the five-story, 122-room hotel opened on a day that recognizes the birth of the modern day environmental movement. The hotel, which is owned by Patel and her husband’s Capital Hospitality, LLC and operated by the couple’s Courtesy Management Inc. of Orangeburg, S.C., is expected to earn LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council in early 2012. Patel says the intent initially was not to build...

ATLANTA—The Atlanta Airport Marriott has acquired two additional compressed natural gas (CNG) shuttle vehicles for its guest operations as part of the property’s participation in the Clean Cities Atlanta Petroleum Reduction Program. Clean Cities Atlanta is a government-industry partnership that works to reduce America’s petroleum consumption in the transportation sector. The alternative fuel shuttle buses join the property’s existing fleet of two compressed natural gas (CNG) and two fossil fuel vehicles. “We remain committed to reducing our carbon footprint by utilizing renewable natural gas rather than fossil fuel, helping to maintain a clean, safe environment for everyone,” said general...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. cable industry announced a new initiative dedicated to improving the energy efficiency of set-top boxes and other devices and developing advanced cable-enabled services designed to promote innovative energy conservation measures. A key element of the initiative is the “CableLabs—Energy Lab,” a new facility within the cable industry’s R&D consortium that will concentrate exclusively on improving energy efficiency, the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) and CableLabs announced. The energy initiative will promote the development, testing, and deployment of technologies that will enable cable subscribers to reduce and manage energy consumption, including establishing new requirements for both cable...

SAN FRANCISCO—BuildingIQ, an energy management software company, announced the availability of ManagerIQ, the latest addition to its growing suite of SaaS Predictive Energy Optimization applications. ManagerIQ enables the remote configuration, monitoring, and management of the BuildingIQ suite of energy applications for facilities, campus, and real estate portfolio owners, as well as BuildingIQ’s partners who implement and service the BuildingIQ product suite for multiple customers and multiple sites. “As a partner of BuildingIQ we see ManagerIQ as a valuable platform to help us better service the buildings we manage for our customers,” said Scott Wallace, general manager of Syserco Energy Solutions....