CLEVELAND, OHIO—Green Lodging News has added a Grundfos Pumps Corporation case study to its website. The case study focuses on the Sunset Motor Inn in Morrisville, Vermont and a major pump-retrofit project that took place there. The installation included the replacement of 18 fixed-speed circulating pumps in the heating system at the Sunset with 10 circulators from the Grundfos Pumps Corporation. Six of the pumps were conventional, fixed-speed circulators. The remaining four replacement units were energy-saving, variable-speed, “smart” circulators.The case study details the chronology of the installation, who participated in it, and the benefits the Sunset Motor Inn is...

MINNEAPOLIS—Hyatt Regency Minneapolis, which is currently undergoing a $25 million renovation of the hotel’s guestrooms, suites, public areas, and restaurants, announced that the renovation will include a variety of environmentally sustainable initiatives to reduce its ecological footprint. The Hyatt Regency Minneapolis Green Team has also introduced a number of eco-friendly protocols and service projects including extensive energy and recycling conservation programs.Energy-saving initiatives from the renovation include converting all of the back of house lighting to LED, adding low flow plumbing fixtures for enhanced water savings (1.6 gal/flush), insulated drapery, closet light sensors, vending misers in all vending machines, new...

NEW YORK—As Hilton New York plays host during Earth Week to sustainability experts and advocates from across the corporate world for the Sustainable Operations Summit being held from April 17 to 19, Manhattan’s largest hotel announces the completion of a new green roof system and the installation of a cogeneration (combined heat and power) system, both designed to reduce the hotel’s overall carbon footprint. To help promote awareness of the hotel’s sustainability efforts, all guests staying at Hilton New York will be provided with room keycards that depict an image of the new green roof.“Hilton New York is dedicated...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Green Lodging News announces the addition of Continental Girbau, Inc. as a Founding Sponsor. Continental Girbau, a manufacturer and supplier of commercial and industrial laundry equipment, offers a web of support services to its hospitality clients, including financing, laundry design, technologically-advanced laundry equipment, a parts facility, and a professional distributor network.Continental and Girbau Industrial washer-extractors, tunnel washers, drying tumblers, flatwork ironing systems, folders, stackers and feeders withstand the rigors of multiple cycles, offer highly programmable controls and are designed to reduce utility consumption. Continental E-Series Washer-Extractors, for example, feature up to 387-G-force extract to curb dry time and...

HOUSTON—In an effort to reduce their carbon footprint, Hilton Americas-Houston, the city’s largest hotel and first Green Seal certified hotel in Texas, is now even greener with the installation of the AquaRecycle water recycling system in the hotel’s laundry. The laundry facility, covering 27,000 square feet and rivaling most commercial laundry plants in both size and capacity, is by far the largest hotel laundry in the city, washing and finishing more than 675,000 pounds of linens per month.The two massive Lavatec tunnel washers wash 100 pounds of linens every two and half minutes, with a maximum working capacity of...

WALTHAM, MASS.—EuroSite Power Inc., an On-Site Utility offering clean electricity, heat, hot water and cooling solutions to hospitality, healthcare, housing and leisure centers in the United Kingdom (UK) and Europe, announced that it has extended its agreement with The Ability Group by adding a contract to supply clean energy to the Doubletree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro hotel. Under the terms of the 30-year agreement, the company will install and operate a combined heat and power (CHP) system which will produce up to 200 kW of power or approximately 1.63 MWh of total energy per year. The Ability Group will receive...

SANTA MONICA, CALIF.—Shore Hotel announced it has been awarded LEED Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED is USGBC’s rating system for designing, constructing and maintaining the world’s greenest, most energy efficient and high performing buildings and the Shore Hotel, designed by Gensler, is the first property in Santa Monica to receive this distinction.“Shore Hotel is honored to receive LEED Gold certification,” says Steve Farzam, COO of Shore Hotel. “We support ongoing efforts to be responsible and sustainable in every area of our business and through this achievement, we have demonstrated our commitment and dedication to...

GARDEN CITY, N.Y.—Designed with architectural aesthetics and performance in mind, WAC Lighting introduces energy efficient LEDme Line Voltage Step and Wall Lights that offer functionality ideal for safety and style on indoor and outdoor stairs, walls and other pathways in hotels, restaurants and other commercial spaces. The new LEDme Step and Wall Lights are offered in versatile, horizontal and circular scoop designs for a clean, seamless installation without any visible hardware. Easy to retrofit, square and rectangular shaped Step and Wall Lights can be mounted to a single gang standard styled junction box. Round shaped Step and Wall Lights...

MIDLAND, MICH.—Building insulation products from Dow Building Solutions have been recertified by the Cradle to Cradle Certified program, a well-known, multi-attribute eco-label that assesses a product’s material content, recyclability and manufacturing characteristics. Originally certified in 2010 and recertified in 2011, after rigorous analysis in 2012, STYROFOAM Brand Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) Foam Insulation recertified at the SILVER level and THERMAX Insulation achieved BASIC recertification.“When evaluating sustainable building materials, Dow advocates taking a ‘holistic’ approach, and we feel the Cradle to Cradle Certified program provides a strong indication of a product’s comparative value when looking at energy efficient solutions and underscores...

NEW HYDE PARK, N.Y—Evolve Guest Controls will install a fully integrated lighting control and automation control system featuring the new Evolve AI Interactive Touch Screen Controller, the new glass LCD Director Series, as well as an Evolve motorized shading system, at the Quin Hotel in New York City. When guests enter their rooms, they will be greeted with a customized lighting scene, a comfort thermostat temperature, as well as the opening of the motorized shades. While in the room, the guests will be able to control their thermostat, lighting, and shades wirelessly from the bedside as well as indicate privacy...