ATLANTA—Acuity Brands, Inc., a producer of energy-efficient lighting and control solutions, introduces the new patent-pending WSD NGX (Neutral/Ground Exchangeable) wall switch sensor as an addition to its Sensor Switch line of occupancy sensors. This new sensor provides an innovative and contractor-friendly solution to meet the neutral/ground wiring requirements under the 2011 National Electric Code (“NEC 2011”) without having to purchase a dedicated unit.The WSD NGX sensor can use either the neutral conductor required by NEC 2011 for new construction projects, or it can use the ground connection, which is a common wiring method for many retrofit applications. The sensor’s...

STAMFORD, CONN.—Promising “Balanced Living on the Road,” Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.’s Element Hotels brand has announced an initiative designed to marry Element’s commitment to providing health and fitness options for travelers with its green design sensibility. Element Hotels is set to pilot pedal-powered generators on stationary bikes in its fitness centers, enabling guests to generate electricity and charge their own personal electronic devices as they work out. The pilot was unveiled in Miami at the March 15 opening ceremony for Element Miami International Airport, the newest Element Hotel. Starwood President and CEO Frits van Paasschen, an avid...

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA—Electric vehicles in eastern Iowa now have a place to get recharged. The Hotel at Kirkwood Center, with funds from the city of Cedar Rapids, installed a level two electric vehicle charging station in one of its parking stalls. Hotels around the country are just beginning to install charging stations for their guests and the public who own the vehicles.“The Hotel at Kirkwood Center hosts guests from around the country, and even around the world,” said general manager Lee Belfield. “More of these guests are now driving electric vehicles, and we want to make sure they have...

PHOENIX—Phoenix-based Easy Energy has just announced the completed installation of a solar water heating system at the newly renovated Holiday Inn North Phoenix. The solar water heating system is designed to harvest and store 3,000 gallons of solar heated water each day for the hotel’s 174 guestrooms. “Solar Water Heating is an effective and reliable renewable technology for the Phoenix climate,” says Brian Bartel, managing member of Easy Energy. “Solar water heating can easily compete with natural gas for heating water by partnering with local suppliers, capturing state utility rebates and engaging financiers who seek to invest in renewable technology.” The...

NEW YORK—An industry leader in room air conditioners, Haier is introducing a new line of Packaged Terminal Air Conditioners (PTACs) designed to offer reliability, quality, and comfort for consumers who are the end users of traditional PTAC applications. Applications include hotels and motels, senior care facilities, dormitories, military housing, and some residential applications. For many years now, Haier has dedicated itself to making home comfort products that are energy efficient, quiet, easy to maintain, and most importantly, that cool or heat properly and efficiently. With this in mind, Haier’s PTAC line includes features like an attractive digital thermostat module that...

CHARLOTTE, N.C.—Verbatim Americas, LLC, a member of Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation (MCHC) group, announces the official Energy Star qualification of its new line of PAR-type retrofit LED lamps, all with the quality and energy efficiency requirement set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy. Certified based on strict criteria, Verbatim Energy Star LED lamps assure users high efficiency and long lifetime with consistent color output, translating into considerable reductions in energy consumption and maintenance costs. Verbatim Energy Star LED lamps qualify for utility rebates and are backed by a five year warranty. Verbatim’s Energy Star qualified LED...

COOPERSBURG, PA.—Lutron Electronics has introduced updates to its Energi TriPak family of energy-saving products including stairwell retrofit solutions and simple energy retrofit packages for small commercial spaces. The flexible Energi TriPak product family allows users to select a mix of components to best meet the needs of their space and save energy. New, energy retrofit packages allow contractors to order one model number that includes all the components necessary for a simple, dual voltage switching solution with occupancy sensing. Each package includes a Maestro Wireless switch with Claro faceplate and either a wireless, ceiling-mount occupancy/vacancy sensor, or wireless, ceiling-mount vacancy-only...

LOUISVILLE, KY.—GE Appliances & Lighting has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star Sustained Excellence Award for the seventh consecutive year. GE Appliances & Lighting supports the Energy Star program through a variety of initiatives, including training sales employees, retailers and distributors; promoting Energy Star-qualified products; and recycling at company locations. For example, in 2011, GE Appliance Park in Louisville recycled 10,000 gross tons of factory and office materials. GE representatives received the award at a March 15 ceremony in Washington, D.C. “As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Energy Star program, EPA is proud to recognize GE Appliances...

CHICAGO—Six hundred bucks is not a bad monthly electricity bill for a 15-story, 63-room urban hotel. Granted, The Ivy Hotel has not opened yet but general manager James Cazares says public space lighting has been burning 24/7. Key to the tiny bill last month is LED recessed lighting—MR16 bulbs that consume just one watt each. LED lighting is just one of the many green facets of the luxury boutique Chicago property set to open at the end of April.Just over a block from Michigan Avenue in Chicago’s Near North neighborhood, The Ivy Hotel was once an office building. The...

BOULDER, COLO.—With a simple flip of a switch, The Best Western Plus Boulder Inn recently became the most solar powered hotel in Boulder County. The newly installed 880-kilowatt system that includes 88 solar panels will save 28,694 kWh of electricity production annually, and provide approximately 25 percent of the hotel’s overall electrical needs. A digital reporting device located at the hotel’s front desk provides real-time and cumulative information on CO2 savings and power production. This and other sustainability tracking initiatives applied throughout the hotel will provide a true look at the hotel’s overall environmental impact.“Our goal is to reduce...