STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLO.—The Sheraton Steamboat Resort, Steamboat’s only full-service luxury ski-in/ski-out resort and conference center, announced that its Green Team has implemented numerous sustainability initiatives to help make the resort as eco-friendly as possible.The Sheraton Steamboat has partnered with Clean the World, a charitable organization that recycles discarded hotel soap and bottled shampoo products, sending them to communities in need worldwide to help prevent the millions of deaths caused by hygiene-related illnesses. Since the partnership began in June 2011, the Sheraton Steamboat has recycled 691 pounds of bottled amenities and 504 pounds of soap, which have been used to...

ATLANTA—Acuity Brands, Inc., a maker of energy-efficient lighting and control solutions, has expanded its LED indoor ambient lighting portfolio with the launch of the Z Series LED striplight by Lithonia Lighting. The Z Series luminaires are compact, low-profile solid-state strips that deliver long maintenance-free performance in a wide range of retrofit and new construction applications, including uplight and downlight in commercial, retail, manufacturing, warehouse, cove and display.The Z Series luminaires are available in both T5 and T8 lengths, and may be surface-mounted or suspended with chain, aircraft cable or stem. The Z Series luminaires are available in white, galvanized,...

MORTON GROVE, ILL.—In response to the growing industry requirement for low water cut-off valves, McDonnell & Miller has introduced its new RBT-3000 Low Water Cut-Off & Fuel Economizer. This new generation of boiler control technology is designed to maximize fuel efficiency and provide valuable low water cut-off protection for hydronic heating systems. The intelligent controls built into the RBT-3000 bring advanced microprocessor technology to virtually any existing boiler, automatically adjusting water temperature based on heat load and without the need for an outdoor sensor.The energy management system used in the RBT-3000 reduces fuel/electricity consumption by 10 percent to 20 percent,...

MOUNT LAUREL, N.J.—The Wyndham Philadelphia-Mount Laurel is just a few weeks away from going “live” with its 756-kilowatt solar photovoltaic (PV) system on 10 carports in the hotel’s parking area. The carports cover 70 percent of the 400-vehicle parking space and were constructed—along with the solar panels—as part of a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). The PPA was signed by the owners of the Wyndham hotel with US Solargy, Inc. US Solargy secured the financing for the system. US Solargy then placed the PPA with SolarMax Technology which financed and developed it. The owners of the hotel incurred no upfront...

PALATINE, ILL.—Investments in energy efficiency initiatives in four- and five-star U.S. hotels are impacted by concerns from hoteliers about building automation and control systems around initial costs and the perception that energy management systems will result in a negative guest experience, according to a recent survey by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Harrah Hotel College and Cannon Survey Center. The study was commissioned by Schneider Electric, a global specialist in energy management.The independent survey of approximately 100 C-level hotel executives, general managers and lead facility engineers sought to understand the current level of awareness around energy management...

HENDERSONVILLE, N.C.—The Hampton Inn of Hendersonville, N.C., has installed 24 4’x10’ AET solar thermal collector panels on the roof of the hotel. These panels now provide approximately 1,200 gallons of hot water a day for the hotel’s hot water needs, including laundry and guest showers. The owners of the Hampton Inn have a long-standing commitment to operate their hotel in a manner that’s as environmentally-friendly as possible, and the installation of solar panels is representative of their continued desire to achieve that goal.The solar panels work by harnessing thermal energy from the sun and using that energy to heat...

COMMERCE, CALIF.—Nora Lighting introduces Cori, a new LED track lighting fixture for architectural applications. Cori can be installed in new or existing Nora track systems and “H” style tracks, or can be specified with “L” or “J” adapters and retrofitted to existing “L” or “J” style tracks.The fixture includes an integral driver unit with a die cast aluminum head containing the LED array. Cori is available with 12W or 23W LEDs and both models are available in 3000K warm white and 4000K cool white. Architecturally-styled fins dissipate the heat and assure longer performance life.The unit can be installed in...

AUSTIN, TEXAS—Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) and the GUESTROOM 20X Task Force, a group of hospitality technology leaders and experts, are searching for the latest and near-future technologies for the newest version of GUESTROOM 20X. The 2012 version of GUESTROOM 20X, a special exhibit showcasing the most innovative technologies for the guestroom, debuts at the 2012 Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference June 26 to 28 at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, Md. “One of the greatest successes of GUESTROOM 20X is that it has opened dialogue amongst industry professionals on technologies in guestrooms,” said Frank Wolfe, CAE,...

NEW HYDE PARK, N.Y.—Evolve Guest Controls is currently installing a fully integrated energy management control system with back office network connectivity in all of the Radisson LAX’s 580 guestrooms and suites. Evolve’s EMS system controls all of the lighting in the room, the TV(s), and the HVAC. When the Radisson was prompted with the question of whether to go with Evolve’s active energy management platform or passive PIR based platform, they opted to choose Evolve’s active energy management approach, which engages the guest to participate in being “green” while they travel by using a wireless keycard reader to determine guestroom...

DALLAS—VingCard Elsafe, part of the ASSA ABLOY Group, announces that the Grand Hyatt San Francisco has selected a complete package of VingCard Elsafe solutions for installation as a key component of the comprehensive renovation of its 659 guestrooms. The completed renovation features the addition of VingCard’s Orion energy management system and Signature RFID locks powered by the VISIONLINE wireless online access management system. With VingCard Elsafe products as the centerpiece, the 38-story, 39-year-old iconic Union Square property is now one of the most tech-forward hotels in all of San Francisco. “VingCard Elsafe has truly helped modernize our hotel, giving us...