SNOWMASS, COLO.—Viceroy Snowmass, which opened to rave reviews in late 2009, announced that it has been awarded LEED Gold certification, established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). LEED is the nation’s preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. Viceroy Snowmass is the first hotel in Aspen/Snowmass to be awarded LEED Gold as well as the first luxury hotel in Colorado to receive this prestigious designation. By incorporating sustainable design and construction, innovative operational practices, and a culture of environmental stewardship, Viceroy Snowmass aims to...

DALLAS—VingCard Elsafe, part of the ASSA ABLOY Group, has launched a new combined corporate website. The newly designed site is meant to replace the current individual sites for the company’s brands, which include VingCard, Elsafe, Orion and Polarbar. VingCard Elsafe is a leader in developing locking systems and electronic in-room safes for the hospitality industry, offering security systems that meet the operational needs of hotels and resorts. Additional product lines include Orion energy management systems and Polarbar minibar systems, which are offered in selected regions of the world. This newly launched VingCard Elsafe website unifies the company’s comprehensive hospitality product range...

SAINT CHARLES, MO.—Pineapple Hospitality introduces the new TruDim CFL from TCP, Inc. The TruDim CFL performs like a traditional incandescent bulb—with dimming capability all the way down to 2 percent of lighting capacity—with all the environmental benefits of CFL technology. “In the past, dimmable CFL bulbs would flicker when they got to the lower end of their lighting range,” says David Geraci, CFL product manager for TCP. “This is because typical dimmer switches are built for incandescent bulbs, not CFLs. This flicker creates not only a bad visual experience, but it can actually cause early failures for the bulbs. The...

QUINCY, MASS.—Elevators don’t use a lot of energy compared to air-conditioning, heating—or even compared to computers and lighting. But when you add together all the little ways to cut energy use in a large building, the savings can add up. According to John Powers, president of Century Elevator Co., a family-owned firm based in Quincy, Mass., new elevators use a small percentage—less than 5 percent—of a building’s overall energy consumption. Elevators more than 20 years old use motor generators that must convert AC power into DC power to move the cab. DC used to be the current needed to control...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced the release of the comprehensively updated LEED Demand Response Pilot Credit. Originally launched in 2010, the revised and enhanced Demand Response Pilot Credit establishes guidelines that are anticipated to increase participation in automated demand response programs. Leading industry experts from the Demand Response Research Center at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab (LBNL), Schneider Electric and Skipping Stone contributed to the development of the credit. LEED projects that satisfy the credit by demonstrating their ability to shift energy consumption during peak events by 10 percent of peak load demand will earn a point towards...

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.—Verve Living Systems has introduced a new line of energy-saving automation products developed specifically for the needs of the hospitality industry. The products combine radio frequency and energy-harvesting technologies and incorporate wireless room controls. The products include an assortment of sensors and control devices that can be combined to work together in an organic network to determine the occupancy state of the room, set back temperature, and turn off lights and miscellaneous electrical loads to help hotels manage energy costs. The new portfolio of products uses highly efficient radio frequency technology in an attractively designed family of temperature and electrical...

OSHKOSH, WIS.—Continental Girbau recently released the new MG-Series hard-mount washer-extractors, available in 40- and 55-pound capacities. Continental’s highest performing hard-mount washers, MG-Series Washers feature up to 200 G-force extract speeds, superior energy-efficiency, and advanced programmability. The new MG-Series Washers—suited for an array of on-premise laundry facilities—are engineered to reduce utility costs and labor, while boosting productivity. Unlike many other hard-mount washers on the market, which typically produce extract speeds between 70 and 120-G-force, MG-Series generates speeds of 200 G-force. In addition to the new 200 G-force MG Series hard-mount line, Continental offers a full array of washers for on-premise laundries, including...

SASKATOON, SASKATCHEWAN—Believing that there is a moral obligation to conserve the natural environment is one thing; taking action towards green lodging practices and addressing eco issues head on is another. Proving it’s serious about the environment, Travelodge Hotel Saskatoon has taken strides forward to minimize its carbon footprint. With the help of local alternative energy company WSE Technologies and guidance from parent company Airline Hotels as well as the NRCAN/SRC, Saskatoon’s longest-standing north end business has installed a series of 57 solar collectors on its roof to capture the sun’s energy as thermal heat, which is then transferred indoors to...

NATIONAL REPORT—Bathroom ventilation systems recently introduced by leading suppliers are making it easier than ever to save energy and money while still keeping bathrooms free of odors and moisture. There was a time when fans were noisy and consumed up to 144 watts. Today they are almost as quiet as a mouse and can use as little as 4 watts—a dramatic difference. Motion sensors are now available with some models and turn off fans left running by guests. With some fans, a humidity sensor is included. This ensures that the fan continues to run until the humidity reaches a...

SAN FRANCISCO—ECOtality, a leader in clean electric transportation and storage technologies, along with The Lodge at Torrey Pines have announced that they have installed ECOtality’s Blink Electric Vehicle (EV) Commercial Charging Stations at the property. The Level 2 chargers allow electric vehicle users to safely and efficiently charge their vehicles with user-friendly features and a smart, fully interactive 7-inch touch screen. These chargers will enable guests with electric vehicles to use their car for the day and know they can come back to the resort and charge their vehicle. The Lodge at Torrey Pines is dedicated to protecting the environment...