OSHKOSH, WIS.—Continental Girbau Inc. recently released the highly programmable Logi Pro Control, now available on the 20-pound capacity E-Series Washers and the complete line-up of M-Series Washer-Extractors. The new Logi Pro Control offers up to 25 individually modifiable programs—each with up to 11 baths, including multiple pre-wash, wash and rinse phases. “The Logi Pro delivers superior control over the wash process,” said Joel Jorgensen, Continental Girbau’s vice president of sales and customer services. “It’s designed to improve productivity and efficiency at a wide array of on-premise laundries. The Logi Pro offers precise control over wash variables to ensure optimum efficiency...

BOULDER, COLO.—Commercial and residential buildings are the largest consumers of electricity in the United States, representing nearly two-thirds of all electricity used. As property owners and managers look for ways to reduce their energy expenditures and environmental impact through efficiency measures, they are increasingly adopting “smart building” technologies including automation and controls, high-efficiency systems and equipment, and a broadening array of energy management services. These enhancements are being unified in Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS), which are information technology (IT)-based hardware and software systems being employed in a holistic approach to optimize the efficiency of buildings’ energy consumption. According...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Westin Lombard Yorktown Center in Lombard, Ill., was named the winner of the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s (AH&LA) year-long Energy Slasher Challenge. The Challenge, launched on Earth Day 2010, helped participating hotels obtain a 5 percent overall energy reduction. The hotel receives a full day with the AH&LA Green Guru for a personal eco-strategy session, as well as other prizes courtesy of HD Supply. Participants could use several tools to help with tracking their costs, including GreenQuest, EPA Energy Star Portfolio Manager, or their brand/corporate benchmarking program. Costs were compared and analyzed to determine who slashed their...

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, ILL.—“Zero and Net-zero Energy Buildings + Homes,” a 64-page white paper that proclaims “the next frontier in the green building movement,” is now available online from Building Design+Construction. The 40,000-word report provides a road map for the U.S./Canadian design, construction, and real estate industry to develop “net-zero” buildings and homes—energy-efficient, affordable structures that generate as much energy as they use. “Ready or not, the U.S. design and construction industry is about to embark on an exciting journey: the development of net-zero energy buildings and homes,” says Robert Cassidy, the publication’s editorial director. Commercial buildings consume 19 percent of the...

NEW HYDE PARK, N.Y.—Evolve Guest Controls has completed installation of its fully custom keycard-based energy management system (EMS) in all of the Hilton Inn at Penn’s 244 guestrooms and suites. Evolve’s key card-based EMS system controls all of the lighting in the room, the TV(s), and the HVAC. When guests enter their rooms, they insert their key cards into Evolve’s wall-mounted key card reader and the room activates “comfort” mode. When guests leave the room, they take their key cards with them, initiating the room’s  “energy efficient” mode whereby all the lighting devices and TV(s) are powered down, and the...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a new category under commercial fryers that can now earn the Energy Star label—an energy efficiency program that has saved Americans money on their energy bills while contributing to cleaner air and protecting people’s health since 1992. Effective April 22, 2011, EPA has expanded the scope of the eligible models to include large vat gas and electric fryers. Energy Star qualified large vat fryers are 10 to 35 percent more energy efficient than standard models. Fryers are one of the most common appliances in the foodservice industry. Large vat fryers are used...

SANTA CLARA, CALIF.—WattStopper has launched Control Six Online, a free online tool to help users pinpoint ideal lighting control solutions for the six types of spaces most commonly found in commercial buildings. This interactive selector offers two levels of performance, with unlimited access to a single room Quick Selector and login access to a Multi-Room Selector developed for professional users. Both versions prompt users to input information about each space in order to recommend appropriate products. Control Six Online recommends lighting control solutions including wall switch and ceiling occupancy sensors, time switches and lighting control panels for the following areas:...

MOONACHIE, N.J.—Designed as an energy efficient replacement for incandescent bulbs in elevators, Bulbrite has introduced the new LED 1383 Elevator Lamp for multi-level residential, industrial and commercial applications. The Bulbrite LED 1383 Elevator Lamp uses 87 percent less energy than incandescents and lasts up to 30 times longer; the rated average life of the lamp is 30,000 hours. The LED requires much less maintenance and re-lamping than incandescents, reducing operating costs and re-lamping needs as well as interruption time in elevator service. The LED lamp is designed and engineered with an extremely durable body so that the LED chips are...

OREM, UTAH—ILLUMRA, a leader in wireless battery-free controls, announces the release of a new solar powered wireless door/window sensor. This new product maximizes the energy savings of heating and air-conditioning systems by providing wireless status of windows and/or doors. Energy waste can be reduced by 20 to 60 percent by disabling blowers and/or adjusting temperature setpoints in HVAC systems when windows and doors are left open. The wireless door/window sensor is a key component to reducing energy waste in hotel, condominium and dormitory buildings. “We are excited to help building operators reduce energy waste through the use of the easy to...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes VingCard Elsafe as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. Orion by VingCard Elsafe is an award-winning intelligent energy management solution that is helping hotels and resorts worldwide reduce their carbon footprint and boost energy savings. This innovative system allows for the management of guestroom temperatures from a remote, centralized location. Orion provides hoteliers with the ability to automatically adjust A/C settings as guests travel in and out of the guestrooms, therefore reducing overall energy consumption and saving valuable environmental resources, while ensuring guest comfort. Orion by VingCard...