CHICAGO—The National Restaurant Association recently announced the recipients of the annual 2011 Kitchen Innovations (KI) Award, an honor recognizing groundbreaking kitchen equipment in the foodservice market. An independent panel of judges comprised of internationally recognized food facilities consultants, multi-unit executives and design experts selected KI Award recipients for their innovations that provide new solutions to restaurant and foodservice operators. KI products will be showcased in the interactive Kitchen Innovations Pavilion area of the 2011 Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show at Chicago’s McCormick Place from Saturday, May 21 through Tuesday, May 24. The KI products will enable foodservice operations to run faster and...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing updated standards for light fixtures to qualify for the Energy Star label—an efficiency program that has saved consumers money on their energy bills while contributing to cleaner air and protecting people’s health since 1992. Effective October 1, 2011, to qualify for the Energy Star label light fixtures will need to increase efficiency 30 percent above currently qualified fluorescent-based fixtures. In 2013, performance requirements will increase further, providing 40 percent higher efficiency compared to currently qualified models. Light fixtures that earn the Energy Star save consumers money on their energy bills and...

STATE COLLEGE, PENN.—Ameresco, Inc., a leading energy efficiency and renewable energy company, announced that it has entered into a Guaranteed Energy Savings Contract (GESC) with Penn State University. As part of the GESC, Ameresco will provide viable energy conservation measures to the Nittany Lion Inn and the Penn Stater Hotel & Conference Center, located in State College, Penn. The project will include new energy conservation measures such as lighting and lighting control system improvements, domestic water reduction measures, weatherization improvements, and an updated and expanded energy management system. Collectively, these measures are expected to reduce annual utility consumption by more...

TORRANCE, CALIF.—Continuing to add to its line of energy-efficient LED replacements for incandescent and halogen light bulbs, LEDtronics announces its new series of PAR-style high-power, high-efficacy lamps with highest-grade LEDs and Fresnel lens. Operating either in 120VAC dimmable or in a wide voltage input range of 90-290VAC, the line of Edison medium screw-base and GU24 bi-pin base bulbs come in various PAR20, PAR30 and PAR38 styles. With energy consumption ranging from 7 watts (PAR20) through 12 watts (PAR30) and up to 15 watts (PAR38), the lamps directly replace incandescents and halogen lamps that consume up to 100 watts, and even...

SANTA CLARA, CALIF.—WattStopper announced it has received a 2011 Building Operating Management Top Product Award for its PW-103N multi-way wall switch occupancy sensor with LED nightlight. The sensor provides code-compliant lighting control in a wide variety of applications. The factory default setting is for manual-on operation, to ensure that optimal energy efficiency is available. Lighting remains on as long as any one of the connected sensors detects occupancy. When the space is no longer occupied, lighting will automatically turn off following a time delay that begins when the last sensor ceases to detect occupancy. Lighting can be turned off manually...

EAST LONGMEADOW, MASS.—XLERATOR high-speed, energy-efficient hand dryers are now available with ADA compliant stainless steel paper towel dispenser retrofit kits. The new kits provide a simple, cost-effective solution for replacing built-in paper towel dispensers with XLERATOR hand dryers. A stainless steel panel allows the dryers to mount where dispensers existed. XLERATOR completely dries hands in 10 to 15 seconds—three times faster than conventional dryers. It uses 80 percent less energy and delivers a 95 percent cost savings versus paper towels, while creating a more hygienic restroom. “XLERATOR hand dryers and retrofit kits are being specified by facility managers who are...

NATIONAL REPORT—The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte in North Carolina has one. So does the Hilton San Francisco Financial District, Parc 55 Wyndham San Francisco-Union Square, and Boston’s Seaport Hotel. All Element Hotels properties have them. A TownePlace Suites by Marriott being constructed in Frederick, Md., will soon have one, as well as the Sleeping Lady Resort in Leavenworth, Wash. What these properties all have or will have is at least one electric vehicle (EV) charging station. EV charging stations are still extremely rare at lodging properties but they are beginning to pop up across the United States as an increasing number...

HOUSTON—Choice Energy Services, a retail energy consultant and broker, announced it has completed a two-year contract to provide the new Trump SoHo Hotel with 100 percent green power. The contract offsets the hotel’s carbon footprint and delivers substantial cost savings for the newest property in the Trump Hotel Collection. Opened in February 2010, the luxury property did not have substantive historical usage data to inform the procurement process. Even without a detailed usage profile, Choice was able to tap its network of more than 20 suppliers in the New York City region and leverage its extensive knowledge of the wholesale...

GLATTBRUGG, SWITZERLAND—The upcoming Mövenpick Dharamshala Resort & Spa in Northern India is poised to take the design and delivery of upscale remote properties to a whole new sustainable level. The 124-room resort, due to open in 2013, will be located 2,400 meters above sea level in the upper reaches of the Kangra Valley and surrounded by a dense forest and the Himalayan Mountains. Its key attraction will be a 2,500-square-meter Ayurvedic spa which will feature extensive preventive health programs, detox sessions, international treatments alongside Ayurvedic, meditation and yoga therapies. Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, along with the owning group, Kamakhya Hospitality...

NIANTIC, CONN.—When the Bardessono Hotel in Yountville, Calif., deployed the Room Expeditor (REX) tool from MTech in March 2009, it became the first property in the world to equip its room attendants with an iPod Touch to instruct them on which is the next most important “vacant” room to clean, based on a collection of variables. Today, the 62-room luxury property, managed by MTM Luxury Lodging, is first once again to benefit from streamlined technology integration between MTech’s REX and INNCOM’s Integrated Room Automaton System (IRAS) that now alerts staff when stay-over rooms also are ready to be refreshed. “Being...