BOSTON—CAN2GO, a leading provider of wired and wireless controllers for building automation, is enabling companies to cut up to 40 percent off their building wireless automation installation labor costs with the help of ZigBee networking technology from Ember. CAN2GO controllers, which offer a variety of wired and wireless networking and control options, provide the missing link in building automation, allowing facility managers, contractors and OEM manufacturers to deploy integrated solutions for HVAC, lighting and other applications. Important labor savings are attained when the controllers are networked via self-forming and self-healing wireless mesh networking systems from Ember. A recent project in a...

NEW YORK—Hilton Inn at Penn, a AAA Four Diamond hotel, is nearing the end of a multi-million dollar renovation designed to modernize the property’s 238 guestrooms and suites. The two-phased project, under the creative direction of interior design firm RD Jones & Associates, will update each guestroom with contemporary and sustainable features, including energy-saving technology, WaterSense showerheads and Apple iPads. The renovation is expected to be completed by March 2011. Hilton Inn at Penn maintained its focus on environmental responsibility by integrating sustainable features in the guestrooms that are designed to positively impact the guest experience. Fabrics, wallcoverings and bathroom...

SAN DIEGO—Energy Eye, Inc., an international provider of hotel guestroom energy management controls, announced that it has formed a distribution partnership with the Moroccan company RIO (Reduce, Invent, Optimize). “We are extremely excited to work with RIO,” said Phillip Kopp, COO of Energy Eye. “RIO’s focus on energy efficiency and unparalleled strength in the Moroccan marketplace is well-known throughout the region. Most importantly, their commitment to accreditation—they are certified by both the Moroccan National Agency for Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, as well as the Efficiency Valuation Organization—closely matches Energy Eye’s own focus on delivering tested, proven results that...

BOULDER, COLO.—Although the primary purpose of heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems in commercial buildings is occupant productivity, a new report from Pike Research finds that the objective of most changes to HVAC systems in the next five years will be to decrease energy cost. According to the study, because of rising energy prices and the drive to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with building operations, many building owners have begun to manage energy cost as an asset, rather than a fixed cost. The tools for improving efficiency of HVAC systems include building energy management systems (BEMS), on-site...

ATLANTA—An integrated design approach to building energy modeling—and learning how to use modeling tools more effectively—improves the accuracy and reliability of simulation results and increases the return on time and resources invested to generate the models. ASHRAE’s Energy Modeling Conference: Tools for Designing High Performance Buildings, April 4 to 6, 2011, ASHRAE headquarters, Atlanta, will provide hands-on modelers and principals with the information to better harness the power of energy modeling tools. The conference covers modeling fundamentals, building component contributions, software demonstrations and case studies. A collaborative perspective is provided that demonstrates how energy models and computer simulations can...

ORLANDO, FLA.—Hobart’s new Energy Star qualified CLeR conveyor-type warewasher uses Advansys Energy Recovery technology and Hobart’s patented NSF-Certified Opti-Rinse system to save foodservice operations up to $11,000 annually in energy recovery and water efficiency. The Advansys Energy Recovery technology captures the warewasher’s exhaust heat and uses it to preheat the cold inlet water up to 110 degrees Fahrenheit, reducing the energy needed to reach the required 180 degrees Fahrenheit rinse-water temperature. “Hobart’s new CLeR Warewasher adapts Hobart’s unique Advansys Energy Recovery technology, introduced so successfully in the Advansys Ventless door-type warewasher, to the rigorous productivity demands of the high-volume CLe conveyor-type...

NATIONAL REPORT—A new study commissioned by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) shows manufacturers have made huge strides in creating more energy efficient televisions. In furtherance of the technology industry’s leadership on energy efficient products, the CEA study provides a review and analysis of power consumption trends in digital television technology. The CEA study, “Power Consumption Trends in Digital TVs Produced Since 2003,” reviewed power consumption data on best-selling digital TV models from 2003 to 2010—in both active and standby modes—on high-definition liquid crystal (LCD) and plasma display models with screen sizes ranging from 13 to 65 inches. Some highlights: • LCD active...

SAN FRANCISCO—InterContinental San Francisco announced that it has been awarded LEED Gold certification under the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance (LEED EBOM) program. LEED is USGBC’s rating system for designing, constructing and maintaining the world’s greenest, most energy efficient and high performing buildings. InterContinental San Francisco is the first property in the InterContinental Hotels & Resorts portfolio to achieve LEED certification for an existing building. To achieve LEED EBOM, InterContinental San Francisco was evaluated on operational efficiency and minimization of environmental impact. To date, it is the largest...

ASHLAND, OHIO—A 160-acre parcel located just southwest of Ashland, Ohio could soon be the home of the United States’ greenest retreat center. Developer Wendy Kertesz says she hopes to break ground this summer on Windy Retreat Center, a 25,000-square-foot, 16-guestroom facility that will include two indoor conference rooms, one outdoor conference space, three classrooms, great room, dining room, commercial kitchen, fitness center and conservatory. The goal is to open the center by late 2012. Constructed in part using straw bales, Windy Retreat Center will pursue at least Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification and Passive House...

NATIONAL REPORT—In one respect, comparing guestroom energy management systems today is apples to apples with each system basically doing the same thing—using a sensor or sensors (or a key card) to turn off the HVAC system entirely or to allow the thermostat setting to drift to an energy-saving level. As similar as most systems are, however, each vendor offers something unique—whether it be the technology by which systems communicate within the hotel, the robustness of the reporting features, the ability to integrate with local or Web-based systems, or the extent to which lighting and other electrical items can be...