MILWAUKEE, WIS.—Telkonet, Inc., a leader in occupancy-based energy management technology, just announced the introduction of its next generation line of energy management products, the EcoSmart Product Suite. With the EcoSmart flagship product, the EcoInsight Programmable Controllable Thermostat (PCT), Telkonet has evolved beyond its successful SmartEnergy product line and built upon its patented Recovery Time Technology. The EcoSmart suite of products introduces several new developments including a fully wireless thermostat, EcoWave, and a plug load controller branded the EcoGuard. The EcoSmart Product Suite development process included extensive input from customers, maintenance engineers, and Energy Service Companies to ensure that the product...

COLUMBIA, MD.—New Energy Technologies, Inc. announced that researchers have successfully developed a first-generation 12" x 12" working prototype of the company’s SolarWindow technology, capable of generating electricity on see-thru glass. Compared with its 4" x 4" predecessor, unveiled in September 2010, the debut marks a significant achievement for the company as it continues to work towards producing a commercially marketable product. The new prototype marks a 300 percent increase in size over its predecessor, and is the first-ever working SolarWindow of its dimension. Researchers fabricated this prototype using New Energy’s patent-pending process for “spraying” the company’s electricity-generating coatings directly onto glass,...

SAN DIEGO—The Crowne Plaza Alice Springs has won recognition as Asia-Pacific’s most environmentally-sustainable hotel after installing an Energy Eye guestroom energy management system. Awarded at the 2010 Asia Pacific Hotel Investment Conference (HICAP) in Hong Kong, the decision panel included judges from a number of prestigious organizations, including the National Geographic Society and the World Wildlife Fund.  First established in 2007, the award is designed to recognize a superior commitment to sustainable business practices within the hospitality industry. “It’s exciting to see our environmental sustainability initiatives validated and recognized,” said Investnorth principal and hotel owner Lloyd Berger. Berger accepted the...

DURHAM, N.C.—Cree, Inc. announced that it has demonstrated the brightest, most efficient, LED-based A-lamp that can meet Energy Star performance requirements for a 60 watt standard LED replacement bulb. This level of performance is the result of Cree TrueWhite Technology and patented Cree remote phosphor technology.  “This is a significant milestone for the industry,” said Chuck Swoboda, Cree chairman and CEO. “In the race to commercialize low-cost, energy-efficient LED bulbs, the industry has forgotten that LED lighting is supposed to look as good as the technology it is replacing. This is the first no compromise replacement for a 60...

SAN RAMON, CALIF.—This year’s ASHRAE expo in Las Vegas, January 31 to February 2, includes more than a dozen EnOcean Alliance members showcasing the latest energy harvesting, wireless solutions for HVAC applications. EnOcean Alliance, located at booth N5042, is a consortium of 170 companies primarily serving the building sector. They will be hosting solutions developed by Verve Living Systems, Leviton, Echoflex, Illumra, Kieback & Peter, EnOcean and Titus. Several other EnOcean Alliance members will be displaying their products at the exposition, including: Distech Controls, Can2Go, Functional Devices, LonMark International, BACnet International, Reliable Controls and Spartan Peripheral Devices. For many years,...

CHICAGO—The Hyatt Regency McCormick Place’s approach to sustainability is not to make one big splash with one giant investment. Instead, says Roger Martin, director of engineering at the 800-room hotel, “Our focus is to do a lot of the little things that add up to one big green initiative.” That approach is definitely working. The hotel, which is part of the giant McCormick Place complex that attracts close to 3 million visitors annually, reduced its electricity consumption by 12.7 percent from 2009 to 2010 and its water consumption by 24.4 percent. Part of those reductions was a result of...

WILMINGTON, DEL.—American Hometec, Inc. introduced its new Thermolock line of ultra-compact electric tankless water heaters—thermostatically controlled (a.k.a. temperature controlled) hot or tempered water units designed for easy compliance to codes like UPC 413.1-2006. The Thermolock line includes a family of three electric units—the AHQ-TC10, ACQ-TC10Y and ACQ-TB03X—all designed for hand washing, eye washing, booster heat or kitchen sinks in commercial settings as well as sinks, dishwashers or a single shower (tropical zone only) in residential settings. Unlike other electric water heaters on the market, the Thermolock units feature a lockable interface that can be set to a precise, desired temperature...

ORLANDO, FLA.—Building insulation products from Dow Building Solutions have achieved recertification by the Cradle to Cradle Certification program, a well-known, multi-attribute eco-label that assesses a product’s safety and environmental impact. Originally certified and announced at IBS last year after rigorous analysis,  STYROFOAM Brand Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) Foam Insulation and SAFETOUCH Fiberglass-Free Insulation both recertified at the SILVER level, while STYROFOAM SIS Brand Structural Insulated Sheathing, THERMAX Exterior Insulation, and STYROFOAM Brand Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) Insulation all achieved BASIC recertification. “We feel that recertification of our building insulation products under a holistic analysis like Cradle to Cradle is a preferred...

CONCORD, N.H.—More than 8 million pounds of greenhouse gases were eliminated last year as a result of energy efficient lighting implemented in 57 lodging businesses in New Hampshire.  That is the equivalent of 358 cars being taken off the road according to Michelle Veasey, manager of the New Hampshire Sustainable Lodging & Restaurant Program (NHSLRP). That is just the beginning. Those same businesses conserved more than 7 million gallons of water with water saving devices and guest-directed conservation programs. The NHSLRP asked certified green properties to recertify under a new application that allowed the program to calculate the impact of...

ATLANTA—IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) the world’s largest hotel group by number of rooms, announced that its in-house sustainability system—Green Engage—has been awarded with a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) volume precertification established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). IHG is the first hotel company to receive this award for an existing hotels program. The USGBC’s LEED rating system is a program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. Volume precertification is a preliminary step that provides a streamlined path to LEED certification for a large group...