HOUSTON—Houston’s Mayor Bill White unveiled an array of solar energy equipment at the George R. Brown Convention Center to signal the start of a 100-kilowatt pilot program that will generate power from the convention center rooftop with more than 600 solar panels. Facilitated by the Houston Advanced Research Center, the test program is intended to identify and overcome barriers that might plague widespread implementation of solar energy infrastructure. Funding for the installation and initial testing of the systems amounts to almost $1 million—all of it coming from the private sector. Houston is one of a select group of American...

SHEFFIELD, MASS.—Cypress Bath, Bed & Spa, a leading designer and manufacturer of luxury bathrobes, towels, slippers, and sheets for the global hospitality and spa industries, announced that Gaia Napa Valley Hotel & Spa has chosen their environmentally-friendly Green Earth towel for property-wide use. A recently completed six-month pilot program by Gaia demonstrated credible and successful results to prove Cypress’ claim that the Green Earth towel provided energy savings, detergent use reductions and lowered water usage. “Loosely translated as Greek for ‘Mother Earth,’ Gaia is truly a special property, and a property founded on a vision of sustainability,” said Gene Faul,...

BOURNE, MASS.—Onset Computer Corp., a leading supplier of data loggers, announced that the company’s Web-based HOBO U30 Remote Monitoring Systems are now compatible with NorthWrite, Inc.’s industry-leading Energy Expert software platform. The Energy Expert software converts raw building energy and environmental data collected with HOBO U30 Systems into sophisticated, graphical “smart models” that predict building energy consumption. The information, delivered over the Web, provides building managers, energy service consultants and others with easy-to-understand, real-time feedback on building energy use. “While we are able to provide our customers with instant access to energy and environmental data via Onset’s...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Investing in the energy efficiency of buildings represents a powerful and strategic energy and climate solution that combined with other non-transportation initiatives could reduce the nation’s energy consumption by 23 percent by 2020, save the U.S. economy $1.2 trillion, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1.1 gigatons annually, according to a study released today by McKinsey & Co. “This confirms a critical path forward that we have long championed,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chairman of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). “Harnessing the engine of green, energy efficient buildings can cost-effectively drive tremendous improvements in...

FAIR LAWN, N.J.—CALMAC announced that Independence Station, a 57,000-square-foot mixed-use building in Oregon, chose CALMAC’s IceBank Energy Storage System for eco-friendly cooling of the flagship project by Aldeia, LLC. Scheduled for completion in 2010, Independence Station is a $15 million mixed-use development that has the goal to be the highest scoring certified green building in the world, as measured by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) high performance green building rating system administered by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Independence Station chose CALMAC’s ice storage technology as part of the overall HVAC system to offset...

GERMANTOWN, MD.—Telkonet, Inc., a clean technology company that develops and manufactures proprietary energy management and SmartGrid networking technology, announces a new integrated solution initiative with the leading designer and manufacturer of lighting controls, Lutron Electronics Co., Inc. Telkonet and Lutron are working closely together to harness their individual product strengths, offering a unique single solution that provides fully integrated in-room, occupancy-based heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) energy management and lighting control. With this initiative, the two companies have dynamically advanced the concept of a complete hospitality solution, enabling hospitality property management a single-source energy efficiency platform. With lighting and HVAC...

MOONACHIE, N.J.—Expanding its line of energy efficient lamping alternatives, BULBRITE has added a full line of new GU24 Twist & Lock Compact Fluorescent lamps to its extensive line of compact fluorescents. BULBRITE is a leading manufacturer and supplier of light bulbs and energy efficient lamping solutions for the residential, commercial and specification markets. As part of BULBRITE’s Greener Solutions, the full line of GU24 Twist & Lock CFLs fits standardized line voltage sockets promoted by Energy Star. BULBRITE’s GU24 CFLs, which are featured in the company’s Energy Wiser brand, offer a long life, with an average of 10,000 hours....

DALLAS—LQ Management LLC, one of the largest operators of limited-service hotels in the United States, has long had an interest in running properties that are energy efficient. It has been an Energy Star partner since 1995, first established a compact fluorescent lighting program for its La Quinta Inns and La Quinta Inns & Suites brands in 1999, has a towel and linen reuse program at its more than 700 hotels, has deployed guestroom energy management systems in more than 160 properties, and is currently working with the American Hotel & Lodging Assn. to follow its 11 Minimum Guidelines for...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) recently launched several initiatives to engage members and the traveling public in greening the hospitality industry, including a Green Partner Program, GreenQuest tracking system, and Green Tips for Travelers. The Green Partner program allows AH&LA members the opportunity to donate funds to plant trees via the Nature Conservancy’s Plant A Billion drive. Green Partners, which to date include HD Supply; Hotel Felix; Pineapple Hospitality, Inc.; and Project Planet, sponsor AH&LA events by donating $1 per attendee, which in turn plants that total number of trees. There is an additional $500 program...

LONDON—Park Plaza Hotels believes that sustainable environmental practices reflect the expectations and desires of its guests, employees, stakeholders and partners in business. Throughout its nearly 40 hotels in the United Kingdom, Europe, Middle East and Africa, the company is committed to finding and implementing ways to mitigate its environmental impact through its TREE (Total Responsibility for Everyone’s Environment) and SEASON (Save Energy and Switch Off Now) initiatives. These focus on responsible water and energy usage and waste management. Several innovative energy- and water-saving efforts already are underway at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London, which is set to open in...