WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is announcing new requirements for commercial griddles and ovens to earn the Energy Star label that will help protect the environment and reduce energy costs for businesses. Energy Star labeled griddles and ovens are approximately 10 to 20 percent more energy efficient than standard models. If all commercial griddles and ovens sold in the United States meet the new specifications, the energy cost savings would grow to more than $700 million per year and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from more than 660,000 vehicles. The addition of the two new specifications...

MOONACHIE, N.J.—Adding to its expansive line of energy efficient lamping solutions for lighting specifiers, BULBRITE introduces Color Changing LED Step Lights as an addition to its existing full line of LED Step Lights. BULBRITE is a leading manufacturer and supplier of innovative light bulbs and energy efficient lamping solutions for the residential, commercial and specification markets. Ideal for installations in restaurants, nightclubs, homes, theaters and many other spaces, BULBRITE’s Color Changing LED Step Lights are designed and engineered to allow users to flow through multiple colors at a speed of their choice or freeze on any color desired. The colors...

LAS VEGAS—INNCOM International Inc. and Enseo Inc. unveiled a new technology at the HD 2009 Expo & Conference that expands the reach of a luxury lodging experience from a select few guestrooms to all guestrooms while keeping things affordable for a hotel property. The joint solution taps both companies’ technological ability to provide in-room control to guests via the guestroom TV remote device. Through the TV, guests can makes changes to in-room temperatures, change light settings, signal “do not disturb” or “make up room” at their doorway, and other popular service requests. Enseo, a privately held company in Richardson, Texas,...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The National Restaurant Association launched a new campaign—the National Restaurant Association Conserve/EPA Energy Star Challenge—and is encouraging the nation’s nearly one million restaurants, their 13 million employees, as well as their suppliers and guests to reduce energy and water use in establishments. “There are many different ways to reduce energy and water consumption in restaurants,” said Association president and CEO Dawn Sweeney. “We hope that our Conserve/EPA Challenge campaign will motivate those within our industry to continue their journey toward a more sustainable future. Many of the small steps recommended on our Conserve website will make a significant difference...

TRYON, N.C.—Ozone Water Technologies has added the LaundrOzone LZB-UV to its product line. The LaundrOzone LZB-UV Series Ozone System utilizes Ultraviolet Ray (UV) technologies and ambient air as a gas feed to produce high quality ozone gas. The LaundrOzone LZB-UV is a new ozone generator aimed at giving any businesses with small laundries a viable source to reduce their gas, electric, and water consumption. LaundrOzone LZB-UV is designed for small industrial washer extractors up to 40lb/17kg capacity. Ozone Water Technologies, Inc. will be showing the LaundrOzone LZB-UV at the Clean Show at booth 4727. The event will be held June...

NEW LONDON, N.H.—Synergistic Lighting Technologies, LLC announced the arrival of a modernization to the traditional 60-watt incandescent bulb. The Tru-Spectrum bulb is a modular bulb that utilizes a patent pending new filament wire fabrication method in a small replaceable light source driven by a ~91 percent efficient power circuit. The highly efficient light source and electronics circuit allows the Tru-Spectrum bulb to rival the energy efficiency of a compact fluorescent (CFL), while providing a pleasing lighting color, no dimming or temperature restriction and no harmful mercury. The Tru-Spectrum bulb will also meet the new efficacy requirements required by the US...

NATIONAL REPORT—Alternatives to the traditional 100 percent cotton or cotton/polyester blend towels are becoming more common in the lodging industry—especially at luxury and boutique properties. In fact, many suppliers now offer organic cotton towels, organic cotton towels with a blend of bamboo fibers, or 100 percent bamboo towels. One can also find 100 percent cotton towels with super-fine, Extra-Long Staple (ELS) cotton. Each of these new towel styles are more environmentally friendly in their own way when compared to the towels the lodging industry has been using for so long. There is a cost premium to buying “green” alternatives—sometimes a...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Evolve Guest Controls as a Founding Sponsor. Evolve is a wireless room control system designed to save 30 percent or more on a property’s utility costs as well as offering a return on investment in less than two years. Upon entering the guestroom, the guest initiates control of the lighting, heating/cooling, television and draperies by simply inserting the keycard into the wall-mounted Evolve card reader. When guests leave and remove the card, all devices are turned off and the thermostat is adjusted to a “savings” temperature, thereby eliminating...

HONOLULU, OAHU, HAWAII—General manager Dean Nakasone announced today that the OHANA Waikiki Beachcomber has received an Energy Star designation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Energy Star is the national symbol for superior energy efficiency and environmental protection, and is awarded to qualified commercial and industrial buildings that rate in the top 25 percent of facilities in the nation for energy efficiency. “In the rebuild of the OHANA Waikiki Beachcomber, energy efficiency was a core component; today we continue to strive towards reducing our carbon footprint in every way possible,” Nakasone said. “The Energy Star achievement is great...

NIANTIC, CONN.—The luxurious Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch in Scottsdale, Ariz., has made the INNCOM Energy Management System (EMS) a key component of an extensive renovation project—a component which, thanks to a local energy rebate program, is even further ahead of schedule in paying for itself. Niantic-based INNCOM is a global leader in developing, manufacturing and marketing advanced guestroom control systems for the international hospitality industry. The Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa, which among many other features includes 492 spacious guestrooms, 70,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor meeting space and 27 holes of championship golf, is...