MEMPHIS, TENN.—Executives of Memphis-based Cooper Hotels, the largest multi-unit operator of Tennessee hotels, announced that two of the company’s hotels are the first Tennessee hotels to utilize solar power. Installation of state-of-the-art solar thermal systems that will provide hot water is now underway at the Hilton Knoxville Airport and the Doubletree Hotel Oak Ridge. “We are proud to be on the leading edge of sustainable tourism in Tennessee,” said Pace Cooper, Cooper Hotels president and CEO. “Our company has been committed to sustainability for years, with all five of our Florida hotels earning green designations by the Florida Department of...

RALEIGH, N.C.—Swiss-Dex USA, Corp., one of Europe’s leaders in radiant heating and cooling solutions, announced they are bringing their energy efficient heating and cooling system to the United States. The Switzerland-based company has been on the forefront of advances in green radiant ceiling heating and cooling systems all across Europe. The company’s opening of a U.S. sales office in the Triangle will now provide both residential and commercial builders across the country with a more effective and environmentally friendly alternative to force blown heating and cooling systems. The Swiss-Dex system has many advantages over the traditional force blown heating and...

SEVIERVILLE, TENN.—It would make sense that a resort called Wilderness at the Smokies would do everything it can to preserve the environment and be an environmentally responsible business. Although thousands of visitors travel from all over to experience the resort’s indoor and outdoor water parks every day, many of them don’t realize all that Wilderness at the Smokies is doing to be an environmental leader. The first thing many families notice when entering the indoor water park at Wilderness at the Smokies is that it feels like one is outside on a summer day—even in the middle of winter when...

LAS VEGAS—Keeping with its commitment to sustainability, CityCenter has commissioned the first stretch-limo fleet powered by compressed natural gas (CNG). Developed by Krystal Enterprises, the world’s largest manufacturer of stretch limousines, in collaboration with Clean Energy Fuels, BAF Technologies and Ford engineers, the 26 silver, 72-inch Lincoln Town Cars are 100 percent dedicated to utilizing CNG and will service CityCenter’s ARIA Resort & Casino and Vdara Hotel. “Commissioning the first CNG stretch-limo fleet is a demonstration of CityCenter’s commitment to environmental responsibility, while never sacrificing guest experience,” said Bill McBeath, president and COO of ARIA Resort & Casino. “Just...

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...