BETHESDA, MD.—For the third straight year, Marriott International has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with its Sustained Excellence Award. Among a long list of “green” accomplishments, the EPA noted Marriott’s energy reduction strategy, through which the company and its owners avoided $1.3 million in costs; decreased greenhouse gas emissions by 3 percent per available room; and increased its total number of Energy Star hotels to 275, the most of any hotel company. “Now, more than ever, helping to preserve the planet makes good business sense and is vital to the future of our company,” says Arne...

ARDSLEY-ON-HUDSON, N.Y.—Organizers of the First Annual Global Renewable Energy Networking Summit have announced that several of the country’s top leaders in the green hospitality industry have accepted invitations to speak and participate in discussion panels at the upcoming three-day event. Executive chairperson Clare Misquitta and event organizers confirmed that Scott Parisi, president of EcoGreenHotel and John Grillo, president of National Energy Services Co., will co-deliver a keynote address at the summit, which is being convened April 15 to 17 at the Bear Creek Mountain Resort and Conference Center in Macungie, Pa. “We are delighted that Scott and John have...

NATIONAL REPORT—Believe it or not, guestroom energy management systems have been around for almost 30 years now. According to Lodging Technology, it originated infrared occupancy sensor-based hotel energy conservation in 1980. It is only in the past few years, however, that wireless versions of the many hard-wired systems on the market have become available. Some vendors are just rolling out their wireless offerings. No two wireless systems are exactly the same but they all rely on thermostats, motion and/or passive infrared (PIR) occupancy sensors, along with door switches and transceivers/controllers to power down heating and cooling when guests have...

BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS—The Caribbean tourism sector has taken a major step towards energy efficiency within the hotel industry. The region’s public and private sector tourism groupings, the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA)—through its environmental arm, the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST)—have launched a 24-month project to help the Caribbean hotel sector move towards energy efficiency. The $2 million Caribbean Hotel Energy Efficiency Action Program (CHENACT) is meant to drive the Caribbean hotels to implement energy efficient practices and to generate their own renewable energy. This, in turn, is expected to improve their competitiveness...

BENTON HARBOR, MICH.—Whirlpool Corp., a leading home appliance manufacturer, has been recognized with the 2009 Energy Star Sustained Excellence award by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The award recognizes the company’s leadership in offering consumers appliance energy and water efficiency through its portfolio of brands. This is the company’s tenth Energy Star award and fourth consecutive Sustained Excellence win. Whirlpool Corp. will accept the award at ceremonies in Washington, D.C., on March 31, 2009. “Whirlpool Corporation is honored to again receive the Energy Star Sustained Excellence award,” said Mike...

SAN FRANCISCO—Meraki, an award-winning provider of wireless networking solutions, announced the availability of Meraki Solar, the world’s first self-powered WiFi mesh device. Meraki Solar is powered by its own solar panel and solar-charged battery and represents a quantum leap forward in enabling the rapid deployment of large outdoor networks. Meraki Solar is completely energy independent, making it ideal for providing WiFi coverage in hard-to-wire areas without easy access to power supplies such as business districts, resorts, rural areas, parks, golf courses, and more. Each unit is completely self-contained and ready to mount on roofs, walls, poles and anywhere that receives...

With all the “green” talk going around about reducing electrical consumption, one major energy user is rarely discussed—hotel PTAC/VTAC units. A dirty PTAC must often work twice as hard and consume twice the electricity to reach the desired room temperatures of demanding guests. Simply cleaning the filter on a regular basis is not enough. PTACs should be removed and thoroughly cleaned a minimum of once per year. Removing the dirt will increase efficiency significantly, and improve air quality immediately. Hoteliers that put an HVAC deep-cleaning plan into action for the first time can realize huge savings on their electric...

KENNER, LA.—Pellerin Milnor’s V-Series washer-extractors, with 40-160 lb. (18-72 kg) capacities, now feature NEW RinSave™ water saver software that eliminates excessive rinse and intermediate extract steps. This innovative process allows a precise high G-Force to “sling” the wash liquor (including water, chemistry, and soil) out of the goods between the last wash step and following rinse cycle. Milnor’s V-Series washer-extractors with RinSave software conserve water use without compromising superior wash quality. RinSave water saver software replaces as many as two rinse steps and saves up to 10 minutes per load. No matter what capacity, Milnor’s V-Series washer-extractors with RinSave...

GUANGZHOU, CHINA—Mayland Seaside Hotel, a five-star hotel project to be situated along the Zhujiang River, will feature an architecture style focused on sensibility to social responsiveness, energy use, urbanism and ecological awareness. The hotel is currently in the design phase and is due to be completed in 2012-2013, according to Narendra Patel, Patel Architecture, Rancho Mirage, Calif. The design provides for wind turbines on the upper portion of the tower and a massive array of photovoltaic panels covering the entire south façade. In the basement is a provision to incorporate a fuel cell power generator that would run on clean...

BOSTON—EnOcean announced a fundamental commitment to protect the environment by becoming an Energy Star partner. EnOcean, through its voluntary partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star Program, is helping to sustain green initiatives by fitting energy-inefficient buildings with self-powered wireless controls. EnOcean’s energy harvesting and wireless technologies simplify the installation of the energy-stingy wireless controls (sensors, switches, gateways and actuators) by replacing wires and batteries with self-powered wireless links. “The Energy Star partnership clearly communicates to architects, contractors and building owners that EnOcean is committed to protecting the environment and strengthening the economy,” said Jim O’Callaghan, president of...