HIDDEN VALLEY, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA—The Solar Eco Cabins and Interpretive Centre at Hidden Valley Cabins are an inspiration for the tourist industry and the community to follow, Stephen Pahl, CEO of Ecotourism Australia, said recently. “Hidden Valley Cabins is Australia’s first fully carbon neutral resort and tour business, and they have recently achieved Advanced Ecotourism Certification,” he added. “The official opening of the Solar Eco Cabins on April 4 is the culmination of the McLennan family’s commitment to environmental improvement over more than 20 years and they have achieved a model that should inspire the rest of the tourist industry...

SHEFFIELD, MASS.—Cypress Bath & Bed, a leading designer and manufacturer of luxurious bathrobes, towels, slippers, and sheets for the hospitality and spa industry, is experiencing a steady and increased adoption of their recently introduced Green Earth towels by California hoteliers. Due in part to the rising energy and water costs associated with laundering standard hotel and spa towels, California hotels have found a way to provide luxury linens, while reducing their operational costs. For these environmentally conscious hoteliers, the definition of product quality involves addressing and mitigating the energy and water costs it takes to launder, while not sacrificing...

ALSIP, ILL.— Litetronics International Inc. has introduced its GU24 socket adapters to accompany its line of Spiral-Lite GU24 compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). Litetronics GU24 socket adapters screw and lock into medium-based sockets to permanently retrofit fixtures into energy-saving GU24-based fixtures. Once the adapter is installed into the socket, it cannot be removed, which guarantees that inefficient incandescent bulbs cannot be used in the socket. Spiral-Lite GU24 CFLs and adapters are great for maintenance applications where building maintenance managers want to ensure energy-saving CFLs are used in the fixtures instead of incandescent lamps or for applications that require theft protection....

ORLANDO, FLA.—Florida solidified its position as a front-runner in sustainability late last month with the unveiling of the Orange County Convention Center’s new one-megawatt photovoltaic (PV) system, the largest rooftop solar installation in the Southeast. Solar panels span the length of five and a half football fields, generating 1,300 megawatt-hours of electricity per year—greatly reducing the center’s carbon footprint and electricity costs. The new PV system was made possible by a $2,500,000 grant provided by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Florida Renewable Technologies Grant. Additional support for the project was provided by the OUC, EDC and U.S. Dept. of...

NEW HYDE PARK, N.Y.—Evolve Guest Controls announced a fundamental commitment to protect the environment by becoming an Energy Star Partner. Evolve’s voluntary partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star program means that it will be working toward helping its clients improve the energy efficiency and performance of their properties. “We believe that an organization-wide energy management approach will help our clients enhance their financial health and aid in preserving the environment for future generations,” says Len Horowitz, president. “Evolve is very excited to be named an Energy Star Partner. This recognition underscores Evolve’s commitment to saving the planet...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Onity as a Green Product & Service Directory Partner. Onity is a leading provider of electronic locks, in-room safes and energy management systems to the hospitality, commercial, education, military and marine markets. Onity’s products are in more than 20,000 properties around the world. Onity/Senercomm offers a complete line of energy saving products. Its products merge digital temperature control with setback strategies that adjust the temperature to energy efficient levels when a room is unoccupied. Onity/Senercomm products work with all types of HVAC configurations and light control. For more information,...

PROVIDENCE, R.I.—NYLO Providence/Warwick has received Green Hospitality Certification from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM). In a ceremony before Rhode Island’s hospitality industry elite, the 163-room, urban loft hotel was honored for its outstanding conservation and recycling programs. NYLO Providence/Warwick is the state’s first hotel to run on 100 percent renewable energy. Through a partnership with People’s Power & Light, the property offsets its entire electricity usage with a mix of local and regional solar, wind, biomass and hydroelectric power sources. “Despite New England’s high energy costs, NYLO is deeply committed to sustainability,” says Christine Nevers, general manager,...

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,...