CLEVELAND, OHIO—Green Lodging News has added a new case study to its Vendor Case Studies section. The case study focuses on the Mandarin Oriental, Washington, D.C., and how Sonitec’s Vortisand filter was able to solve its cooling tower sludge problem. Massive amounts of the nasty stuff were detected in the chiller tubes, and the 12-inch system feeder pipe as well. The filtering apparatus on line proved ineffective at combating the problem, prompting management to seek out expert consultation. Patrick Payne of Boland Trane teamed up with Denny Alexander of Armstrong Filtration (provider of cost-effective filtration solutions based in Winchester, Va.)...

MINNEAPOLIS—Smart Candle, the Minnesota-based manufacturer and distributor of Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology products throughout The Americas, has been selected as a 2008 Small Business Success Story by Twin Cities Business, a leading business publication in the Minneapolis/St. Paul market. The award was presented during a recognition dinner on January 15, 2009, at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in Downtown Minneapolis. Award recipients were selected from a statewide pool of applicants based on criteria that included the ability to detect and act upon opportunities; perseverance, energy, marketing savvy and managerial skill. “We are proud to have been recognized by Twin Cities Business,...

OGUNQUIT, MAINE—The Meadowmere Resort here on the southern coast of Maine is demonstrating that a small resort can thrive while continuously reducing its environmental impact. The 144-room property, owned by the Cavaretta family, is operated with the belief that ecological and economic sustainability go hand in hand. Open year-round, not always a given in the Pine Tree State, the resort is an active member of Maine’s Green Lodging Certification program. The program, which is run by Maine’s Department of Environmental Protection, first certified the property as an Environmental Leader in 2006. It has since been recertified and has tripled...

ATLANTA—To help drive the building industry toward market-viable net-zero-energy buildings, ASHRAE is hosting a specialty conference on the topic in March in San Francisco. “We have a reached a time when the building industry is being called to shift to a new level of performance that will reduce our energy and carbon footprint,” Bill Harrison, ASHRAE president, said. “It is time to advance net-zero-energy building knowledge.” ASHRAE’s Countdown to a Sustainable Energy Future...Net-Zero and Beyond conference will take place March 29 to 31 at Hyatt at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco. The conference will provide a forum to discuss the...

BOYLSTON, MA.—Owl Power Co., developer and manufacturer of clean energy cogeneration systems, has announced Vegawatt, an innovative new cogeneration system for restaurants and food service facilities. Vegawatt uses waste vegetable oil from any food service operation as a fuel to generate on-site electricity and hot water, saving the restaurant thousands of dollars as well as providing a clean, renewable source of energy. Vegawatt is installed and has been running since early December at Finz Seafood & Grill. “As a restaurant operator I am constantly looking for more efficient methods, and especially for cost-saving measures,” said George Carey, owner of Finz...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Green Seal Inc., the first-ever eco logo in the United States, is participating in the Presidential Inauguration by certifying Neenah Paper’s Classic Crest, the paper stock for the Inauguration cards, and providing Green Seal certified accommodations at the Four Points By Sheraton Points in downtown D.C and the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill. The inaugural invitations were printed on recycled paper called Classic Crest and Green Seal certified the paper product as made with a minimum of 30 percent post consumer fiber and that mill processes, including packaging, are environmentally preferable. “It’s a distinguished cream color,” said Bernie Hennessy,...

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.—Moyer Diebel, boasting more than half a century of experience in the field, has recently added its newest under counter, the 351HT, to its lineup of quality dish machines. Replacing the current 301HT, this cost-efficient under counter has been updated with many new features and will make its world premiere at the NAFEM 2009 show. Made for small kitchens and bars, the 351HT is an Energy Star qualified machine that significantly reduces water and energy consumption while still delivering sparkling clean wares using a low 0.80 gallons per rack. New features on the 351HT include counter-balanced, double skin door,...

FAIRFAX, VA.—Crestline Hotels & Resorts, the fifth largest independent hotel management company in the United States, announced an expansive sustainability initiative that is scalable and inclusive across all of the branded and non-branded hotels in the company’s portfolio. Crestline manages 70 full and select service hotels, resorts and conference centers throughout the United States. “EarthPact is a comprehensive green initiative that uniquely addresses sustainability across multiple disciplines including administration, food and beverage, facility management, conferences and meetings, owner relations, public relations and rooms operations,” says Dave Durbin, president and CEO of Crestline Hotels & Resorts. “In designing EarthPact we...

ATLANTA—The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), along with nine other leading organizations, is forming a consortium in response to the U.S. Department of Energy request for consortia to advise the department on high-performance building issues. The High-Performance Commercial Green Building Partnership (HPCGBP) brings together leading organizations from all aspects of the building community to provide guidance and technical leadership on key sustainability issues to the Department of Energy’s Building Technologies Program. “This partnership will ensure that the voices of the building industry are being heard,” says Bill Harrison, ASHRAE president. “At a time when reducing energy...

HONOLULU—Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa has recently been awarded the 2008 Energy Star seal of approval by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy, the fourth time in the past five years. Rated for its energy consumption on a scale from one to 100, Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa scored 81 for its performance, the highest rating it has ever achieved. “We are honored to receive the distinguished Energy Star designation once again,” said Chris Tatum, general manager of Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa. “We are pleased to share...