Because the dates for the National Restaurant Association’s (NRA) annual Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show in Chicago fell right on the heels of the HD 2008 Expo & Conference this year, I was unable to attend. However, there was an announcement made at the restaurant show that you should know about—especially if you operate any kind of food and beverage operation. The NRA announced the launch of “Conserve: Solutions for Sustainability,” an initiative designed to support the United States’ nearly one million restaurant and foodservice locations as they become more eco-friendly. “We are launching Conserve to raise awareness and provide resources...

SYRACUSE, N.Y.—Carrier Corp., a unit of United Technologies Corp., has introduced its new WeatherMaker rooftop product line with Puron refrigerant. This product line meets the increasing demand for more energy-efficient air conditioners with environmentally sound, non-ozone depleting refrigerant and factory-installed features. “I am pleased to introduce the new Carrier WeatherMaker rooftop product line with the initial release of the three to 10 ton units,” said Chris Nelson, vice president and general manager, Carrier Commercial Unitary Systems. “The new line provides our customers with a reliable and efficient packaged solution that is easy to install, maintain and use.” WeatherMaker rooftop products are...

CHICAGO—The InterContinental Chicago, a 792-room hotel located on the Windy City’s Magnificent Mile, has just obtained its Energy Star rating from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy. The hotel, in a building constructed in 1929, is the first hotel in Chicago to earn the rating. The energy performance of commercial and industrial facilities is scored on a 1 to 100 scale and those facilities that achieve a score of 75 or higher are eligible for the Energy Star, indicating that they are among the top 25 percent of facilities in the country for energy performance. The...

TROY, OHIO—Hobart’s next generation of conveyor warewashers, the CLe, is more productive, more energy efficient and uses less space than other conveyor warewashers in the industry. Incorporating the latest warewashing technology in one machine, the new CLe delivers clean and sanitized dishware at the lowest cost. The new CLe is Energy Star qualified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its energy- and water-saving advantages. Final rinse water usage is as low as .39 gallons per rack. “Hobart’s new CLe is designed to help foodservice and food retail operations enhance performance, minimize waste and save on valuable floor space,”...

NIANTIC, CONN.—INNCOM International, a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of guestroom automation systems for the international lodging industry, has unveiled a new design-centric energy-management solution made of recyclable glass that controls room temperature, lighting and more. The e4 Glass Series Smart Digital Thermostat and Switch, developed with design team tonychi and associates and lighting design partner Arc Light Design, were introduced at the Hospitality Design Expo and Conference last week. “The INNCOM e4 Glass Series finally gives designers the much needed flexibility to work in-room electronics into the overall guestroom design scheme,” said Arc Light designer Alejandro Bulaevsky. “The...

PARK RIDGE, N.J.—Following an increase of nearly 5 percent in 2007, the average price of electricity for industrial or large commercial entities in the United States rose another 3.9 percent over the past year. The annual survey by an independent consulting company, NUS Consulting Group of Park Ridge, N.J., found the average price of electricity in the United States was 9.44 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) as of April 1, 2008 compared with 9.08 cents per kWh in April 2007. The survey sampled 24 investor-owned electric companies in the country using a sample model of monthly usage totaling 450,000 kWh...

TALLAHASSEE, FLA.—Florida Governor Charlie Crist last week applauded Walt Disney Parks & Resorts for its achievement of 100 percent of its lodging properties earning the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Green Lodging Program designation, covering all 24 of its resort hotels. “I applaud Disney’s compelling participation in the Florida Green Lodging Program,” said Governor Crist. “Through its commitment, Disney is demonstrating the importance of environmental stewardship to thousands of employees and millions of guests.” Launched in 2004 by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Florida Green Lodging Program establishes environmental guidelines for hotels and motels to conserve natural...

ROANOKE, VA.—The Best Western Sandman in Sacramento, Calif., has installed Lodging Technology’s (guestroom energy management) GEM System and GEM Stat digital wall thermostats in all 116 guestrooms, utilizing their existing General Electric (GE) PTAC units. GEM System is an innovative, infrared sensor-based guestroom energy management system that reduces room energy costs 35 percent to 45 percent. GEM Stat is a digital wall thermostat that connects to existing GE, or other air-conditioning units, providing more uniform, accurate room temperature while meeting Best Western’s brand standard for digital thermostats. “The justification was rather easy” said Chuck Sarti, owner/operator of the Best Western Sandman....

MILWAUKEE, WISC.—Perlick Corp. has surpassed Energy Star standards by an average of 23.7 percent on its products receiving the Energy Star award since February 2007. Continuing its commitment to green practices, Perlick has announced, after an extensive study, its usage of ecomate, a new blowing agent and family of polyurethane foam systems, as the best choice in its efforts to maintain eco-friendly manufacturing practices. This new blowing foam meets all current and future regulatory requirements and is both USA EPA and SNAP approved. As a leader in commercial and residential refrigeration, Perlick continues to address future environmental and energy concerns,...

ADDISON, ILL.—Hotel managers considering the pros and cons of switching to wireless monitoring of temperature conditions critical to patron comfort and energy savings can now make more informed technology decisions with the Wireless Savings Calculator offered by Dickson Company, manufacturers of the Wireless Wizard Temperature Data Logger. “Hoteliers need to monitor temperature conditions affecting patrons and energy costs but nobody wants to spend a lot of time doing so,” says Chris Sorensen, Dickson’s V.P. Sales and Marketing. “The benefit of wireless data logging is that you no longer need to spend time retrieving data. Temperature data—both trends...