EAST FREETOWN, MASS.— The new, 94 percent-efficient ModCon Commercial Condensing Boiler from Heat Transfer Products features a high-grade Inconel, load-matching gas burner with a five-to-one turndown ratio, to meet the variable needs for space heating and domestic hot water in a single application. The 500,000 Btu per hour model, for example, will operate as low as 100,000 Btu/h, saving energy on warmer spring and fall days when the heating load is light and spans just a few hours. In addition, direct-vent sealed-combustion ModCon boilers can be stacked, two at a time, to double capacity while maintaining the same small footprint....

KISSIMMEE, FLA.—Gaylord Hotels and The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) welcomed Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center into the Florida Green Lodging Program. The 1,406-room resort is one of the largest in that state to participate, and the first in Osceola County’s popular Kissimmee resort corridor. In addition, the resort announced the upcoming rollout of a new guest communications program, called “We’re Eco-Logical”, designed to share the spirit of the resort’s eco-friendly initiatives with guests and meeting planners, while encouraging them to take an active role in the programs. “Together with the citizens of Osceola County, we have created one...

WORCESTER, MASS.—Wet-Tech introduces the EnviroSaver II ELS Ozone and Water Re-use system. Both systems, which result in significant cost savings, can be retrofitted to existing laundries and provide proven bacteria and virus protection. Using the company’s Water Re-use system can result in water savings of up to 50 percent or more. Go to www.wet-tech.com for more information.

LAGRANGE, OHIO—West Development Group (WDG), a leader in sustainable roofing products and practices, introduces the System 14 Total Silicone Roof System. System 14 is a comprehensive roofing solution that delivers a complete range of products, including silicone sheet goods, skylight glazing, silicone sealants and coatings, and Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) insulation, as well as other products for any commercial or industrial roofing situation. WDG’s System 14 features a zero VOC coating (HSS 535) that is applied over a soy-based SPF, creating a moisture-resistant seal that is both durable and flexible. A silicone topcoat cures in a few hours; forms a...

LAS VEGAS—Last July, when Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. announced its approximately $1 billion expansion of Caesars Palace—an addition that includes a new 665-room hotel tower and 263,000-square-foot meeting and convention center—it did not talk about one important element of the project: its pursuit of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. According to Eric Dominguez, Director of Energy and Environmental Services for Harrah’s, the LEED initiative is just one of many of the company’s efforts to build and operate in an environmentally responsible fashion. The new Caesars Palace hotel addition—named Octavius Tower for the...

BETHESDA, MD.—Marriott International, Inc. ranked among the top 10 on Computerworld magazine’s first-ever “Top 12 Green IT Companies” list. Marriott, the only hospitality company named, was recognized for IT energy conservation, IT recycling and reduction of carbon emissions. Marriott’s IT environmental achievements include: • Establishing Energy Star compliance standards for all IT assets; • Eliminating 25.6 tons of CO2 output annually by replacing printers; • Reducing IT energy consumption by utilizing server virtualization, resulting in the elimination of 300 servers; • Replacing 5,000 desktop PCs with thin client computers, reducing energy consumption by 50 percent per device; and • Archiving data, resulting in 65 percent reduction in power usage. “We...

AUBURN, N.H.—“If North Carolina implemented 85 percent cold-water washing using ozone at laundry facilities in colleges, universities, hotels and nursing homes statewide, the savings in water and natural gas could provide enough energy to run a city of 45,000 people for one year,” said Ralph Daniels, founder of Aqua Wing Ozone Injection Systems (AWOIS) LLC. Daniels was an invited speaker at the recent North Carolina State Energy Office Strategic Water Technology Conference, a meeting held in response to the state’s severe drought. Gov. Michael Easley tasked the North Carolina State Energy Office with investigating and recommending strategic measures for public...

NATIONAL REPORT—Years ago, before there were standards limiting water flow, hotel showers were kind of like Niagara Falls—fast and mighty. Today, for the most part, showerheads allow 2.5 gallons of water per minute (gpm) to funnel through to guests. Increasingly, because of environmental concerns such as drought, as well as a desire to trim recurring water and energy costs, hoteliers in every lodging segment are opting for low-flow showerheads that give up a miserly 2.0, 1,85, 1.75, 1.6 or 1.5 gpm. Every hotelier knows that one of the best ways to rankle a guest is to provide an inferior shower...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Finding energy efficient schools, supermarkets, offices, and other facilities throughout the country has become even easier for Americans interested in being green. Now they can find the Energy Star not only where they live but where they work, shop, play and learn. The number of commercial buildings and manufacturing plants to earn the Energy Star for superior energy efficiency is up by more than 25 percent in the past year, and the amount of carbon dioxide emissions reduced has reached an all-time high of more than 25 billion pounds. “From a historic office tower in the Big Apple...

SANTA CLARA, CALIF.—Watt Stopper/Legrand has developed lighting control solutions designed to enhance high-end, modern construction. The company’s newest commercial occupancy sensors incorporate sophisticated design details that make them aesthetically pleasing as well as easy to operate. At the same time, each package is manufactured to withstand the rigors of commercial use; both the robust housing and the control electronics are engineered for longevity. Watt Stopper/Legrand’s ceiling occupancy sensors sport a low profile design that virtually disappears into the ceiling tile to be as unobtrusive as possible. Wall switch occupancy sensors, featuring soft curves and an extremely low profile, are now...