SYRACUSE, N.Y.—The most recent advances in environmentally sound and energy-efficient commercial indoor air comfort technologies from Carrier Corp. are featured in a new traveling exhibit. Carrier is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. The Carrier Traveling Showcase is available for viewing exclusively through Carrier authorized sales locations. The 51-foot, 18-wheel trailer transforms into a living laboratory featuring a variety of the latest Carrier commercial product technologies: the Carrier Evergreen 23XRV variable speed screw chiller; the Carrier AERO Air Handling units; the Carrier Microchannel Heat Exchanger; the Carrier Centurion rooftop cooling units; and the Carrier 3V and i-Vu control systems. “The...

NATIONAL REPORT—Guestroom energy management systems that use keycards to activate or deactivate electrical power in the guestroom are very common in Europe and Asia. In the United States, however, acceptance of these types of systems has been slow and they are almost never found in hotels. However, with increasing concern about climate change, saving energy and cost cutting, this is beginning to change. Properties representing brands such as Kalahari Resorts, Orchard Garden, Embassy Suites, Westin, Holiday Inn and others are finding that keycard-based systems are not so bad after all. “Over the last year, there has been so much play about...

MILWAUKEE, WISC.—Perlick Corp., celebrating its 90th anniversary, announced that it has surpassed Energy Star standards by an average of 23.7 percent on its products receiving the Energy Star award. Perlick is a maker of under-bar equipment, refrigeration equipment and beer system packages that optimize energy use. “According to Energy Star, when you compare standard models to Energy Star models, Energy Star commercial solid door refrigerators and freezers can lead to energy savings of as much as 45 percent, says Scott Ehaney, project engineer. “Our best model is the R24 Front Load Refrigerator which surpasses the Energy Star standard by 64.4...

AMES, IOWA—Quality Attributes Software and Beck Technology recently announced a partnership that will help extend the reach of ongoing commissioning (monitoring energy costs of mechanical equipment for the lifecycle of a building) to include Macro BIM (building information modeling). The integration of Quality Attributes iBPortal (Intelligent Building Portal) with Beck Technology DProfiler with RSMeans will allow building owners and managers to fully understand lifecycle energy costs as related to planned costs. Energy costs are compared to a baseline, set through DProfiler in the design and building phases of the project, allowing owners and managers to make adjustments and keep...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—EPA has updated its Top Green Power Purchasers list highlighting organizations committed to purchasing green power. The National Top 25 list of Green Power Partners accounts for more than 6 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year of green power purchasing, more than 60 percent of the total kWh in the Green Power Partnership; reducing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of more than 700,000 vehicles. “America is shifting to a ‘green culture,’ with more and more businesses understanding that environmental responsibility is everyone’s responsibility,” says Marcus Peacock, EPA’s Deputy Administrator. “EPA commends the leading Green Power Partners for making...

TORONTO—A firm advocate of sustainable energy, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has announced its continued involvement with the Pembina Institute, a leading non-profit environmental organization that actively promotes sustainable energy solutions. As part of this ongoing commitment, Fairmont is expanding the program in 2007 to include all of its corporate office computers across North America. Since 2006, Fairmont has purchased an equivalent of 390 MwH of wind power to offset the greenhouse gas emissions generated by all of its front desk check-in computers. Made possible by purchasing Eco-Logo certified wind power, Fairmont will now have a total of 837 computers...

Beginning January 1, 2008, state agency and department employees in Florida will be required to stay at Florida Green Lodging hotels when they travel. An Executive Order was recently issued by Governor Charlie Crist. Florida currently has 25 hotels certified as Green Lodging properties with 46 applications in process. Because of the governor’s decision, you can be sure that even more hotels will be signing up for the program soon. As reported on Green Lodging News this week, there are now eight states that have green lodging programs with some type of certification. Lodging establishments that participate in these programs...

NEW PORT RICHEY, FLA.—The use of “green” products is growing in U.S. restaurant operations, and ice machines lead the way in energy-saving food and beverage equipment purchases. That’s according to an online Enodis survey of restaurant operators. Enodis asked operators to identify the categories of energy-efficient products they had purchased over the past two years. Eighty six percent of respondents indicated they had purchased some form of energy-saving food or beverage equipment in the past two years. Thirty one percent of respondents to the online survey reported purchasing energy-saving ice machines. Energy-saving products are a growing trend in the foodservice...

BOSTON—The Doubletree Guest Suites Boston has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s prestigious Energy Star, the national symbol for protecting the environment through superior energy performance. By earning the Energy Star, the Doubletree Guest Suites Boston is using at least 35 percent less energy than average buildings, while still providing quality service and comfort to its hotel guests and employees. Located near some of the nation’s finest universities overlooking the scenic Charles River and Boston Esplanade recreational trails with panoramic views of the Boston and Cambridge skylines, this upscale, 308-suite hotel joins approximately 930 buildings nationwide that earned the Energy...

CHICAGO—Meiko USA Inc.’s exclusive Waste Air Heat Recovery System reclaims waste heat generated by its warewashing machines as free energy, and uses it to preheat the incoming rinse water. This conserves energy and provides hot water sanitization from a cold water supply. The exclusive Waste Air Heat Recovery System is a standard feature on all K-Tronic series rack conveyors, and is an option for all B-US Series flight-type conveyors. In addition to the financial benefits for the consumer, the Waste Air Heat Recovery System provides environmental benefits. Exhaust air is dramatically cooled to reduce its impact on the environment. Because...