OLD SAYBROOK, CONN.—Situated on the site of one of New England’s first settlements (1623), the Saybrook Point Inn & Spa here has a rich history. Located in an environmentally sensitive area on the Connecticut River, one that recently has seen eagles return to it, the property is a champion of energy conservation and environmental protection. The 82-room inn has been run by the Tagliatela family since it opened as a renovated property in 1989. Stephen Tagliatela, co-owner, says the inn is the first full-service lodging establishment in Connecticut to earn the Energy Star from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and...

CHICAGO—In a presentation at Greenbuild earlier this month, Destiny USA founder and chairman Robert J. Congel introduced the initial design of a hotel and conference facility that will be the next phase of the Destiny USA project in Syracuse, New York. The hotel, which will feature more than 1,300 rooms, is being designed to LEED Platinum standards and will serve as a showcase for sustainability. “Five years ago, Destiny USA was still learning what it takes to build a living laboratory for environmental stewardship, renewable energy and innovation,” Congel said. “Fortunately, we were ahead of the curve. Today we are...

ATLANTA—How low can you go when it comes to energy reduction in buildings? Try net zero. Guidance on how to get there is featured in the technical program at ASHRAE’s 2008 Winter Meeting, January 19-23, at the New York Hilton, New York City. For complete meeting information, including abstracts on all technical program sessions, visit www.ashrae.org/newyork. “This technical program is ASHRAE’s most ambitious ever,” promises Mo Hosni, chair of the ASHRAE Program Committee. “First, the technical program is filled with sessions that focus on the hottest issues facing the industry—sustainability and net-zero energy buildings. Second, the program is structured to...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Kustom Options Inc. as a Green Product & Service Directory sponsor. Window films from Murrieta, Calif.-based Kustom Options help owners earn LEED points while reducing heating and cooling costs, enhancing views, and creating comfort zones. Kustom Options offers only the industry’s highest quality products; ceramic and metal-based products lead the way to comfort, quality and protection. Solar control, security, anti-graffiti, and decorative films are available. Call (866) 564-8468, e-mail kustomoptions@verizon.net, or go to www.kustomoptions.com.

NIANTIC, CONN.— INNCOM international, Inc. was singled out at the 92nd annual International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show, held in New York earlier this month, as the Kenneth F. Hine “Best of Show” award winner for its newest product innovation, ecoMODE. The honor was bestowed on INNCOM after being selected as one of 10 exhibitors out of 150 submissions to win a coveted Editors’ Choice Award. Now in its 12th year, the Editors’ Choice Awards serve as an opportunity for exhibitors to position their new products in the marketplace as the must-have new products of the year. Honorees were selected...

SAINT CHARLES, MO.—It’s no secret that lights left on in unoccupied guestrooms is a leading source of energy waste. So common is the problem that many lodging properties lose thousands to tens of thousands of dollars off each of their bottom lines every year because of it. To combat this, Watt Stopper/Legrand has developed a line of card key switches that give hospitality facilities a simple way to save energy. The HS Series of switches enable or disable power to a select number of electric circuits and loads present inside guestrooms, eliminating the potential for this waste. These card...

PHILADELPHIA—Westinghouse Lighting Corporation’s Energy Star rated, aluminum reflector compact fluorescent lamps provide the lumen output and color of conventional halogen PAR lamps while reducing energy costs by up to $60* per lamp in restaurants, guestrooms, common areas, hallways, and lobbies. The CFLs’ solid aluminum reflector eliminates the pinholes and silver degradation typical of glass PAR lamps. The lamps feature a hard glass stippled lens that provides smooth, even light distribution without “hot spots” and striations characteristic of halogen reflectors. Featuring a color rendering index rating of 82, these lamps come in 3000 Kelvin to match the light of halogen and metal...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Telkonet as a Founding Sponsor. Telkonet, founded in 1999, specializes in advanced integrated solutions for broadband data networking and energy management, including its highly successful in-building powerline communications (PLC) technology. Headquartered in Germantown, Md., Telkonet has more than 140 employees and serves thousands of customers worldwide. In 2007, Telkonet acquired Smart Systems International, a leading technology manufacturer of in-room energy management systems. In addition to more than 80,000 hospitality installations, Telkonet’s solutions are distributed by energy services companies for power utilities’ energy efficiency programs, where qualified hotel owners...

NAPLES, FLA.—Industrial Nanotech Inc. announced the release of a new nanotechnology-based coating designed to provide energy savings and mold protection for residential and commercial buildings. Nansulate HomeProtect Interior, a white, tintable interior coating and Nansulate HomeProtect ClearCoat, a translucent, exterior coating, are the newest products added to the company’s current line of insulation and corrosion protection coatings designed for heavy industry. Nansulate HomeProtect Coatings inhibit the growth of mold without the use of poisonous moldicides. Industrial Nanotech’s coatings can be applied to the walls and attics in homes, office buildings, or commercial facilities in order to reduce energy consumption and...

NEW YORK—The International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show may have seen its greenest collection of products in its history, as this year’s collection of exhibitors featured everything from towels with organic cotton and bamboo blends to touch-activated faucet systems that allow one to choose hot, warm or cold water with the touch of a button. Environmental concern was evident in exhibitor booth marketing as well, as vendors used green themes to catch attendees’ attention. The following are just some of the product announcement highlights from the show this past week. HD Supply rolled out its ideallygreen campaign, which emphasizes the environmental...