YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK—California’s LodgingSavers program is going strong after just one year in operation. Introduced at last fall’s California Lodging Expo, it now has approximately 150 participants, including several properties in Yosemite National Park that are managed by Delaware North Companies (DNC). LodgingSavers is implemented by Ecology Action, Santa Cruz, Calif., and funded by California utility ratepayers under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission. LodgingSavers is open to properties throughout California that are serviced by Pacific Gas & Electric Co. (PG&E). According to Aaron Glade, program specialist for Ecology Action, LodgingSavers is attractive to hoteliers because of the...

EAST LONGMEADOW, MASS.—Excel Dryer Inc., a leader in the manufacture of American-made hand dryers, has introduced two new cover finishes to its line of high-speed XLERATOR hand dryers. The new appliance-grade white thermoset bulk molded compound (BMC) is very resistant to vandalism, while the brushed stainless steel finish XLERATOR delivers a distinct, architectural look to restroom interiors. These new options enhance the already extensive XLERATOR line, which includes traditional white, a fingerprint-resistant graphite cover, chrome plated, and custom colors for specific applications. “Our customers have asked for more finishes for our popular XLERATOR hand dyers, and we’e delivered,” says Denis...

NIANTIC, CONN.—INNCOM International Inc. officially changed the name of its Green Button option—featured on the e4 Smart Digital Thermostat—from ENVIRO-MODE to ecoMODE. The new name was selected to better reflect the feature’s eco-friendly functionality and makes it more recognizable as “green” to those seeking environmentally friendly solutions. With the simple push of a green button on the e4 Smart Digital Thermostat, guests can make the choice to participate in a host of environmentally-friendly and energy-saving programs predetermined by the hotel. The new ecoMODE will be showcased in booth number 3232 at the International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show, to be held...

FAIRFIELD, N.J.—Amerlux Lighting Solutions introduces Profilo, a new family of compact T5/T5HO fluorescent luminaires. Designed for ambient and display lighting applications in hotels, restaurants and resorts, Profilo utilizes the latest in compact fluorescent lamps and electronic ballast technology. Adding to Amerlux’s EcoTectural product line, Profilo continues its major commitment to facilitate sustainable strategies recognized by organizations such as the U.S Green Building Council. Compact in size, the Profilo is constructed with a one-piece extruded aluminum housing and features a drawer latching system that provides clean joints in continuous row-mounting applications. Aircraft cable suspension in 4-foot or 8-foot lengths are standard....

NEW YORK—The 20-day national Energy Star Change a Light Bus Tour concluded with nearly 1 million Americans across the country pledging to change more than 2.6 million lights to help fight climate change. This represents a potential savings of nearly $70 million in energy costs and prevention of 1 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions. EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson ended the 10-city tour at Manhattan’s Union Square. “Some have said one person can’t change the world,” Johnson says. “Well, how about a million people? By teaching nearly a million Americans that protecting the environment and saving money is...

NEW YORK—The Sugar Hill Harlem Inn, housed in a historic building more than 100 years old, is finalizing the installation of 18 solar panels on its roof. Jeremy Archer, owner of the five-room inn, expects the panels to supply one-half of the building’s electricity needs. The panels cost the inn $17,000 but a grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) covered one-third of the costs. A low-interest loan from New York City’s Neighborhood Housing Services also is helping to defray the expenses. Archer says part of the requirement for obtaining the NYSERDA grant was that...

NEW PORT RICHEY, FLA.—The Foodservice Consultants Society International named Enodis as the Education Provider of the Year during its annual awards ceremony during the North American Foodservice Manufacturers Association (NAFEM) Show in Atlanta. The award was presented to Enodis, a global leader in foodservice equipment manufacturing, for its accredited training program, “Energy Saving Technology in Foodservice,” designed specifically for consultants. The training is offered several times each year at the Enodis Technology Center in Tampa, Fla. Consultants are presented with a one-day overview of the green trends driving kitchen innovation today and the ways in which different categories of equipment...

CARROLLTON, TEXAS—Motel 6 has signed on to participate in the Honeywell Cool Control Plus program, which is designed to help drastically reduce Motel 6’s environmental footprint. Working on behalf of Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), Honeywell will install energy-saving retrofits in a total of 7,530 rooms in the 66 Motel 6 properties located within PG&E’s service area in northern and central California. Motel 6 has independently installed the Telkonet SmartEnergy (formerly Smart Systems) occupancy sensors and thermostats in 49 properties in California, and teaming with PG&E and Honeywell will bring the total number of rooms with retrofits to 13,440. “By...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—GE Consumer & Industrial’s new program-start UltraStart Watt–Miser T5 Systems for retail, property management, commercial and industrial applications deliver a multitude of performance advantages compared with standard T5 systems. The systems offer wattage savings with lumen equivalency, parallel operation that keeps the unit operational despite a lamp failure, fast start times and a continuous cathode cutout functionality that reduces ballast wattage consumption and maximizes fixture efficiency at higher temperatures. Upon initial installation, a 4-lamp F54-T5-WM-ECO fixture with the new ultra-efficient linear fluorescent T5 ballast (GE454MVPS90–E) from GE delivers 20,000 lumens while consuming just 216 watts (93 lumens per watt)...

ROCKVILLE, MD.—SmartCube, the next generation minibar released in 2006, has replaced AutoClassic as the No. 1 fully automated minibar in the U.S. hotel market. Over the past 12 years, Minibar Systems has installed thousands of the AutoClassic line of automated minibars throughout North America. As the co-designer of the AutoClassic, Minibar Systems will continue to support all hotels with AutoClassic for the next several years and advises hotels that have the AutoClassic system to call 1-877-464-6422 for immediate technical, operational and spare parts support. Smartcube, a ground-breaking next-generation product from Minibar Systems, combines cutting edge technology, upgradeability, eco-friendly materials, upscale...