MALVERN, PA.—USA Technologies announced that five vending machine models from Vendo and Dixie Narco, two major U.S. manufacturers, are the first rebuilt refrigerated beverage vending machines to qualify for Energy Star. The five models are the first to meet the Energy Star requirements after being refurbished with USA Technologies’ VM2iQ. This technology reduces energy consumption and CO2 emissions. “The Energy Star qualification highlights how quickly and easily older machines can be refurbished and made more efficient to extend their life and deliver greater competitive advantage,” says Larry Eils, executive director, National Automatic Merchandising Assn. “This is important recognition...

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.—Using less water and energy than other conveyor dishwashers with equal productivity on the market today, the Conveyor Dishwasher Line by Electrolux Professional North America is the highly efficient solution for medium to high output warewashing demands. The Electrolux Conveyor Dishwasher can be set to clean at either 130 or 200 racks per hour to accommodate varied requirements. At 200 racks per hour, the dishwasher uses only 79 gallons of water per hour. It is ideal for use in hotels, catering and full-service restaurants. The Electrolux Conveyor Dishwasher provides energy savings through the use of...

TALLAHASSEE, FLA.—The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is partnering with OzoneSolutions Inc. to help Florida’s lodging industry protect the state’s environment. The partnership is the latest component of DEP’s Green Lodging initiative to encourage hotels and motels to adopt cost-saving ‘green’ practices that conserve energy, reduce water consumption, protect air quality and reduce waste. “Through the Green Lodging program, DEP is encouraging the lodging industry to become environmental leaders in their community,” says DEP Secretary Michael W. Sole. “Florida’s certified Green Lodges and program partners continue to save money and conserve resources while at the same time...

VANCOUVER, WASH.—The Hilton Vancouver Washington—one of the country’s first green, environmentally sustainable hotels—has been certified under the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED rating system, the nationally accepted benchmark for green buildings. This coveted certification recognizes buildings’ superior performance in areas such as water savings, low-impact landscaping, reduced energy use and indoor air quality. The Hilton Vancouver Washington is the first LEED-certified Hilton in the world and one of only a handful of LEED-certified hotels in the United States. “We are obviously very proud to have a hotel in America’s Vancouver receive this prestigious certification,” says Mayor Royce Pollard. “It is...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Marriott International Inc. announced that it has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 70,000 tons in one year—the equivalent of removing 10,000 cars from U.S. streets. As the first hotel company to proactively join the prestigious U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Climate Leaders Program, Marriott has set a five-year goal to reduce greenhouse gases by 6 percent per guestroom by 2010 and launched Marriott’s Retro-Commissioning (MRC) initiative last year to maximize energy in all U.S. hotels. As a result, Marriott reduced greenhouse gases in 2006 by 2 percent in each guestroom. Today, the company has been awarded...

LAS VEGAS—MGM Mirage’s $7 billion City Center project, an 18-million-square-foot development that will encompass 76 acres of the Las Vegas Strip between the Bellagio and Monte Carlo resorts, is moving closer to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification one big bucket of dirt at a time. Construction has been underway for nine months now and foundations have been poured for each of the project’s seven towers. Set to open in late 2009, the mixed-use project will include the following: a soaring 60-story, 4,000-room hotel tower, casino and convention center; a five-star, 400-room Mandarin Oriental; 400-room Harmon...

BOSTON—The Saunders Hotel Group (SHG) and its Four Diamond Lenox Hotel in Boston have received two of travel’s most prestigious awards. The Lenox Hotel was selected as the top urban hotel in the world on Conde Nast Traveler’s Annual Green List. The Saunders Hotel Group received a second prestigious award at the Skal International Ecotourism Awards Ceremony held in Thailand. Conde Nast Traveler’s exclusive list identifies the world’s top 12 crème de la crème hotels, destinations, and tour operators. Chosen by a panel of experts, the winners are judged for their commitment to environmental initiatives, their local communities...

SAINT CHARLES, MO.—Pineapple Hospitality’s new compact fluorescent (CFL) Fresh Bulb not only improves the guest experience by providing superior light quality and eliminating strong odors, but it also demonstrates a commitment to helping preserve the planet’s precious resources. “Environmentally conscious customers will appreciate knowing their stays at your hotel will have less impact on the environment, and this leaves a positive impression of your property,” says Ray Burger, president of Pineapple Hospitality. “You also benefit, as the Fresh Bulb provides a complete payback in just a few months and a 20-fold overall return on investment in lighting cost-savings....

NATIONAL REPORT—As a marketing concept, EcoRooms have been around since 1995. It was then that Upland, Calif.-based Green Suites International developed the idea. For whatever reason—confusion in the marketplace caused by the introduction of other Green Room concepts, or a lack of eco-consciousness within the industry—EcoRooms never took hold. Today, however, an increasing number of hotel owners and operators are discovering the value in promoting their environmentally friendly guest rooms as EcoRooms. What exactly is an EcoRoom? According to Dan Bornholdt, president of Green Suites International, an EcoRoom is a guestroom that includes at least a dozen products that are...

Many business owners and managers are well aware of the problems caused by hard water—from clogged pipes and iron stains to spotty glassware and inferior drinking water. What they’re not always aware of, however, is the impact of hard water on energy use and the associated costs. In hotels there are several types of equipment that can be affected by hard water, in terms of impaired efficiency and wasted energy: boilers, hot water heaters, cooling towers, humidifiers, washing machines, dishwashers, and shower heads to name a few. Let’s take a look at how hard water affects the energy efficiency of boilers....