DANBURY, CONN.—FuelCell Energy, Inc., a leading manufacturer of ultra-clean electric power generation plants for commercial and industrial customers, announced that the federal government’s recent extension of the Income Tax Credit (ITC) for fuel cells will continue to provide additional incentives for its ultra-clean power plant products through the end of 2008. Enacted as part of the U.S. Energy Policy Act of 2005, the ITC established a range of incentives for “green” electricity produced by non-traditional means. The company’s low-emission fuel cell power plants qualify because they run on renewable fuels (such as gas produced by breweries and other...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—More than 3,200 top performing buildings have earned the Energy Star for powerful cuts to their energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions. These award-winning buildings represent almost 575 million square feet, save an estimated $600 million annually in lower energy bills, and prevent almost 11 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions, equal to emissions from almost 900,000 vehicles. “Through Energy Star, President Bush and EPA are brightening our nation’s future, and I applaud these buildings for being America’s energy all-stars,” says EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. “Whether you are running a grocery store, a school, or an office building,...

DALLAS—Lodging Hospitality Magazine and Pineapple Hospitality have finalized the agenda for their first Green Hospitality Conference. The event will be held on March 14 at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas. The conference will precede Lodging Hospitality’s annual Hospitality Operations & Technology event. The day-long event will begin with an introduction and welcome from Gary Dietz, publisher of Lodging Hospitality, and Glenn Hasek, publisher and editor of Green Lodging News. From 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., Ed Watkins, editor of Lodging Hospitality, will moderate a “Green Hospitality—Past, Present, Future” session that will include the following participants: Wen Chang,...

MINNEAPOLIS—Honeywell has launched Energy Manager, an advanced energy management and information system that integrates with building systems, and allows users to view and control energy use in a facility. With the tool, organizations can analyze data—including weather reports, market conditions and systems demand—to create a comprehensive picture of energy usage patterns so they can lower total consumption and utility bills. “In times of energy market uncertainty, ‘best guesses’ don’t cut it for effective energy management,” says Mike Taylor, vice president of Americas marketing for Honeywell Building Solutions. “Companies need to know not just how much energy their facilities...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Marriott International Inc. announced that more than 85 hotels will earn the Energy Star label—signifying 35 percent less energy use than average buildings—from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this year. With more than 200 Energy Star-labeled hotels currently, Marriott continues to lead the hospitality industry in energy management and has set a goal to certify at least eight hotels per month with the Energy Star award. Recently, 12 hotels in Boston were recognized at the Boston Marriott Quincy. The 12 Boston hotels earning the Energy Star label include: Boston Marriott Quincy; SpringHill Suites Peabody; SpringHill Suites...

EL DORADO HILLS, CALIF.—CulinAire Systems, based here, has teamed up with the Melink Corp. of Cincinnati, Ohio, to bring the Intelli Hood demand ventilation system to the West Coast. Most commercial kitchen hoods operate at 100 percent capacity all day long, even during idle, non-cooking periods, costing the food service industry more than $2 billion annually in wasted energy. Using a microprocessor and sensors, the Intelli Hood solves this problem by reducing fan speeds during idle cooking times, saving both fan energy and conditioned air, saving thousands of dollars per hood in annual energy cost. These proven...

DUNEDIN, FLA.—Thanks to a warmer than normal start to the winter, hoteliers have had a respite from the sharp energy increases experienced in the recent past. Still, on average, energy prices were higher last year than the previous year for the fifth straight year. Who knows what the remainder of 2007 will bring? What we have all learned from the past is to expect the unexpected. One proven way to ensure that your hotel stays as energy efficient as possible is to implement a comprehensive preventive maintenance (PM) program that targets areas most vulnerable to excess energy consumption....

MALVERN, PA.—USA Technologies announced that all 24 energy utilities offering EnergyMiser rebates had renewed their incentive programs for 2007, and two more utilities had signed on for the first time, bringing the total to 26. “Energy utilities are responding to higher energy costs by extending their incentives to encourage customers to purchase energy conservation technology and lower consumption,” says Wendy Jenkins, vice president of marketing, USA Technologies. “USA Technologies is proud to collaborate with utilities prepared to take the lead and offer solutions that respond to the nation’s need to conserve energy and lower emissions." The two...

SAN FRANCISCO—Pacific Gas and Electric Company has presented Alliance Star Energy LLC with a ceremonial $1.25 million incentive check to help pay for a fuel cell electric power plant at Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc.’s Westin San Francisco Airport Hotel in Millbrae. PG&E has now provided over $200 million in clean energy incentives to customers in its service territory. “PG&E is proud to help The Westin San Francisco Airport Hotel achieve its greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals and we applaud the hotel for being an environmental leader in the hospitality industry,” says David Rubin, PG&E Director of...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Fairmont Washington, D.C. has awarded a contract to Pepco Energy Services, a subsidiary of Pepco Holdings Inc., to supply the hotel with 10 percent wind power. Fairmont’s hotels and resorts have been dedicated environmental stewards since 1990 with the development of the company’s comprehensive Green Partnership program, designed to minimize its properties’ operating impacts on the environment. “Every business has a responsibility to be environmentally responsible,” says George Terpilowski, general manager. The three-year contract calls for Pepco Energy Services to supply the 415-room Fairmont Hotel with more than 3 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity...