LOS ANGELES—Last month the Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo offered more than 135 new and innovative products. During the first two days of the show, 1,400 attendees cast their votes for their favorite new products that were on display. The Best Technology Award was presented to Glory Team International for their 100 percent organic, biodegradable single-use tableware. The Best Equipment Award was presented to Scotsman Ice Systems for their cube ice machine, energy efficient and self-monitoring with external diagnostic lights to alert staff when it is time to perform vital performance procedures. The Best Environmental/Safety Award...

BURBANK, CALIF.—Steril-Aire Inc. has published a new application bulletin describing how its multi-patented UVC technology can protect offices, stores and other commercial buildings while reducing costs. The bulletin, titled “UVC and Commercial Buildings,” explains how UVC devices installed in the air handling systems can result in a wide range of benefits, including mold and microbial control, enhanced indoor air quality, and energy and maintenance savings. The bulletin includes an overview of UVC features and benefits, a four-year cost-saving example, and product information on the different types of UVC devices for commercial HVAC applications. Customer testimonials are also included....

MALVERN, PA.—USA Technologies announced that Wisconsin Focus on Energy is the latest energy utility to offer rebates to customers who purchase its EnergyMiser product. Wisconsin Focus on Energy is the 24th state energy utility to join the USA Technologies National EnergyMiser Rebate Program and will offer rebates ranging up to $45 for VendingMisers and SnackMisers. The company also reported that the Silicon Valley Power utility, already participating in the program, had extended its rebate ranging up to $120 for VendingMisers and CoolerMisers for another 12 months. “USA Technologies applauds the Wisconsin Focus on Energy utility for...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes DBS Lodging Technologies, maker of Entergize, as a Green Product Directory Partner. Entergize guestroom energy control systems reduce guestroom energy consumption by 25 percent to 45 percent. Entergize controls both guestroom HVAC energy costs as well as lighting and electrical loads. Entergize is totally wireless and uses microchip control radio frequency (RF) communication. There is no need to connect parts with hard wires. Go to Entergize for more information.

DENVER—National park and resort concessioner Xanterra Parks & Resorts has received the National Park Service (NPS) 2006 Environmental Achievement Award for its performance at the Zion Lodge in Zion National Park. The NPS Environmental Achievement Award recognizes superior accomplishments in environmental stewardship. Zion Lodge also received the award in 2004. Xanterra also has received National Park Service Environmental Achievement Awards for environmental stewardship at the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, Yellowstone National Park and Mount Rushmore National Memorial. The 2006 award was presented by Fran Mainella, director of the National Park Service. “Xanterra at Zion...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The latest American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation (AH&LEF) and Smith Travel Research 2006 Lodging Survey provides valuable insight into industry availability of liquid soap dispensers, recycling programs, air purifiers, energy management sensors, linen/towel reuse programs and nonsmoking rooms. A total of 42,407 hotels were polled and twenty-one percent (9,300 hotels) responded to the survey that wrapped up the first quarter of this year. Survey results were released earlier this summer. The survey was funded by AH&LEF, the nonprofit affiliate of AH&LA, and tracked the size, scope and emerging trends of the U.S. lodging industry. The AH&LA...

ALSIP, ILL.—Litetronics International Inc. announces an innovation in cold cathode fluorescent technology. All Litetronics Micro-Brite decorative 3- and 4-watt candelabra base lamps are now dimmable. Litetronics has successfully miniaturized its patented cold cathode technology to bring candelabra-based Micro-Brite into the dimming family. Now it is possible to have the decorative look of candelabra lighting, the long life and energy savings of fluorescent lamps, and the ability to adjust the light level for any situation. The 3- and 4-watt Micro-Brite candelabra base lamps have a 25,000-hour life and offer more than 80 percent in energy savings over incandescent lighting....

NATIONAL REPORT—Imagine as a hotel general manager or chief engineer never having to worry about energy budgets, energy deviations and energy conservation. This is a new marketing strategy being employed by suppliers of gas and electricity to the hotel industry. These suppliers are commonly known as energy “remarketers.” The concept is fairly simple. The remarketer approaches the hotel owner, general manager or chief engineer with a proposal that entails just one payment every month for all forms of energy, regardless of how much energy the hotel uses. At first glance, this proposal may seem very attractive, as the negotiated figure...

DUNEDIN, FLA.—Mintek Mobile Data Solutions has released a white paper entitled, “The Case for Automated Asset Management & Preventive Maintenance.” The document makes the case for implementation of an automated solution such as Mintek’s Lodging Asset Management Suite to protect and extend the life of a hotel’s physical assets. The white paper includes examples of hotels that have implemented the company’s handheld, bar code and ASP-based systems. “Smart hotel owners and operators know that proper maintenance and management of hotel’s assets will result in extended asset life and fewer breakdowns,” says Lind Hutton, executive vice president and c.o.o....

DANBURY, CONN.—FuelCell Energy, Inc. a manufacturer of ultra-clean electric power plants for commercial and industrial customers, announced an advanced cell stack design that boosts the power output of its Direct FuelCell (DFC) power plants by 20 percent. The company is incorporating the enhancement across its entire line of power plants. By improving thermal management of electrochemical activity within the stack, the company has increased the power output from each cell and can produce more electricity from the same basic power plant components. The 20 percent increase in electric power output, combined with the company’s progress in its value...