NATIONAL REPORT—Business owners face endless challenges of having to make risky decisions. From employee management to operations, cost reduction and customer retention top the list. One solution that takes care of both concerns simultaneously is commercial solar. Understandably, with most blue-chip companies using the system, it seems expensive and off-putting. However, it has become a viable option for all businesses to capitalize and benefit from with its rapid evolution. Reduced Overhead Costs & a Generous ROI Like any good product, there are solar energy pros and cons worth considering. For example, one of the most significant benefits of solar panels is that...

SHELTON, CONN.—Budderfly, #10 overall and #2 in energy on the 2021 Inc. 5000 America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies list, announced a partnership with KE2 Therm Solutions, a leading developer and manufacturer of smart refrigeration controllers. The agreement enables Budderfly EnergyCloud’s learning algorithms to integrate with KE2 Therm’s KE2 Evaporator Efficiency refrigeration controller for the most efficient operation and precise temperature control of refrigerated spaces. Results are displayed on Budderfly’s real-time dashboard where automated alarms are triggered, and owners notified if components exceed set thresholds. Effective operation and control of refrigerated spaces are critical to avoid catastrophic loss of perishable product. A typical walk-in freezer or...

NATIONAL REPORT—Recent weather disasters, social unrest and a heightened awareness of racial bias have prompted hoteliers to double down on their commitments to become better corporate citizens and do more to address environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. These are moves toward a social good, sure, but also have ramifications on hotel company P&Ls. Marriott International is one good company example. It recently announced a commitment to reach net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050. The pledge follows the previous setting of goals by the massive global company to reduce single-use plastics, cut down on food waste by 50 percent and...

SILVERTHORNE, COLO.—The Pad, a boutique hotel with hostel-style rooms and a high-end mountain modern design, has opened its doors and welcomed its first guests in the heart of Silverthorne, Colo. along the banks of the Blue River. As the first newly constructed boutique hostel in the Rocky Mountains, The Pad incorporated 18 upcycled shipping containers into its environmentally friendly construction and design. The Pad is one of the country’s first lodging properties to be constructed using upcycled shipping containers and is on track to becoming the first Colorado-based lodging company to attain B Corp. certification. “We’re using upcycled shipping containers and...

BERKELEY, CALIF.—In a resounding vote of support for climate action, 92 percent of shareholders supported a Say on Climate resolution filed by shareholder representative As You Sow asking the world’s global foodservice leader, Sysco Corp., for Paris aligned, net-zero targets, an aligned climate transition plan, and annual reporting of progress. The proposal earned a majority vote of 92.1 percent representing more than $25.8 billion in assets voted. This resolution is part of a larger “Say on Climate,” global investor movement calling for companies to develop a net-zero, 1.5 degree-aligned climate transition plan for their Scope 1-3 greenhouse gas emissions plus annual reporting on success in reducing...

NATIONAL REPORT—Running on power supplied by rooftop solar panels, self-sufficient mobile hotel rooms are set to disrupt the hospitality industry while meeting the changing demands of tourists and travelers. The environmentally friendly units offer the same amenities as a traditional luxury hotel room, but because power is provided by off-grid solar energy, environmentally aware and adventurous tourists are able to experience staying in a variety of locations. Not only do they provide flexible and efficient energy for nomadic off-grid travelers, solar panels can also add value to hotels, lodgings and other permanent residential properties. Solar Energy Systems Add Value to Permanent Vacation Properties Around...

AUSTIN, TEXAS—Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) and the Global Finance Committee (GFC) are preparing for the Fall 2022 release of the 12th Revised edition of the Uniform System of Accounts for the Lodging Industry (USALI). Prior to publishing the newest edition, HFTP and the GFC have recruited a group of leading industry stakeholders to participate in the review of exposure drafts, requesting comments for consideration ahead of the 12th edition publication. The first exposure draft is for a new section titled: “Energy, Water, and Waste.” “This is the first of many steps as environmental, social and governance objectives and measures will continue to change with the...

ATLANTA—Acuity Brands, Inc., a market-leading industrial technology company, announced it has published its third annual EarthLIGHT Report, highlighting its Fiscal Year 2021 accomplishments and ongoing progress on its initiatives. EarthLIGHT—a central tenet of Acuity’s strategy—reflects its comprehensive approach to manage, organize and report Environmental, Social, and Governance (“ESG”) topics. Through EarthLIGHT, Acuity improves its performance, increases transparency, and better highlights results on its numerous ESG priorities. “We are committed to lessening our carbon footprint and helping our customers do the same,” said Neil M. Ashe, Chairman, President and CEO of Acuity Brands. “We are reducing waste, lowering costs, minimizing carbon impacts,...

NATIONAL REPORT—With so many varieties and technologies to choose from, choosing the right shades for your hotel may not be an easy one. Cost may ultimately guide your decision but so too must the extent to which to filter light, UV rays, and heat. You can go basic with manual roller shades or choose from a variety of motorized, automated, or programmable shades that one can control from the guestroom or the front desk. Increasingly, shade manufacturers are getting increasingly creative in how they deliver the best guest experience while reducing energy and overall costs at the same time....

PHILADELPHIA—Aramark, a global leader in food, facilities, and uniform services, announced its commitment to set enterprise-wide science-based targets, to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, in line with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). This commitment follows the company’s announcement earlier this year, of its goal to reduce GHG emissions by 15 percent, from its 2019 baseline, by the end of 2025 (in the United States), and will align the company with the Science Based Target initiative’s new Net-Zero Standard. The announcement affirms Aramark’s commitment to set a near-term science-based target to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions within 5 to 10 years and a...