Commercial buildings, including hotels in the United States, waste up to $60 billion in energy every year. That is not a good record, especially since by 2050, every building in the world will need to achieve the target goal of net-zero energy use to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. Given that most buildings that will exist in the next 30 years have already been built, the only way to get there is more technology and digitization of buildings and the built environment. So says Paul Ghezzi, CEO and Director of Kontrol Technologies, whose company’s aim is to make...

KAWASAKI CITY, JAPAN—In any conversation about green hotels, one of the hotels that deserves a lot of time is the Kawasaki King Skyfront Tokyu REI Hotel in Kawasaki City, Japan. The 186-room property is run by 100 percent renewable energy. Thirty percent of the energy is derived from hydrogen. Seventy percent of the energy is derived from food waste generated renewable energy. Since transitioning to 100 percent renewable energy the hotel has saved more than $15,000 per year. To generate hydrogen, used plastics (household plastic trash plus hotel amenities) are sent to Showa Denko K.K.’s hydrogen production facility where they...

Monsoon season excites many residents and tourists during the summer, but hotel operators and building owners must recognize that monsoon season can pose serious threats to people and property. This year, unpredictable and intense monsoons have been sweeping the southwestern United States, increasing the amount of dust and debris particles in the air which can decrease the performance and efficiency of air conditioning units. Not only does this reduce the level of comfort in the building, but it also impacts the quality of the indoor air your employees and guests breathe. It’s no surprise your building’s commercial HVAC unit is...

ODESSA, FLA.—Green Lodging News welcomes STEP HEAT to the Flooring/Radiant Heat section of its Green Product & Service Directory. STEP HEAT offers underfloor radiant heating solutions that bring warmth to hotels, reducing energy costs and improving indoor air quality. STEP Warmfloor® is a 24/48 Volt AC/DC heating system that warms the air by heating the objects within the space from the ground up. It features a self-regulating heating element that decreases its electrical consumption when the ambient temperature increases. STEP Warmfloor is installed by laying out the heating elements to the pre-designed layout and connecting to a low-voltage electrical...

One of the most interesting sustainability-focused megaprojects in the works currently is called GreenCity and is planned for the Richmond, Virginia metro region. The eco-district project will include commercial, entertainment and residential developments. Two hotels are planned for GreenCity, with the first scheduled to be developed in the initial development sequence, and the second to follow as the market dictates. A 17,000-seat arena is planned. Also included will be retail space and a 40-acre, publicly accessible park system. Transit connections are currently under study, but when completed will allow for easy regional access via bus and other systems. Some of...

SUNRISE, FLA.—energyware, a leading national provider of energy efficiency technology, will be featured in the award-winning documentary series Viewpoint with Dennis Quaid. The documentary project is hosted by actor and director Dennis Quaid. Its purpose is developing and distributing social and educational programming. The commercial version of the episode featuring energyware is set to air this month on Fox Business Network. The innovative series highlights the value of ESG (Environment, Social & Governance) by exploring the latest topics impacting the world through educational and inspiring stories. In a national spotlight, energyware aims to educate corporations about the benefits of energy efficiency. “As technology continues...

STEP HEAT Underfloor Radiant Heating Solutions STEP HEAT offers underfloor radiant heating solutions that bring warmth to hotels, reducing energy costs and improving indoor air quality. STEP Warmfloor® is a 24/48 Volt AC/DC heating system that warms the air by heating the objects within the space from the ground up. It features a self-regulating heating element that decreases its electrical consumption when the ambient temperature increases. STEP Warmfloor is installed by laying out the heating elements to the pre-designed layout and connecting to a low-voltage electrical power supply. The elements can be put under most non-conductive floor covering be it hardwood,...

IBIZA—Six Senses Ibiza recently opened, establishing itself as one of the world’s most discerning destinations for today’s generation of creatives and culture seekers. Conceived by architect and developer Jonathan Leitersdorf, the year-round destination set in secluded Xarraca bay offers a comprehensive range of amenities and programming, farm-to-table dining, music, art, sustainable fashion, culture, longevity and wellness. Each experience is inspired by the traditions and values of the island’s north to deliver an intentional destination that provokes meaningful moments of community, spirituality, and celebration. Xarraca Bay is a long-hidden secret on Ibiza’s northern tip. Integrated into its contours to enjoy unobstructed sunsets,...

BOSTON—Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, received top ranking for performance in its sector by Vigeo Eiris (V.E), the principal European environmental, social and governance (ESG) rating agency and part of the Moody’s Group. Schneider has also been included among the world’s most sustainable leaders in the mid-year reviews of the FTSE4Good Index and Euronext Vigeo Eiris indices. Earlier in the year, Schneider Electric was recognized as the world’s most sustainable corporation in 2021 by the Corporate Knights Global 100 Index. The recent ranking by V.E and inclusion in the FTSE4Good Index are testament to the Group’s ongoing...

NORTON SHORES, MICH.—EarthTronics, dedicated to developing innovative energy-saving lighting products that provide a positive economic and environmental impact, now offers a complete line of T5, T8 and PLL Type A “plug & play” lamp solutions for use directly with existing fluorescent ballast systems and Type B direct wire or ballast by-pass LED tubes. Available in stock, the new products provide an energy-saving solution for commercial, municipal, school and university building retrofit applications. The Type A linear LEDs are compatible with several different instant start, rapid start and program start ballasts. Designed to work on existing fluorescent electronic ballasts and emergency...