SACRAMENTO, CALIF.—The California Energy Commission (CEC) took a major stride toward zero-carbon emissions buildings in the 2022 update of the statewide building energy code it just adopted. Energy use in buildings is responsible for a quarter of California’s climate pollution, and seven times more toxic nitrogen oxide air pollution than all the state’s power plants. CEC’s new code follows the lead of the 48 California Cities and Counties that have so far adopted local building energy codes that transition new homes and other buildings off fossil fuels. The state building code sets energy requirements such as minimum efficiency of walls, windows, and heating and...

TORRANCE, CALIF.—LEDtronics announces its latest series of Slim LED Flood Lights that put out a surprising amount of light for their compact size and low power consumption. The high efficacy, multiple mounting options, and sleek design make the light fixtures an ideal and easy installation in various applications. The area lights are offered with a choice of angular adjustable brackets with multiple mounting options for various lighting situations indoors or outdoors, such as in pole-mounted area and building security lighting, wall washing building exteriors, sign lighting, landscape lighting, tennis courts, parks, playgrounds, parking lots and structures, as well as driveway...

WEST LAFAYETTE, IND.—By now, it’s well known that circulating outdoor air in buildings is safer than recirculating indoor air. That point was driven home by the pandemic. Problem is, it is just not cost-effective. That may soon change. Purdue University engineers have proposed a system that combines new membrane technology with the latest HVAC systems to make 100 percent outdoor air systems more energy-efficient and economically feasible—especially in warm, humid climates. They say their system could save up to 66 percent in energy costs for large buildings that choose to use the safer outdoor air. Previous research at Purdue has shown that...

JACKSONVILLE, FLA.—There have been many combinations of fibers that have come together in recent years to form towels that have been more sustainable in nature, but few companies have combined organic cotton and hemp. One such company is Anact. Anact was founded on Kickstarter by Brianna Kilcullen 2019. In that year she helped legalize hemp in Florida while founding her company. Prior to starting Anact, she worked in the apparel industry for prAna, a subsidiary of Columbia Sportswear and Under Armour. “I worked for Under Armour and got to see the impact of the textile industry,” Kilcullen says. “I ended...

NATIONAL REPORT—The Covid-19 pandemic is one of the most devastating natural disasters to have ever occurred. With the death toll in the millions, it has been a terrible event for humankind. But some positives have come from this tragedy. One such positive is about the storage of energy. This post will show you what we’ve learned about storing energy from Covid-19. Read more. Resilience The energy storage industry has seen a record deployment of projects in the last few years. This resilience results from the technological milestones that the industry has made and more available financing options. Energy storage markets will...

Axxess Industries THE trusted Guest Service System & Smart Room Controls Specialist Hotel Owners and Operators are looking for a variety of ways to reduce the cost of running their hotels and attracting more guests. Axxess Industries manufactures a comprehensive assortment of elegant, practical, tech-savvy products for the Smart Automation and Control of Hotels. Our guestroom control systems combine to save energy and staff costs while wowing guests with comfort and convenience. Our electronic Do Not Disturb systems guarantee guest privacy while making staff more efficient. All systems and room number signs are highly customizable and made in Canada. Think Smart...

EAST LONGMEADOW, MASS.—Excel Dryer, Inc., manufacturer of the XLERATOR Hand Dryer, has welcomed a new Director of Global Sales to their team. Tammy Stone joins Excel Dryer with more than a decade of experience. “When looking for someone who could head up our global sales, Tammy was the perfect fit,” said William Gagnon, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Excel Dryer. “In addition to speaking five languages, Tammy holds three degrees, two of which she received at overseas universities. She is knowledgeable, driven and will share her vast expertise in business and global solutions with our team.” Born in the Republic of Georgia,...

TULSA, OKLA.—AAON, Inc., a leading manufacturer of heating and cooling products, announced that its RZ Series Rooftop Unit has been selected 2021 Commercial Comfort Product of the Year in the Rooftop Units category, by a panel of independent engineers selected by the editorial staff of Engineered Systems magazine. AAON RZ Series Rooftop Units are designed to be selectable with all the features needed for a job, making it a simple, turnkey piece of equipment designed to minimize installation time and reduce labor costs. The units, available from 45 to 261 tons with air-cooled or evaporative condensers, feature variable-speed compressors optimized to maintain...

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CALIF.—Melissa, a leading provider of global data quality and address management solutions, announced its Global Green initiative, a cohesive program of sustainable work practices implemented at its corporate locations across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and India. “With our global presence, we recognize the opportunity for positive impact on the broad regional areas we serve,” said Greg Brown, Vice President, Global Marketing, Melissa. “Our offices reduce, re-use, and recycle—in alignment with our overall values and corporate mandate to help businesses reduce mail waste and eliminate returned shipments. We are also expanding our existing pre-pandemic policies to include...

COMMERCE, CALIF.—Nora Lighting’s Wet Location Emergency and Exit Lights feature three updated models that all include self-diagnostic testing; manual test switch; 90-minute backup battery; and brownout and short circuit protection. The fixtures have impact-resistant polycarbonate housings with flame retardant/wet location ratings and are designed for egress lighting where non-corrosive splashing and dripping may occur. The lights are UL-listed and meet or exceed UL 924, NFPA 70 and NFPA 101 Life Safety Code. They include: Dual Head Emergency (NE-970) with two 2.5W fully adjustable LED emergency heads; LED Exit and Emergency Combination (NEX-720-LED) with dual 3.2W adjustable heads and exit sign; and...