CEDAR CREEK, TEXAS—When the developers of the new eco-luxury hotel located about 20 minutes from downtown Austin describe their new property as being “heavenly,” they are not kidding. The hotel, which consists of 12 dome-style villas, a 200,000-gallon natural water pool, and restaurant is called “The Heavens.” Set to open in mid-2025, each villa is named after a constellation and features handcrafted stained-glass windows, bottle artwork on the ceiling representing the constellation, and reclaimed cedar wood furnishings. Developer Dan Mages says four of the villas are completed and the rough plumbing has been completed for the fifth one. “We call them...

SWORDS, IRELAND—Trane Technologies, a global climate innovator, has been named to The Wall Street Journal’s list of the Best-Managed Companies for the third consecutive year. The ranking, developed by the Drucker Institute, measures corporate effectiveness, based upon five principles: customer satisfaction, employee engagement and development, innovation, social responsibility, and financial strength. “At Trane Technologies, we believe that bold ambition drives action, impact, and results. We’re honored to be recognized by The Wall Street Journal and the Drucker Institute as one of the Best-Managed Companies for a third consecutive year, validating continued strong financial performance and meaningful progress on our sustainability commitments,” said...

ODESSA, FLA.—Green Lodging News has added Arte to its Green Product & Service Directory in the “Wallcoverings” category. Since its founding in 1981, Arte has combined passion for design and a drive for technological innovation in elegant wallcoverings that complement a range of interiors, from sumptuous classic to minimalist avant-garde. With hundreds of designs in thousands of colors, Arte’s award-winning wallcoverings reflect a rich range of elegance, style and taste for every type and style of project, backed by outstanding dedication to customer service and an extensive sampling program. Having achieved the international, officially recognized carbon neutral label, Arte’s mission...

PALMA DE MALLORCA, SPAIN—Iberostar Group, a leader in responsible tourism, unveiled its new roadmap showcasing its commitment to circular economy principles at the 28th edition of the United Nations Conference (COP28) in Dubai, at the UNWTO event: Tourism United for Climate Action—Delivering on the Commitments of the Glasgow Declaration. Its latest report serves as a bold statement of intent, signaling a commitment to drive value and continuous improvement at its destinations. It also outlines Iberostar’s progress on decarbonization, waste management, and reduction of single-use plastics, including learnings from its first approaches. Innovation and collaboration stand as paramount pillars in shaping the value chain, with the report emphasizing their pivotal roles. The collaborative...

PHOENIX—BWH Hotels, one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has announced a collaboration with Tesla to bring electric vehicle (EV) charging stations to properties throughout North America, with plans to expand internationally. Beginning in 2024, BWH Hotels will begin installing Universal Wall Connectors at selected hotels across North America. With the recent launch of Tesla’s Universal Wall Connector, the charging stations will be designed to seamlessly charge any North American vehicle model, expanding Tesla’s efforts to make a great charging experience available to all EVs. “This collaboration with Tesla underscores BWH Hotels’ unwavering commitment to sustainability and dedication to delivering exceptional guest...

ATLANTA—PPDS, an exclusive global provider of Philips Professional Displays and complementary solutions, announces the highly anticipated launch of the new Philips Signage 3000 EcoDesign Series QE-Line, delivering unrivaled 4K UHD video and picture performance while running on half the power compared to other models. Continuing an aggressive rollout of highly innovative, world-first hardware and software solutions into 2024, the slick and stylish Philips Signage 3650 EcoDesign—configurable to meet the needs of any environment with no additional hardware necessary—marks yet another major technology milestone for PPDS (and the AV industry) for the development and delivery of highly sustainable and energy efficient...

If you own a building, be it a hotel or the site of another business, chances are you’ve toyed with the idea of reducing your energy costs by installing solar panels. Maybe you’ve already taken this step. This strategy makes a lot of sense, as solar energy is more cost-effective than the conventional power grid, allowing you to start saving money from the very first gas bill after installation. Since solar systems pay for themselves after only a few years, yet have very long lives, they keep money in your pocket for each additional year. Solar energy also has the advantage...

JAMESTOWN, N.Y.—Hope’s Windows, Inc., the nation’s leading and most experienced manufacturer of custom-designed, solid hot-rolled steel and solid bronze window and door systems, announces the addition of doors and operable windows with Thermal Evolution technology to its One55 Series of windows and doors. The One55 Series is the culmination of over a century of technological innovation: a complete product line that combines the striking visual appearance of the past with the innovative thermal technology of the present. Hope’s Thermal Evolution technology is a breakthrough solution for hot-rolled, solid steel windows to meet increasingly stringent energy efficiency standards. With Thermal Evolution...

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN—Scandic has reached a sustainability milestone by recertifying all of its previously ecolabeled hotels according to the Nordic Swan Ecolabel’s new, tougher environmental requirements. More than 88 percent of Scandic’s hotels are ecolabeled and the company is continuing its efforts to ensure that all hotels are certified by the Nordic Swan Ecolabel. The Nordic Swan Ecolabel is the official environmental certification in the Nordic countries. It updates its requirements approximately every four years, and the most recent update in 2023 included higher environmental goals. To continue to be certified, Scandic’s ecolabeled hotels have now undergone a rigorous recertification process...

Here in Florida, I know too well the sound and fury of the gas-powered lawn mower and other gas-powered lawn equipment. Fortunately, we have hit the dry season, and it will be quiet for a while. In a new report entitled, “Lawn Care Goes Electric,” the authors address the problems associated with gas-powered mowers and other equipment and highlight the advantages of their electric counterparts. Be sure to give the report a read. In the report’s Executive Summary, the authors get right to the problem of gas-powered mowers. “The inefficient engines in gasoline-powered lawn equipment can emit as much pollution...