DELAVAN, WIS.—Alternative Utility Services, Inc. announces new expert Energy Benchmarking and Analysis Services to companies, buildings, facilities and institutions across America. As energy efficiency continues to rapidly become a priority for cities and local governments, the demand for qualified and talented Energy Benchmarking services has grown exponentially. This new highly anticipated program now delivers the Energy Benchmarking and analysis services that buildings, facilities, and institutions nationwide have been searching for. “Our expert Energy Benchmarking program is a testament to our long history of helping companies and institutions achieve success in saving energy, reducing costs and improving building performance,” says Jenna Buehre,...

MINNEAPOLIS—At HITEC Minneapolis, Volara is partnering with CIRQ+ to augment the company’s new multimodal interface system that includes a guest Opt-in capability that takes voice privacy and security in the guestroom to new levels. Volara’s conversation-management software and secure integrations will enable guests to use voice to communicate through the CIRQ+ Smart platform, an embedded room control and energy-management system, while enhancing the guests’ stay with optimized comfort and convenience. Now, when guests enter their hotel rooms, they can speak commands to the CIRQ+ supported voice assistant selected by the hotel (Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant or IBM Watson) to control...

SALEM, ORE.—Onity, a global leader in electronic locking, access control, and mobile key solutions for the hospitality industry, is simplifying today’s connected room architecture by melding connectivity, door locks, and smart devices into a new, mobile-centric approach for smart hotel rooms. “As a leader in mobile credentialing, Onity continues to advance its hotel access solutions to offer a simple approach to the future of the connected-guest experience,” said Fayyad Sbaihat, President, Onity and Supra. “We are set to provide an easy, flexible path to in-room connectivity.” Based on the latest DirectKey mobile access system and Trillium door locks, Onity’s smart guestroom...

MUSKEGON, MICH.—EarthTronics, dedicated to developing innovative energy-efficient lighting products that provide a positive economic and environmental impact, introduces its new line of IP65 wet location rated Vapor Tight LEDs with an integral microwave sensor to provide a low-cost solution for lighting parking garages, cold storage, walkways, stairwells, under canopy, exterior retail and other wet, dusty and dirty environments. The 48-inch long, Vapor Tight LEDs with the integral microwave sensor from EarthTronics are available in 30 and 40 watts, producing 4200 and 5600 lumens with a 150° beam angle. Both units feature a 5000K color temperature with a high 80+ CRI....

MONTREAL, QUEBEC—Next week at HITEC Minneapolis, Verdant will display its newest guestroom energy-management thermostat. Smart, simple and intuitive, the new ZX energy-management thermostat leverages Verdant’s powerful energy-saving features in a sleek and trendy design. Verdant ZX will be on display in Booth 1234, June 17 to 20, at the Minneapolis Convention Center. “This is the first time that HITEC attendees in North America will have the opportunity to see, touch and try our newest guestroom thermostat,” said Michael Serour, Verdant VP of Sales. “The ZX thermostat combines all of our best energy-saving features in a sleek new design. It’s easy...

ATLANTA—ASHRAE published a new guideline for increasing energy efficiency in historic buildings while minimizing the disturbance of the building’s historic character and significantly historic characteristics and materials. ASHRAE Guideline 34-2019, Energy Guideline for Historic Buildings, provides comprehensive and detailed descriptions of the processes and procedures for the retrofitting of historic buildings to achieve greater measured efficiency. The guideline is particularly aimed at providing guidance for “listed” historic buildings; i.e., those formally designated or eligible to be designated as historically significant by a governing body. Guideline 34 provides a step-by-step procedure for sensitive energy upgrading, beginning with forming the project team and gathering...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—According to an analysis by the SUN DAY Campaign of data just released by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), U.S. electrical generating capacity by renewable energy sources (i.e., biomass, geothermal, hydropower, solar, wind) has now—for the first time—surpassed that of coal. FERC’s latest monthly “Energy Infrastructure Update” report (with data through April 30, 2019) notes that 18 “units” of new wind capacity (1,545 MW) and 102 units of new solar capacity (1,473 MW) were added during the first four months of this year. Coupled with four units of new hydropower (29 MW), that was enough to push renewable...

INDIANAPOLIS—Carrier’s full lineup of gas furnaces, gas/electric small package products (SPP) and SPP Hybrid Heat systems have been redesigned to meet the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Fan Energy Rating (FER) going into effect on July 3, 2019. Carrier’s products with new fan technology use less energy and achieve the goals of the new FER regulations, targeting a 46 percent watt reduction over a standard furnace with a permanent split capacitor (PSC) blower motor. By reducing energy consumption, consumers can save money on energy bills and cut carbon pollution. Carrier, a world leader in high-technology heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration solutions,...

NEW YORK—Volara is now powering the voice module of Bittel’s modern, modular MODA smart device. By speaking simple commands, such as “Alexa, call the front desk” or “Hey Google, bring me more towels,” guests’ requests will be interpreted accurately and fulfilled quickly. Volara’s voice-based conversation management software and secure integrations hub will connect MODA by voice command to relevant property technologies, including IPTV systems, room controls solutions, energy-management systems, workorder-management systems, and SMS guest-based room engagement solutions. “With digital personal assistants growing in popularity in hotels, Bittel anticipated early on that our guestroom devices should be enabled with voice controls,...

LOS ANGELES—Les Jardins Solar Lighting announced its new contract division in order to provide renewable energy powered lighting products for outdoor public spaces, restaurants, resorts, spas, multi-unit and hospitality projects. The contract support team invites designers, architects, landscapers and facility managers to work directly with Les Jardins Solar Lighting to specify and source their outdoor LED lighting requirements for ambiance, pathway and landscape applications. The durable, commercial-grade self-contained products from Les Jardins Solar Lighting require no in-ground installation, no wires and no power supply. They can be placed and moved at any time. The collections range from substantial outdoor lounge...