NATIONAL REPORT—For good reason, becoming more environmentally friendly is now a priority among many property owners worldwide. With the threat of a looming climate crisis, it makes sense that those who can adjust to become more eco-conscious and environmentally friendly do so. As such, this article will be looking into small changes that don’t require heavy expenditure or lots of man hours to put into place that can be done either by yourself or with the help of a professional. We’ve been sure to weigh up the environmental cost of each change to make sure the fix isn’t as harmful...

LAS VEGAS—Bartech, a Las Vegas-based provider of automatic, profit-generating minibar solutions for the global hospitality industry, has unveiled Minibar+, an innovative solution that enhances Bartech’s manual minibars with semi-automatic functionality. Simple to set up and implement, Minibar+ is a “plug and play” solution that is available as a downloadable application, easily adding semi-automatic functionality to Bartech’s manual units to give hotel operators the ability to control key functions of these devices without having to set foot in the guestroom. As the industry becomes more “guestroom-centric” with hotel guests avoiding common areas like restaurants and bars, the in-room F&B offering is...

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLA.—As people around the world adjust to a new normal, the health of our buildings—and how they influence personal health—is critically important. Carrier has introduced its Healthy Buildings Program, an expanded suite of advanced solutions to help deliver healthy, safe, efficient, and productive indoor environments across key verticals including commercial buildings, healthcare, hospitality, education, retail and marine. In support of this, Carrier also launched Corporate.Carrier.com/HealthyBuildings to help customers consult with Carrier’s experts to take advantage of the broad range of industry-leading healthy building technologies. Carrier Global Corp. is a leading global provider of innovative heating, ventilating...

WATEROWN, MASS.—Bosch Thermotechnology announced the addition of its Inverter Ducted Package (IDP) 3 Ton, which offers the peak efficiency and compressor technology of its IDP 5 Ton air-source heat pump system in a smaller, even more versatile package. The IDP 3 Ton comprises all of the benefits of the Inverter Split systems in a single cabinet, including best-in-class efficiency and precise modulation to minimize energy usage while simultaneously maximizing comfort in residential and light commercial spaces. While the 5 Ton model provides up to two-stage indoor fan control, the IDP 3 Ton features up to four-stage indoor fan control and...

NATIONAL REPORT—There is tremendous demand for eco-friendly design features and elements not only in residential development but also in commercial development. There are plenty of reasons for business owners to seek out green commercial spaces. In terms of overhead and operating expenses, with an eco-friendly space, there are opportunities to save money. For example, the integration of an energy-efficient PTAC air-conditioning unit can help cool spaces that central air can’t reach. Then, there are also chances for businesses to use their dedication to being green as a marketing tool. Modern consumers want to buy from businesses they feel reflect their values. The following...

ATLANTA—Throughout the current pandemic, Atlanta’s historic Stonehurst Place has continued to provide a safe place to stay for travelers in search of boutique luxury—all with a dose of eco-friendliness thrown in. The eight-suite property, owned by Barb Shadomy and first constructed in 1896, has features including a solar thermal system for water heating, a greywater recycling system, and rainwater purification system. “My partner and I purchased Stonehurst in 2007 and after 14 months of intense renovation, I returned the grand old lady back to her youthful self—with a few modern and green improvements,” Shadomy says. “We have not closed during the current...

WEST LAFAYETTE, IND.—Walk in a room, the light goes on. Most people are familiar with the motion sensors that detect activity and then turn on the lights. Purdue University researchers are turning to similar technologies to help manage climate control and indoor air quality. They have developed a sensor to help control and cut down on energy consumption through heating and ventilation systems, particularly those used in large office and hospitality industry buildings. “Climate control and proper ventilation are especially important because most people spend considerably more time indoors than outside,” said Jeff Rhoads, a professor of mechanical engineering in Purdue’s...

When it comes to finding the right HVAC system for your building, it can be challenging to find the right balance between high-quality performance and meeting sustainability goals. To make the best decision, building owners have to compare the purchase and installation price, operational cost and projected life expectancy of the equipment. Often, the most energy-efficient equipment can cost more to install up-front but also offer significant savings in operational costs over the long term. On the other side of the equation, less efficient equipment may end up costing less initially but will use more energy during day to day operations....

KENNESAW, GA.—Carrier has added two new multi-purpose controllers (MPCs) to its TruVu family of flexible, scalable building controls for the i-Vu building automation system. These new controllers feature integrated input/output (I/O) points, built-in BACnet routing and integration capabilities, and expansion modules that can be added to support up to 224 total I/O points for a variety of heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) applications. Carrier is a part of Carrier Global Corp., a leading global provider of innovative HVAC, refrigeration, fire, security and building automation technologies. The latest TruVu MPC controllers are field programmable and include a comprehensive library of...

CHARLOTTE, N.C.—As part of its commitment to provide customers with solutions that use the right refrigerant for each application, Carrier has selected R-32 refrigerant to replace R-410A refrigerant, a high global warming potential (GWP) refrigerant, in commercial chillers using scroll technology. R-32 was chosen for its lower environmental impact, high energy efficiency, wide availability and ease of use. In Europe, the refrigerant will be offered in some scroll chillers beginning in the first half of 2020. Introductions will follow in other regions and all will meet UN Montreal Protocol Kigali Amendment regulations taking effect in 2023. “Carrier focuses the right...