INDIANAPOLIS—Carrier recently launched a new Toshiba Carrier touchscreen controller in North America for variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems, capable of connecting up to 128 indoor units to one easy-to-use interface. This new touchscreen controller allows building managers to access their entire VRF system from one central location, eliminating the need to monitor units individually. Carrier is a part of Carrier Global Corp., the leading global provider of healthy, safe, sustainable, and intelligent building and cold chain solutions. The seven-inch color touchscreen provides an attractive menu with intuitive navigation that allows for advanced scheduling for indoor and outdoor units to maximize...

DALLAS—Hoteliers can now control INTEREL’s EOS thermostat by voice command. The IoT device for smart buildings leverages Volara’s secure integrations hub to respond to voice commands spoken by guests who seek touchless control over the guestroom environment. The joint solution expands on Volara’s existing integration with INTEREL. “We are very excited to make this integration with Volara available on our new EOS WiFi Smart thermostat,” said Florian Gallini, INTEREL CEO. “Together, EOS and Volara provide a powerful combination of energy management and voice-based customer engagement with no on-premises infrastructure required. EOS leverages its built-in IoT radios and environmental sensors to enable any hotel to be retrofitted as a Smart Building, all packaged...

GALESBURG, ILL.—Intellihot, the clean technology company creating transformative, next-generation solutions to transform the built environment, announced the launch of its latest product, the telliBot_ai, the world’s first intelligent water heater systems analyzer. Current telliBot_ai customers include Benihana Inc., the international restaurant chain. Hot water is critical for hotels, restaurants, and all other commercial and industrial buildings that need immediate hot water around the clock to remain operational. Unexpected water heater malfunctions can become financially and reputationally devastating for businesses. Equipped with advanced intelligence and sensors, the telliBot_ai analyzes operations by monitoring flow rates, temperatures, firing rate, and more. With this...

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...

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,...

IRVINE, CALIF.—Bluon, Inc., a fast-growing company with a mission to bring unparalleled innovation to the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning industry by empowering HVAC technicians, announced Danica Bunnett has been promoted to chief operating officer. Bunnett has been with Bluon for more than four years and takes on the COO role as the company continues to experience rapid growth with its unique HVAC support platform. The platform, which currently serves 60,000 of the nation’s HVAC service technicians and with more than 6,000 additional techs joining every month, is the first mobile app to aggregate detailed technical information on more than...

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...

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...