NATIONAL REPORT—Hotels and resorts around the planet are utilizing the sun’s infrared radiation and ultraviolet (UV) rays to preheat and heat water for on-property consumption—the Marriott Hotel Port-au-Prince in Haiti, the Brando in Tetiaroa, French Polynesia, the Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead, and the Hilton Garden Inn Exton/West Chester in Exton, Pa. are some examples. Not all properties use the same technology but they share the benefits of an ROI that can be relatively quick—in just a few years or less with incentives or rebates factored in. Solar water heating systems can also significantly extend the life of boilers...

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently finalized a new energy efficiency standard for “packaged boilers” that heat commercial and multifamily buildings, which will save consumers and businesses billions of dollars on their heating bills. Nearly a quarter of the commercial floor space in the United States is heated by packaged boilers and given that space heating is by far the biggest energy user in these and other commercial buildings, the standard will trigger a significant amount of savings. Commercial packaged boilers, which are also found in multifamily buildings and small industrial facilities, are powered by oil or natural gas...

NEEDHAM, MASS.—With commercial buildings spending as much as $80 billion dollars annually on heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) costs, the industry is looking to new technologies to pave the way for a future that’s friendlier to the bottom line. In the mix is enVerid Systems Inc., a leader in energy savings and indoor air quality solutions for commercial, government and educational buildings, which has seen growing demand for its HVAC Load Reduction (HLR) technology with mechanical engineers, building owners, facilities managers and architects. The HLR module safely and intelligently cleans indoor air of contaminants such as carbon dioxide (CO2), formaldehyde,...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Alliance to Save Energy vowed to fight budget cuts for federal energy efficiency programs proposed Thursday by the Trump administration, including the elimination of the successful ENERGY STAR program and sharp reductions at the Department of Energy (DOE). “This is a destructive proposal that walks away from decades of bipartisan support for energy efficiency going back to the Reagan administration and beyond,” said Alliance President Kateri Callahan. “We oppose these cuts in the strongest possible terms and will do everything we can to fight them in Congress.” “This budget ignores the fact that energy efficiency creates jobs and economic growth,” Callahan adds....

NATIONAL REPORT—In any discussion about sustainability, it is likely that carbon will enter the discussion at one point or another. In any conversation about sustainability in the kitchen, carbon also has a place, but in more ways than one. It is not only the carbon emissions from running the lighting, appliances and HVAC system, it is the actual carbon buildup on pots, pans and other items. This buildup is a barrier to heat, which means it can take longer for items to cook or bake. The longer ovens or stoves run, the higher the energy bill and related environmental...

ACME, MICH.—Grand Traverse Resort and Spa near Traverse City, Mich. is reaping the benefits of improved energy efficiency and enhanced eco-friendliness because of a new piece of equipment, with integration design by A. O. Smith and installed late in the summer of 2016—a YANMAR Micro Combined Heat and Power (CHP) system. The YANMAR Micro CHP unit has an engine that runs on natural gas to generate electricity with useful heat (hot water) as a byproduct of cooling the engine. It is a technology that has been in use in a variety of commercial and industrial applications for some time, however...

ATLANTA—Leaders from Trane, a provider of indoor comfort solutions and services and a brand of Ingersoll Rand, and the Georgia World Congress Center Authority (GWCCA) unveiled upgrades to the Atlanta convention center which are expected to cut energy costs and reduce the center’s carbon footprint by 39 percent annually, saving more than $2.5 million in year one. “The upgrades and the benefits gained in the convention center puts us at the forefront in the hospitality industry for sustainability, and solidifies our place as the number one convention, sports and entertainment destination in the world,” said Kevin Duvall, COO at the...

This year is ushering in a host of new regulations for commercial kitchen refrigeration that will drive significant efficiency benefits for kitchen operations. The phasing in of new air quality standards, combined with limits on energy consumption, are all poised to create the most efficient refrigeration cabinets that commercial kitchens have yet seen. Starting in March 2017, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) regulations will go into effect that will set a mandatory limit on the maximum daily energy consumption (MDEC) allowed for a given commercial refrigerator or freezer. In tandem, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star program is significantly increasing...

TROY, OHIO—Hobart launched the new CLeN-series dishwashers at the NAFEM Show in Orlando earlier this month. The CLeN was featured in NAFEM’s WHAT’S HOT! WHAT’S COOL! product gallery. “Our mission is to help customers experience greater efficiency, reliability and cost savings with their dishwashing equipment,” said Tim Peters, Product Line Manager for Hobart. “As demand grows for ‘green’ benefits, increased cost savings, and simplified labor practices, the CLeN helps customers achieve those requirements through superior product innovation and performance.” Hobart’s CLeN Warewasher turns dishwashing into a science, using industry-leading technology to clean dishes and kitchen ware in less time and at...

ODESSA, FLA.—Hasek Communications, the Odessa, Fla.-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes ClearWater Tech as a Bronze level sponsor of the Green Lodging Trends Report. The Green Lodging Trends Report is the lodging industry’s annual exercise to assess and catalyze green innovation, best practices, and awareness regarding the state of sustainability across hotels worldwide. This year’s Green Lodging Trends Report will summarize the results of a second annual survey produced by Green Lodging News and Greenview. Established in 1986, ClearWater Tech has served the global market as the leading designer, manufacturer, and marketer of ozone generation equipment and related components...