DEATH VALLEY, CALIF.—In keeping with its “pillars of sustainability,” the AAA Four Diamond Furnace Creek Resort in Death Valley National Park has enacted a series of initiatives designed to minimize the impact of its operations and of its guests. The resort has put in place programs to reduce waste and water usage, generate electricity and offer sustainable choices to its guests.Those efforts are working as the resort reports solid waste has been reduced by 44 percent, water usage has dropped 19 percent and electricity use is down 18 percent since 2010. In that same time period sustainably sourced food...

MILWAUKEE, WIS.—Telkonet, Inc., whose complementary business divisions include EcoSmart, an energy management technology platform featuring Recovery Time technology, and EthoStream, one of the largest hospitality High-Speed Internet Access providers in the world, announced the launch of its EcoCentral Virtual Engineer mobile applications for iOS and Android phones. The native apps, internally created by Telkonet’s software engineers, are unique in being the first applications developed within the energy management and efficiency market for commercial properties spanning the hospitality sector, education campuses and military facilities, among other building environments. These mobile apps enable comprehensive connectivity and control for Telkonet’s EcoSmart solution,...

KA‘ANAPALI, MAUI, HAWAII—Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa is celebrating its LEED Silver EBOM (Existing Building Operations and Maintenance) certification, awarded as a result of a long term commitment to environmental sustainability. This certification is the first of any building in the state of Hawaii. The property recently completed renovations throughout the resort, including the pool area, Drums of the Pacific Luau, and dining outlets. Throughout the renovation process members of the Hyatt Regency Maui operations team worked closely with property owner Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. and with third-party consultants Green Building Hawaii to make the necessary environmentally...

SAN FRANCISCO—BuildingIQ announced the release of version 4.0 of its Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution to optimize energy use in commercial buildings. The latest version builds upon the company’s award-winning Predictive Energy Optimization software and offers streamlined analytics, increased visibility into savings and improved managed services—all protected by the security equivalent to that of Internet banking. BuildingIQ saves users 10 to 25 percent in HVAC energy costs with increased scores in LEED, Energy Star, NABERS and other sustainability measures.BuildingIQ’s version 4.0 features a new intuitive interface and offers real-time transparency into energy operations. Using variables such as weather forecasts, utility signals,...

MILWAUKEE, WIS.—Telkonet, Inc., whose business divisions include EcoSmart, an energy management technology platform featuring Recovery Time technology, and EthoStream, one of the largest hospitality High-Speed Internet Access providers in the world, announce its EcoSmart Technology has been selected for installation in the five-star Hilton Barra in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The EcoSmart system will be installed in 298 guestrooms. The EcoSmart energy management system was chosen for this hotel build-out because of its ability to reduce energy consumption and equipment runtime by up to 45 percent while maintaining guests’ comfort. The installation covers all of the hotel’s 298 guestrooms...

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, ILL.—The Air Movement and Control Association International, Inc. (AMCA International) recently announced that air curtains are an approved alternative to vestibules. Following tests with air curtains in accordance with ANSI/AMCA standards and manufacturers’ instructions, the 2015 version of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) will contain this new provision.Specifying air curtains as an energy-saving, low-cost alternative to vestibules in new construction has already become a growing trend among engineers and architects. Air curtains work by creating an invisible sheet of air that bends and resists thermal exchange over an opening using the building’s internal pressure. Vestibules, on...

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CALIF.—Noritz America continues to streamline its website with two newly redesigned, user-friendly Professionals and Products web pages. Noritz recently added the Noritz University online training portal for convenient access to education resources.“Our main goal is to reassure both the professional and the consumer that they’re getting the right product,” says Jason Fleming, Marketing Manager for Noritz America. “We want to make sure we give them everything they need to make an informed decision.” The new Professionals page has been restructured so that content is easier for trade users to find. Information on tankless water heater models, accessories, technical...

MILWAUKEE, WIS.—Telkonet, Inc., a leading solution provider for reducing energy consumption, announced the JW Marriott Miami luxury hotel has selected their EcoSmart Energy Management System to be installed in 307 guestrooms. Selecting the EcoSmart system offers JW Marriott Miami substantial reductions in energy consumption—resulting in significant savings to their bottom line.Energy usage is a major operating cost for hotels across the country. According to a recent EnergyStar report, on average, America’s 47,000 hotels spend $2,196 per available room each year on energy. This represents about 6 percent of all operating costs. Energy efficiency provides hotel owners and operators cost...

ATLANTA—ASHRAE and the Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA) have agreed in principle to join forces, combining resources to improve indoor air quality in the built environment.Pending a three to six month period of due diligence, IAQA will become a part of the ASHRAE organization while maintaining its own brand and Board of Directors. IAQA will operate independently within ASHRAE’s organizational structure. Plans call for IAQA headquarters to relocate from Rockville, Md., to Atlanta, home of ASHRAE’s international headquarters. The agreement was reached between the leadership of both associations and confirmed at ASHRAE’s 2014 Annual Conference.“This merger is beneficial to...

COUNCE, TENN.—A recent demonstration project at Pickwick Landing State Park Resort has created excitement throughout the state’s park system about reducing energy usage and costs. The four-week study was a joint effort of TVA, Pickwick Electric Coop (PEC), and Tennessee Department of Energy and Conservation (TDEC). The result of the project: a 44 energy savings in the hotel rooms and 64 percent in the cabins—all without negatively impacting guest comfort convenience, according to park personnel.The study evaluated Energy Technologies Group’s S3E guestroom energy management system, which had consistently shown more than 40 percent energy savings in other parts of...