MOUNT LAUREL, N.J.—More than two years after going “live” with their 756-kilowatt solar photovoltaic (PV) system—a structure based on 10 carports in the hotel’s parking area—the owners of the Wyndham Philadelphia-Mount Laurel are investing in additional systems to further reduce energy and water consumption and costs significantly. Investments involve a switch from heating oil to natural gas for air and water heating, an LED retrofit project, and an upgrade to ultra high efficiency toilets.Rishi Shah, Asset Manager of the hotel, says the current transition to natural gas for heating involves a significant mechanical system upgrade. “We are upgrading boilers...

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 high-speed Internet access (HSIA) providers in the world, announced that the Metropolitan Hotel in downtown Cleveland, Ohio has selected the EcoSmart system to manage guest comfort and energy use and the EthoStream HSIA solution to provide wireless communication infrastructure.The project will be the largest installation of the combined technologies for Telkonet to date at more than a $529,000 value. EthoStream will provide a robust converged network to support public Wi-Fi, administrative networks and the underlying...

SANTA CLARA, CALIF.—WattStopper has launched a line of optional neutral occupancy sensors that let installers decide whether or not they need a neutral after they purchase a wall switch product. Because the sensors work for two-wire or three-wire applications, one device is compatible with 2011 NEC requirements and with existing wiring. Unlike competitive products, they require no special configuration, saving time for contractors, preventing miswiring and simplifying ordering. WattStopper’s patent pending Neutral Sense Technology ensures proper operation in any installation. Neutral Sense Technology was developed to address customers’ requests for products that offer the greatest versatility, allowing them to...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Plumbing inspectors, manufacturers, engineers, contractors, labor representatives and other industry technical experts in Las Vegas voted overwhelmingly to make a change to plumbing codes that will ensure hot water pipes in new homes and commercial buildings are insulated. Overall, insulation of hot water pipes will shorten the amount of time spent waiting for hot water at showers and faucets, and cut hot water waste by 15 to 30 percent.The vote took place during the review of proposed changes to the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) Uniform Plumbing Code. The proposal was championed by the United...

BERKELEY, CALIF.—Looking strictly at the economic costs and benefits of three different roof types—black, white and “green” (or vegetated)—Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) researchers have found in a new study that white roofs are the most cost-effective over a 50-year time span. While the high installation cost of green roofs sets them back in economic terms, their environmental and amenity benefits may at least partially mitigate their financial burden.A new report titled “Economic Comparison of White, Green, and Black Flat Roofs in the United States” by Julian Sproul, Benjamin Mandel, and Arthur Rosenfeld of Berkeley Lab, and Man...

CHICAGO—Master-Bilt’s award-winning Master Controller, featuring Web2Walk-In software, is now Apple iOS compatible making remote monitoring and adjustment of walk-ins accessible from any device with an Internet connection including a PC, Mac, smartphone or tablet. The newest Master Controller will debut at the 2014 National Restaurant Show May 17 to 20 at Chicago’s McCormick Place.In addition to iOS compatibility, a new defrost function built into the Master Controller’s Web2Walk-In software monitors coil temperature and automatically turns on evaporator fans for a short time when the coil is warm to melt accumulated frost and ice from the fan guards. This function...

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 high-speed Internet access providers in the world, announced that Mode:Green has standardized on Telkonet as best-in-class energy management technology for future projects.Mode:Green is a provider of energy management services that reduce energy consumption and lower utility costs while displaying real-time analysis of all consumable resources. They focus on developing simple solutions to complex systems for clients in the hospitality industry.Bill Lally, LEED-AP and President/CEO of Mode:Green said, “A key to reducing utility consumption in hospitality...

BURNABY, B.C.—According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 400 billion KW of hot water goes down the drain annually in the United States—roughly $40 billion worth of energy at an average cost of $.10/KW. A great deal of that energy loss occurs in hotels—where energy is uncaptured from greywater from showers and baths, sinks, dishwashers, laundry, etc. Energy is also lost in the blackwater coming from toilets. One company, International Wastewater Systems, has developed a system it calls SHARC (which stands for sewer heat recovery) to capture and reuse heat that typically is lost to the sewage system.International Wastewater...

BOURNE, MASS.—Chilled water system performance is often overlooked in plant operations, yet optimizing performance can significantly improve chilled water plant efficiency, and thereby reduce costs.  A new guide from Onset, “Using Data Loggers to Improve Chilled Water Plant Efficiency,” focuses on using data to evaluate the potential positive impacts to overall efficiency by controlling chilled water coil differential temperature. The guide covers how to use portable data loggers at the individual coil level to help assess opportunities for saving energy, and includes a case study describing a real-world deployment and analysis of collected data. A free copy of the...

SANTA CLARA, CALIF.—WattStopper has introduced a new line of wireless occupancy sensors in response to customer requests for more choices to manage energy. The radio frequency (RF) products make it easy and cost effective to install code-compliant controls in existing buildings, or wherever wired occupancy sensors aren’t the best fit. The product line includes dual relay controls not available from other manufacturers, as well as time-saving functionality.The sustainable product line includes a passive infrared (PIR) occupancy sensor, powered by unobtrusive energy-harvesting photovoltaic panels, with a prime 360° coverage pattern. One or more sensors can be paired with a variety...