WALTHAM, MASS.—American DG Energy Inc., a leading On Site Utility, offering clean electricity, heat, hot water and cooling solutions to hospitality, healthcare, housing and athletic facilities, announced that it has reached agreements with Sunstone Hotel Investors Inc. to manage an energy plant conversion, along with installation and maintenance of a combined heat and power (CHP) system at the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton New York City—Times Square. The agreements should provide American DG Energy with approximately $1,300,000 in revenue in 2014.Having completed a feasibility study for the property, American DG Energy was selected to oversee a complete energy plant conversion...

NEW YORK—The Coca-Cola Company announced that it has installed its 1 millionth hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)-free cooler using natural refrigerant in the marketplace, preventing the emission of 5.25 million metric tons of CO2 over 10 years. This milestone marks significant progress in the company’s effort to phase out the use of HFC refrigerant—a well-known contributor to climate change—in Coca-Cola dispensers, vending machines and coolers globally. Together with its bottling partners, the Coca-Cola system has established a goal that all new cold-drink equipment will be HFC-free by 2015. Achieving this goal will prevent the emission of more than 50 million metric tons...

ATLANTA—When the first edition of the “ASHRAE GreenGuide” was first published 10 years ago, guidance on how to practice green building design was not so readily available. “Since 2004, the industry has witnessed the continued evolution of green building programs—from strictly voluntary to being both more in the industry mainstream as well as being mandatory in jurisdictions that adopted these for their building codes,” said Tom Lawrence,  a member of ASHRAE’s technical committee (TC 2.8).The newly published fourth edition of the “ASHRAE GreenGuide” contains updated guidance that reflects how green building practices as well as the industry have changed,...

ROSWELL, GA.—For the millions of Americans who work in commercial and institutional buildings, winter is the harshest season. Not so much for the ice and snow outside, but for the storm brewing inside. That’s because 30 percent of commercial buildings in the United States have poor indoor air quality (IAQ), a condition linked to respiratory illnesses, allergies and asthma, and Sick Building Syndrome.In addition to shouldering the medical expenses of sick workers, U.S. businesses experience as much as a 33 percent drop in worker productivity due to poor IAQ. In fact, the total costs to the U.S. economy from...

LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y.—The Berkeley Lab (LBNL) has produced a monitored evaluation study on The New York Times Building. The study shows that the innovations that lowered energy use by 24 percent are attainable, as MechoSystems has been promoting for several years.The post-occupancy study reflects MechoSystems’ claims about its WindowManagement System: the SolarTrac can contribute to both a building’s energy efficiency, and overall occupant comfort. The New York Times Building’s annual energy savings (compared to an ASHRAE 90.1-2001 baseline, reported by the LBNL) highlight the former feature’s success: •    43 percent lighting energy saved;•    23 percent cooling energy saved; and•  ...

WILSONVILLE, ORE.—FLIR Systems, Inc., a leader in thermal imaging technology, announces the launch of FLIR ONE, the first personal thermal imaging device especially targeted at the consumer market. Unveiled at CES 2014, FLIR ONE places powerful thermal imaging technology in the hands of consumers, dramatically extending the limits of human vision and unlocking a full spectrum of practical applications.As the first and only personal thermal imager for the consumer market under $350, FLIR ONE is compact, easy-to-use, compatible with the iPhone5 and 5s and fits on the phone like a protective case. Once mounted, the device displays a live...

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA.—International Environmental Corp. (IEC), a leading manufacturer of hydronic fan coil units, introduces the Restora Mod modular hi-rise replacement fan coil series. Designed to streamline HVAC renovations in hospitality and other hi-rise environments, the Restora Mod can be installed with minimal disturbance to existing wall and room finishes in as little as a few hours.“Restora Mod is a solution to the renovation challenges many of today’s hoteliers face—needing to replace aging HVAC equipment while providing guests with comfortable and appealing surroundings,” said Darren Mounts, product manager at IEC. “Our goal was to design a hi-rise replacement product...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry (UA) and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) have reached an agreement on a landmark proposal to save energy and water in new buildings. The two organizations jointly submitted a proposal to the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) to require the insulation of hot water piping in new buildings.Today, many Americans waste millions of gallons of water by letting water run until it’s hot enough for use in showers and sinks. To curtail this waste in new buildings, NRDC and the UA...

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 a strategic partnership with GSE Management and Energy Solutions, a leading energy management solutions provider in Mexico.Due to higher electricity costs, Caribbean hotels have much larger operating costs than comparable U.S. properties. To help minimize this expense, GSE offers technology solutions that manage and optimize the efficient use of energy for commercial and industrial clients. GSE Management and Energy Solutions is installing Telkonet’s EcoSmart guestroom energy management...

MANKATO, MINN.—All that’s left is the waiting for the official plaque from the U.S. Green Building Council. When it arrives the Courtyard Mankato Minnesota will become the first hotel in the Gopher State to receive LEED certification. Considering all of the property’s green features, the honor will be well deserved. The 93-room property, about a year old, is owned by Mercury Investments L.P. Preston Lougheed is the general manager.“As far as we know we are the first Marriott in the United States to have solar panels,” Lougheed says. “It was a big investment.” The 40 kW, 192 panel system...