NEW YORK—Greenwood Energy, the North American renewable energy division of the Libra Group, announced its engagement to install the first combined heat and power plant for the Millennium Hilton Hotel in New York. It is a further addition to Greenwood Energy’s rapidly developing clean power generation offering. “This expansion of Greenwood Energy’s operations in clean and efficient power generation for the hotel sector is blazing a trail for the industry in North America, where alternative power generation is beginning to make a real breakthrough,” said Greenwood Energy’s CFO, Douglas Johnsen. “Adding the Millennium Hilton to our portfolio puts us in...

DELAVAN, WIS.—When the husband-and-wife team of Fritz Kreiss and Catherine McQueen learned that a two-lane highway adjacent to their five-acre property in Delavan, Wis. would be expanded to four lanes they could have tried to sell the land with their cottage on it. Instead, they decided to build perhaps North America’s greenest lodging establishment—the 19-suite Green Leaf Inn that will be a net zero energy property. Net zero energy properties generate more energy than they consume. The Green Leaf Inn is scheduled to open in the spring of next year.It is the owners’ intention for the inn to serve...

KAPAAU, HAWAII—Guests staying at the boutique-style Hawaii Island Retreat on Hawaii Island’s North Kohala coast can choose to stay in one of the Retreat’s nine lavishly appointed guestrooms or “rough” it a little bit and stay in one of the property’s seven well-appointed yurts. No matter what accommodations are chosen, guests have the satisfaction of knowing they are staying in a place that is off the grid—powered by the sun and wind.The Hawaii Island Retreat is nearing its third anniversary. It opened on April 1, 2009. Jacque Waters, associate director at the property, said the owners—Jeanne Sunderland and Robert...

PHOENIX—Phoenix-based Easy Energy has just announced the completed installation of a solar water heating system at the newly renovated Holiday Inn North Phoenix. The solar water heating system is designed to harvest and store 3,000 gallons of solar heated water each day for the hotel’s 174 guestrooms. “Solar Water Heating is an effective and reliable renewable technology for the Phoenix climate,” says Brian Bartel, managing member of Easy Energy. “Solar water heating can easily compete with natural gas for heating water by partnering with local suppliers, capturing state utility rebates and engaging financiers who seek to invest in renewable technology.” The...

NEW YORK—An industry leader in room air conditioners, Haier is introducing a new line of Packaged Terminal Air Conditioners (PTACs) designed to offer reliability, quality, and comfort for consumers who are the end users of traditional PTAC applications. Applications include hotels and motels, senior care facilities, dormitories, military housing, and some residential applications. For many years now, Haier has dedicated itself to making home comfort products that are energy efficient, quiet, easy to maintain, and most importantly, that cool or heat properly and efficiently. With this in mind, Haier’s PTAC line includes features like an attractive digital thermostat module that...

CHICAGO—Six hundred bucks is not a bad monthly electricity bill for a 15-story, 63-room urban hotel. Granted, The Ivy Hotel has not opened yet but general manager James Cazares says public space lighting has been burning 24/7. Key to the tiny bill last month is LED recessed lighting—MR16 bulbs that consume just one watt each. LED lighting is just one of the many green facets of the luxury boutique Chicago property set to open at the end of April.Just over a block from Michigan Avenue in Chicago’s Near North neighborhood, The Ivy Hotel was once an office building. The...

SECAUCUS, N.J.—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded Panasonic Home & Environment Company a 2012 Energy Star Sustained Excellence Award in recognition of its continued leadership in manufacturing innovative and energy efficient ventilation fans. Panasonic’s accomplishments will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 15, 2012, which marks the 20th anniversary of Energy Star. An Energy Star Partner of the Year in 2011 and 2010, Panasonic Home & Environment Company will be honored with the EPA’s most prestigious award for its long-term commitment to sustainability. With the highest efficacy (up to 23.3 cubic feet...

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CALIF.—Aqua Soleil Hotel in Desert Hot Springs, well known for its hot mineral spas and pool, can now boast hot water of a different kind. Its new solar thermal hot water and pool heating system, designed to supply 80 percent of the hotel’s annual hot water demand, is one of the largest solar thermal installations in Coachella Valley. The solar system was installed by SunUp Energy, based in Coachella Valley, and features Austrian made Kioto flat plate solar collectors supplied through California Solar Thermal Inc. “We knew solar would be a great fit for Aqua Soleil when...

JUPITER, FLA.—Fresh-Aire UV, the manufacturer of the original 24 Volt Blue-Tube UV and the APCO in-duct air purifiers, introduces the Mini UV System, the first germicidal ultra-violet light system designed specifically for mini-split and other ductless air-conditioning units in residential and commercial applications.The Mini UV’s patent-pending miniaturized components, consisting of two pencil-thin, 9 (L) x 3/8 (D)-inch UV lamps and a 6 (W) x 1.5 (H) x 1 (D)-inch, 120 or 208-230-VAC power supply, fit inside all ductless A/C brands and even the tightest compact mini-split spaces.Like all Fresh-Aire UV products, the Mini UV inhibits all mold and other...

VERNON HILLS, ILL.—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has named Scotsman Ice Systems as a 2012 Energy Star Partner of the Year—Product Manufacturer for its outstanding contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by manufacturing energy-efficient products and helping to educate consumers about those products. Scotsman’s accomplishments will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 15, 2012, which marks the 20th anniversary of the Energy Star Partner program. Scotsman will be honored for its leadership in manufacturing products that earn the Energy Star Partner, the government-backed symbol of energy efficiency. Scotsman offers more than 65 Energy Star...