KAANAPALI NORTH BEACH, MAUI—The newest full service hotel development on Kaanapali Beach, the Honua Kai Resort & Spa, has unveiled details of its comprehensive sustainability program—in line with the traditional Hawaiian concept of “malama aina,” (caring for the land). Honua Kai’ practices begin with the ocean, protect the surrounding beach, and extend to every room at the property. Honua Kai, which opened in January 2009, has its own director of sustainability, Lance Gilliland. “We call it ‘Eco-nomics,’—practices that are ecologically sound and economically feasible,” Gilliland says. “It just makes sense to conserve energy, re-use, recycle and protect the beautiful natural...

YOUNTVILLE, CALIF.—Bardessono has just received the highest level of official recognition possible for its sustainable and environmentally friendly design. The hotel has been awarded LEED Platinum certification, an achievement reached by only two other hotels in the world, on the first anniversary of its opening. Phil Sherburne built Bardessono with the intention of creating a hotel that provides guests with a luxurious experience while simultaneously protecting the environment. “I believe it is critical for the development community to be a leader in the effort to preserve a healthy planet,” Sherburne says. “We can’t just continue to talk about environmental...

WILMINGTON, DEL.—American Hometec, Inc. introduces its patented coilless technology for electric tankless water heaters. American Hometec’s innovative coilless technology heats water indirectly with a patented space industry quality quartz tube technology with a semi-conductor coating for increased efficiency and water conservation. With American Hometec’s coilless gechnology, the electric components are never in direct contact with the water being heated, preventing accumulation of lime scale inside the unit. Other electric heaters on the market immerse coils in water to directly heat the water, which causes heat spots, and over time, lime scale builds up and causes a decrease in heating...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes ClearEdge Power as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. With facilities in California and Oregon, ClearEdge Power is a privately held technology company leading the way for smarter, cleaner on-site energy systems focused on commercial, institutional and residential buildings. The company designs, manufactures and markets the ClearEdge5 system, a unique, proven fuel cell appliance that cleanly converts natural gas to electricity and heat, offering a significant financial savings as well as a greatly reduced impact on the global environment. The ClearEdge corporate management systems are certified...

SEDONA, ARIZ.—Sedona’s Kings Ransom Inn recently launched Green Suites International’s “EcoRoom Accommodation Program,” converting each of its 53 guestrooms into healthier, more environmental “EcoRooms.” They are the first property in the area to do so. The guestrooms will now feature more than a dozen environmental products. The products include compact fluorescent light bulbs, water-efficient showerheads and sink faucets; LED nightlights (according to a study at Livermore Laboratories, 40 percent of all travelers leave bathroom lights on as nightlights), nontoxic cleaning chemicals; a linen reuse program, and Natura brand liquid soaps, lotions and shampoo products offered in shower and vanity dispensers....

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Energy Eye as a Founding Sponsor. Founded in 2001, Energy Eye’s HVAC energy management systems have been successfully used to control all types of heating and air-conditioning systems—driving immediate, day one cash-flow positive investments to hoteliers worldwide. The company’s EYEPOWER Solution is currently being used by hotels and resorts ranging from under 30 rooms to more than 600 rooms, across the United States, as well as in Mexico, the Caribbean, Australia, Asia and the Middle East. The EYEPOWER solution has been installed in many property types, including limited...

ATLANTA—Kimberly-Clark, a leader in non-woven technologies, announces the availability of its newest line of high-efficiency filtration media for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system air filters. Based on the company’s patented, bi-component, nonwoven technology, the new media is ideal for a range of HVAC filter styles delivering MERV 11-15 performance. The new Kimberly-Clark Filter Media delivers both high initial and high sustained particle capture efficiencies, helping to deliver excellent indoor air quality (IAQ) and keeping HVAC components clean for more efficient and less costly operation. It also maintains a low airflow resistance, which reduces energy costs, as the HVAC system...

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CALIF.—LG Electronics USA announced the grand opening of the LG Training Academy in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., to support the company’s expanding commercial air-conditioning business in the United States. As a growing participant in the climate control industry, this second U.S. training facility for LG Electronics Commercial Air Conditioning illustrates a burgeoning U.S. HVAC business. The first was opened a year ago just outside of Atlanta. Opened specifically with LG’s West Coast customer base in mind, this academy has the capability of training hundreds of engineers, contractors and technicians annually. The training academy will educate a diverse audience on...

LAS VEGAS—Control4, a leader in IP-based home and hospitality control systems, announced that Control4 Suite Systems is being used to enhance the guest experience in more than 4,300 guestrooms in the ARIA Resort & Casino and Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas at CityCenter. Control4 Suite Systems enables guests to control every aspect of the room environment and interact with entertainment and hotel services, while providing CityCenter with control of energy usage. CityCenter is the largest Control4 Suite Systems deployment to date. “Today’s consumers are just as conscious of being green when they travel as they are when they’re home,” said Scot...

ROANOKE, VA.—The Best Western Clock Tower Inn, Billings, Mont., has installed Lodging Technology’s GEM Link Wireless Energy Management in all 127 guestrooms. GEM Link Wireless reduces hotel/motel guestroom HVAC energy consumption 35 percent to 45 percent by resetting room temperature to an energy conserving level, pre-selected by the hotel, only while the guest is out of the room. GEM Link uses the reliable ZigBee wireless protocol and consists of wireless passive infrared (PIR) occupancy sensors, wireless door switches, and a transceiver control module connectable to any HVAC unit. The Best Western Clock Tower Inn has a mixture of GE and...