BOYLSTON, MASS.—Restaurants can now run their operations on waste vegetable oil, thanks to the development of Vegawatt from Owl Power Company. This new product enables restaurants to reduce their need for electricity and natural gas supplied from utility companies by using their waste vegetable oil to create electricity and hot water. Owl Power is a developer of clean energy systems and the Massachusetts-based company has been hard at work for the last four years creating, testing, and now unveiling the Vegawatt, a cogeneration system that uses waste vegetable oil as fuel to generate on-site electricity and hot water. “It’s with great...

BURBANK, CALIF.—A new UVC Kit for Air Handlers from Steril-Aire, Inc. may be used in a wide range of HVAC applications to destroy microorganisms including flu viruses, bacteria and mold. The easy-to-install kit delivers Steril-Aire’s proven UVC technology to fan coil units, unit ventilator systems and indoor air handlers with coils up to 84" (213.4 cm) with dual access. It delivers energy savings on retrofit installations, maintains factory design efficiency on new units, and improves indoor air quality and infection control in all systems. Applications include air handlers serving patient rooms, classrooms, hotel/motel rooms, apartments and condominiums, and offices in...

NEW HYDE PARK, N.Y.—Evolve Guest Controls announced a fundamental commitment to protect the environment by becoming an Energy Star Partner. Evolve’s voluntary partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star program means that it will be working toward helping its clients improve the energy efficiency and performance of their properties. “We believe that an organization-wide energy management approach will help our clients enhance their financial health and aid in preserving the environment for future generations,” says Len Horowitz, president. “Evolve is very excited to be named an Energy Star Partner. This recognition underscores Evolve’s commitment to saving the planet...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Onity as a Green Product & Service Directory Partner. Onity is a leading provider of electronic locks, in-room safes and energy management systems to the hospitality, commercial, education, military and marine markets. Onity’s products are in more than 20,000 properties around the world. Onity/Senercomm offers a complete line of energy saving products. Its products merge digital temperature control with setback strategies that adjust the temperature to energy efficient levels when a room is unoccupied. Onity/Senercomm products work with all types of HVAC configurations and light control. For more information,...

LONG BEACH, CALIF.—MovinCool announced that it has upgraded all models in its Office Pro and Classic Plus lines of portable spot air conditioners, as well as its latest ceiling-mounted CM12 model, to use the environmentally-friendly refrigerant R-410A. Unlike hydrochlorofluorcarbon-based refrigerants such as R22 (Freon), R-410A does not contain greenhouse gases, which contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer. “As a company, we are committed to offering environmentally friendly products, and are proud to be continuing to lead our industry sector in this direction,” said John Doran, senior manager, Commercial and Industrial Systems. “We are certain that our customers will...

LAS VEGAS—INNCOM International Inc. and Enseo Inc. unveiled a new technology at the HD 2009 Expo & Conference that expands the reach of a luxury lodging experience from a select few guestrooms to all guestrooms while keeping things affordable for a hotel property. The joint solution taps both companies’ technological ability to provide in-room control to guests via the guestroom TV remote device. Through the TV, guests can makes changes to in-room temperatures, change light settings, signal “do not disturb” or “make up room” at their doorway, and other popular service requests. Enseo, a privately held company in Richardson, Texas,...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Evolve Guest Controls as a Founding Sponsor. Evolve is a wireless room control system designed to save 30 percent or more on a property’s utility costs as well as offering a return on investment in less than two years. Upon entering the guestroom, the guest initiates control of the lighting, heating/cooling, television and draperies by simply inserting the keycard into the wall-mounted Evolve card reader. When guests leave and remove the card, all devices are turned off and the thermostat is adjusted to a “savings” temperature, thereby eliminating...

NIANTIC, CONN.—The luxurious Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch in Scottsdale, Ariz., has made the INNCOM Energy Management System (EMS) a key component of an extensive renovation project—a component which, thanks to a local energy rebate program, is even further ahead of schedule in paying for itself. Niantic-based INNCOM is a global leader in developing, manufacturing and marketing advanced guestroom control systems for the international hospitality industry. The Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa, which among many other features includes 492 spacious guestrooms, 70,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor meeting space and 27 holes of championship golf, is...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes PTAC MAGIC as a Green Product & Service Directory Partner. The company specializes in installing, cleaning and recycling Packaged Terminal Air-Conditioning units. The steam cleaning of PTACs improves air quality, cuts electric bills significantly, increases profits, kills mold and viruses, reduces repair costs, lowers replacement costs, and increases guest satisfaction. Steam cleaning is a chemical-free process. For more information, call (888) 401-7822, e-mail david@ptacmagic.com, or go to www.ptacmagic.com.

NATIONAL REPORT—Believe it or not, guestroom energy management systems have been around for almost 30 years now. According to Lodging Technology, it originated infrared occupancy sensor-based hotel energy conservation in 1980. It is only in the past few years, however, that wireless versions of the many hard-wired systems on the market have become available. Some vendors are just rolling out their wireless offerings. No two wireless systems are exactly the same but they all rely on thermostats, motion and/or passive infrared (PIR) occupancy sensors, along with door switches and transceivers/controllers to power down heating and cooling when guests have...