BOSTON—Magnum Energy Solutions recently put their Verde wireless and batteryless energy control system, powered by EnOcean, to the test in an independent study conducted at a Wyndham hotel. The test sought to measure the HVAC and lighting energy savings that could be realized by utilizing sensor and control devices that respond to hotel room occupancy statuses. The field test concluded that hotel rooms controlled by the Verde Energy Control System consumed 33 percent less energy than rooms without the energy harvesting controls. The Verde hotel room energy system determines if a hotel room is vacant or occupied according to the...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes FLS Energy, Inc. as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. FLS Energy is a solar energy generation company providing planning, design, installation and financing solutions for clients seeking clean energy alternatives and a hedge against rising energy costs. The company’s portfolio includes some of the largest solar hot water systems in the country in addition to utility scale solar electricity farms. Notable FLS Energy hotel installations include the Proximity Hotel in Greensboro, N.C., and the Hilton Asheville (N.C.). In Tennessee, two installations include the Hilton Knoxville Airport...

ATLANTA—“It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity,” is often used to explain the less-than-comfortable temperatures in Florida. With that in mind, there seems to be no better place to discuss ASHRAE’s winter’s conference theme: “Building Sustainability from the Inside Out.” Whenever the temperatures outside are too hot or humid to handle, ASHRAE ensures that indoor environments are comfortable and, most important, sustainable. ASHRAE’s 2010 Winter Conference will be held in Orlando from January 23 to 27 at the Rosen Shingle Creek hotel. The International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Expo, held in conjunction with the Conference, will run January 25 to 27....

ROANOKE, VA.—The Comfort Suites in St. George, Utah has installed the new GEM Link Wireless guestroom energy management system and GEM Stat Digital Thermostats in all 122 guestroom suites, utilizing their existing GE Zoneline PTAC units. 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...

RENO, NEV.—The Peppermill Resort Spa Casino in Reno, Nev., is tapping into clean, reliable, renewable geothermal energy. A total of $8.1 million was invested in the project. Like the industry they represent, the privately held resort took a gamble—drill a well that taps into the geothermal aquifer, betting on finding water at the correct temperature that could be captured and converted to energy through a closed loop system. It would then be returned to the earth via a reinjection well, which would heat the entire resort’s water and mechanical heat via geothermal energy. Peppermill president, Bill Paganetti, engaged world-renowned geothermal...

NIANTIC, CONN.—At a time when many companies are cutting back on personnel and in other areas in order to save on costs, INNCOM International is in the hiring mode. Niantic-based INNCOM, which develops, manufactures and markets room automation systems for the international lodging industry, has added three experienced professionals to its sales force. John Chaffin is INNCOM’s new director of sales for the Southeast region, Kelly Miller takes over as director of sales for the Western region, and Adam Smalarz is now administrator of project sales and sales programs. “We understand that in these tough economic times, hotels have to...

LAS VEGAS—CityCenter announced that it has received three Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certifications from the U.S. Green Building Council for: ARIA Resort’s hotel tower; ARIA Resort’s convention center and theater; and Vdara Hotel. ARIA and Vdara will open in December on the Las Vegas Strip and are the first of CityCenter’s developments to be LEED certified. CityCenter anticipates Gold or Silver LEED certification for its remaining developments which include Las Vegas’ first Mandarin Oriental; Crystals, a 500,000-square-foot retail and entertainment district; Veer Towers, the community’s only strictly residential buildings; and The Harmon (opening late 2010),...

PERKASIE, PA.—Hotel owners and facility managers struggle with high energy costs because rooms are often left unoccupied with the HVAC system continuing to heat or cool at comfort set-point levels. With an onboard occupancy sensor incorporated into the case, PSG’s new OS-1 solves this problem. The OS-1 determines when a room is unoccupied and places it into set-back economy mode. To provide flexibility, the length of time without motion before going into set-back is configurable, as is the temperature setting of the setback economy mode, so that the property owner or manager maintains control over the room environment while...

ASPEN, COLO.—Altech Solar recently completed its latest solar installation at the St. Regis Resort in Aspen, Colorado. The St. Regis Resort contracted Altech Solar to install its custom solar thermal technology, which has already dramatically decreased the resort’s dependence on natural gas; the price of which has skyrocketed in recent years. Using the sun’s energy, more than 1,300 solar e-tubes mounted in solar array panels on the resort’s main building roof heat a liquid solution housed in vacuum tubes, resembling copper and glass torpedoes, to temperatures exceeding more than 2 million BTUs (British Thermal Units) per day. The heated solution...

MONTGOMERY, ALA.—The new integrated air-source HP-50 Heat Pump Water Heater from Rheem Water Heating offers an Energy Factor (EF) of 2.0, or more than twice the energy efficiency of a standard electric storage water heater. The new water heater qualifies for a federal tax credit as well as many state and utility rebates and incentives. Intended for residential applications, both new construction and drop-in replacement of existing water heaters, the unit has a storage capacity of 50 gallons and meets the qualifications for an Energy Star listing. Measuring only 21 inches in diameter and 75.5 inches tall, the new Rheem...