EAST FREETOWN, MASS.—Heat Transfer Products has unveiled a new 30-tube solar collector panel that will deliver up to 39,000 Btu per panel per day, depending on available sunlight. The collectors are engineered to maximize energy efficiency even at high Delta T temperatures, making them ideal for colder regions or applications demanding higher outlet temperatures. Each panel assembly consists of 30 twin-glass, evacuated tubes to absorb solar energy for heating water. They are shipped with a ready-to-assemble 439 stainless-steel frame for easy rooftop mounting. Rather than wrestling with a cumbersome, prefabricated collector panel on a rooftop, the technician builds the collector...

GERMANTOWN, MD.—Telkonet, Inc., a leading provider of centrally managed solutions for integrated energy management, networking, building automation and proactive support services, announced that it has entered into a two-year, $1 million line of credit facility with Thermo Credit, LLC, a funding company specializing in the telecommunications industry. The proceeds from this line of credit, together with the Thermo Credit $2.5 million receivable financing agreement signed in February 2008, will be used for the working capital requirements of the company to support growth opportunities and accelerate revenue. “As we discussed in our second quarter conference call, this completes our goal of...

MOUNT PROSPECT, ILL.—ESCO Institute announces the release of Green Awareness, a new publication that provides a basic understanding of green concepts, terminologies, systems, and the latest in green mechanical technology. Every day the word “Green” enters our lives. We read about it in the news, we see it on TV and we hear about it on the radio, but what is it and how does it affect us? When it comes to mechanicals, (HVAC/R, plumbing and electrical) “Green” means maximizing the energy efficiency of existing equipment, specifying the most efficient systems available for the application and the available...

ATLANTA—Energy use in buildings can be reduced by 10 to 40 percent by improving operational strategies in buildings, according to a study by the Energy Systems Lab at Texas A&M University. A new certification program from ASHRAE helps building owners know they are hiring and retaining employees and consultants who know how to take advantage of such strategies. The Operations and Performance Management Professional Certification (OPMP) program helps earners demonstrate their knowledge of the management of facility operations and maintenance and their impact on HVAC&R systems’ performance. The program will launch at the ASHRAE Winter Meeting in Chicago in...

MALVERN, PA.—USA Technologies launched the next generation VM2iQ with improved customer benefits, greater market appeal and for a lower price. USA Technologies has reduced the cost of manufacturing the new VM2iQ technology, enabling the company to lower the price and improve return on investment for their customers. The new VM2iQ has an ROI that in most cases is less than nine months. The newly manufactured VM2iQ was designed to respond to growing customer demand, and comes with all the features of the original VM2iQ. It incorporates the same innovative, intelligent technology that installs inside the vending machine to control the...

ASHEVILLE, N.C.—Biltmore Farms SM Hotels announced that it will install a large-scale solar water heating system atop its new Hilton Hotel in Biltmore Park Town Square. The system will provide the 165-room hotel with more than 2,000 gallons of hot water a day, and it’s expected that the system will save approximately $10,000 annually in fossil fuel costs at current rates. The hot water system is one of the many environmentally friendly measures the community developer and its partner, Crosland, LLC, are undertaking at Biltmore Park Town Square to promote a healthy environment, reduce energy costs, and help it achieve...

GERMANTOWN, MD.—Telkonet, Inc., a leading provider of centrally managed solutions for integrated energy management, networking, building automation and proactive support services, announced that it will be installing the in-room, occupancy-driven Telkonet SmartEnergy (TSE) energy management solution throughout the eco-friendly luxury Metro Hotel, located in downtown Milwaukee, Wis. Milwaukee’s first Travel Green certified venue, the Metro Hotel selected TSE after a comprehensive trial, highlighting TSE’s Recovery Time technology and efficient operation as key factors, in line with its green energy strategy and focus on improving guest satisfaction. TSE will be implemented during August with the help of Focus on Energy, Wisconsin’s...

NEW YORK—As a result of its $65 million renovation, the historic New Yorker Hotel, located in the heart of New York City, will decrease its use of energy for heating and air-conditioning by 30 to 40 percent, effectively reducing the hotel’s carbon footprint. Furthermore, the new air-conditioning system will exceed ASHRAE Standard 90.1, an internationally recognized energy conservation standard related to HVAC systems (ASHRAE is the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers). The $65 million renovation, to be completed in September of this year, is carefully designed to recapture the style and character of the New Yorker...

NATIONAL REPORT—With electricity and natural gas prices about to follow gasoline prices into the stratosphere, there is no better time to consider combined heat and power (CHP) as a means to lower utility bills—especially with CHP system providers offering so many attractive financing options. In fact, with some vendors you can have an on-site utility (power plant) installed with no upfront capital cost. CHP is ideal for hotels with 100 rooms and above. CHP, also known as cogeneration, is generated onsite by a plant powered by any number of systems: fuel cells, reciprocating engines, turbines, or microturbines. Electricity generated is...

APPLE VALLEY, MINN.—The new Climate Control Zoning System from Uponor uses the latest wireless technology for complete radiant control in every room of a building—offering users a system that is more convenient to control and requires less time for contractors to set up and install. “When designing the new Climate Control Zoning System, we wanted to offer our customers a convenient way to control room temperatures while providing a system that would be faster and easier to install,” says Mark Hudoba, senior product manager, Heating and Cooling, at Uponor. “By eliminating the hassle and expense of running thermostat wires through...