GERMANTOWN, MD.—Telkonet, Inc., a leading provider of centrally managed solutions for integrated energy management, networking, building automation and proactive support services, has won the contract to supply Main Street Developers with Telkonet SmartEnergy (TSE), with the first systems being installed in four new properties during 2008 and early 2009. The hotel development company selected Telkonet after extensive evaluation of competitive energy management solutions, singling out Telkonet’s patented Recovery Time™ technology as a major factor in the contract award. With six to 10 franchised hotel projects underway each year, Main Street Developers plans to implement TSE universally as a core element...

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J.—LG Electronics, one of the world’s largest air conditioner manufacturers, unveiled its new MULTI VTM series of commercial air conditioners. The new series launches the company’s extensive portfolio of applied commercial air-conditioning products into the U.S. market, and features design flexibility, industry-leading efficiency, low noise levels and one of the longest refrigeration piping lengths available. “Launching our advanced MULTI V commercial air-conditioning series into the U.S. market builds on LG Electronics’ position as one of the world’s largest suppliers of commercial and residential air conditioner units,” said Steve Schmitt, director, Commercial Air Conditioning, LG Electronics USA, Inc. “The...

GERMANTOWN, MD.—Telkonet, Inc., a leading provider of innovative, centrally managed solutions for integrated energy management, networking, building automation and proactive support services, announced that it has won an energy management contract with Cornerstone Hotel Management as part of Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy incentive program. Cornerstone Hotel Management will initially install the in-room, occupancy-driven Telkonet SmartEnergy (TSE) energy management system at three of its properties to lower utility bills by eliminating unnecessary heating and cooling of unoccupied guest rooms. Launched in March 2008, Telkonet and Focus on Energy provide eligible hospitality customers in Wisconsin with discounted energy management products and installation...

AUSTIN, TEXAS—Control4 Corp., a leader in IP-based control and entertainment systems, announced the release of Control4 Suite Systems, a customized version of the company’s home automation and entertainment control technology. Control4 Suite Systems provides a platform of innovative convenience and automation for the in-room environment by enabling hotel guests to control lighting, room temperature, television/video systems, music, draperies and requests for services through a single remote. “We’ve worked closely with the industry to develop a fully customized room automation platform that is incredibly easy to use, install and maintain,” said Will West, CEO at Control4. “Control4 Suite...

ST. LOUIS, MO.—Emerson Climate Technologies, a business of Emerson, announced the launch of its Big Blue Humidity Control Touchscreen Thermostat. This universal thermostat, which features a large blue touchscreen, controls single-stage, multi-stage and heat pump systems with up to four stages of heat and two stages of cool. The Emerson Big Blue Humidity Control Touchscreen offers two selectable program schedules or can be dedicated non-programmable. It has up to four time and temperature settings per program and can be either battery powered with power stealing assist or hardwired. “Contractors now have an easy sell to their customers that desire premium comfort...

NEW YORK—In a major initiative to reduce energy and carbon emissions significantly, the New York Marriott Downtown, a 500-room full-service Marriott hotel managed by Marriott International, Inc. and owned by Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc., celebrated the inauguration of its new “microturbine farm” with a ribbon cutting on June 3 in Lower Manhattan. The installation of two hotel owner-funded PureComfort systems built by UTC Power, a United Technologies Corp. company, makes the hotel the first in New York City to use this ultra clean technology to provide its own electricity, cooling and heating on-site. Waste heat generated by the system’s...

NIANTIC, CONN.—INNCOM International, a global leader in energy management systems and products for the lodging industry, has joined with one of the nation’s leading HVAC manufacturers to develop technology that will deliver greater levels of precision HVAC control to guests and better energy efficiency—and, thus, lower operating costs—to hotels. Niantic, Conn.-based INNCOM is teaming with Oklahoma City-based Williams Applied Products Group whereby INNCOM is developing a controller that Williams Applied Group will use in fan-coil units. The state-of-the-art controller will maximize guest comfort—thus increasing guest satisfaction—and will drastically reduce hotel operating costs, thanks to dramatically improved energy efficiency while simultaneously...

CHICAGO—The National Restaurant Assn. launched “Conserve: Solutions for Sustainability”, an initiative designed to support the United States’ nearly one million restaurant and foodservice locations as they become more eco-friendly, at the Association’s recent Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show in Chicago. The Conserve website will educate restaurateurs on how taking small steps over time—or bigger steps for those who choose to do so—can make a difference for the future of our planet, as well as be positive for business. “We are launching Conserve to raise awareness and provide resources and information about eco-friendly practices to the entire restaurant and foodservice community,” said...

SYRACUSE, N.Y.—Carrier Corp., a unit of United Technologies Corp., has introduced its new WeatherMaker rooftop product line with Puron refrigerant. This product line meets the increasing demand for more energy-efficient air conditioners with environmentally sound, non-ozone depleting refrigerant and factory-installed features. “I am pleased to introduce the new Carrier WeatherMaker rooftop product line with the initial release of the three to 10 ton units,” said Chris Nelson, vice president and general manager, Carrier Commercial Unitary Systems. “The new line provides our customers with a reliable and efficient packaged solution that is easy to install, maintain and use.” WeatherMaker rooftop products are...

CHICAGO—When it comes to tankless water heaters, it’s the questions that are endless. A new website is the first to provide straight talk on tankless versus tank water heaters, and is aimed at helping construction professionals advise their customers which system is best for different circumstances. SmarterHotWater.com is a product of Rheem Water Heating, the only U.S. manufacturer of both tank and tankless water heaters, as well as a provider of solar systems. “Being water-heater agnostic makes Rheem a credible resource to help professionals sort out the claims and counterclaims about tank and tankless water heaters,” said Bob Hitchner, director...