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...

NIANTIC, CONN.—INNCOM International, a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of guestroom automation systems for the international lodging industry, has unveiled a new design-centric energy-management solution made of recyclable glass that controls room temperature, lighting and more. The e4 Glass Series Smart Digital Thermostat and Switch, developed with design team tonychi and associates and lighting design partner Arc Light Design, were introduced at the Hospitality Design Expo and Conference last week. “The INNCOM e4 Glass Series finally gives designers the much needed flexibility to work in-room electronics into the overall guestroom design scheme,” said Arc Light designer Alejandro Bulaevsky. “The...

TALLAHASSEE, FLA.—Florida Governor Charlie Crist last week applauded Walt Disney Parks & Resorts for its achievement of 100 percent of its lodging properties earning the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Green Lodging Program designation, covering all 24 of its resort hotels. “I applaud Disney’s compelling participation in the Florida Green Lodging Program,” said Governor Crist. “Through its commitment, Disney is demonstrating the importance of environmental stewardship to thousands of employees and millions of guests.” Launched in 2004 by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Florida Green Lodging Program establishes environmental guidelines for hotels and motels to conserve natural...

ROANOKE, VA.—The Best Western Sandman in Sacramento, Calif., has installed Lodging Technology’s (guestroom energy management) GEM System and GEM Stat digital wall thermostats in all 116 guestrooms, utilizing their existing General Electric (GE) PTAC units. GEM System is an innovative, infrared sensor-based guestroom energy management system that reduces room energy costs 35 percent to 45 percent. GEM Stat is a digital wall thermostat that connects to existing GE, or other air-conditioning units, providing more uniform, accurate room temperature while meeting Best Western’s brand standard for digital thermostats. “The justification was rather easy” said Chuck Sarti, owner/operator of the Best Western Sandman....

ADDISON, ILL.—Hotel managers considering the pros and cons of switching to wireless monitoring of temperature conditions critical to patron comfort and energy savings can now make more informed technology decisions with the Wireless Savings Calculator offered by Dickson Company, manufacturers of the Wireless Wizard Temperature Data Logger. “Hoteliers need to monitor temperature conditions affecting patrons and energy costs but nobody wants to spend a lot of time doing so,” says Chris Sorensen, Dickson’s V.P. Sales and Marketing. “The benefit of wireless data logging is that you no longer need to spend time retrieving data. Temperature data—both trends...

SYRACUSE, N.Y.—Carrier Corp., a unit of United Technologies Corp., is launching the new Centurion rooftop “PD” series. Based on its award-winning Centurion rooftop product line with environmentally sound Puron refrigerant, the PD series provides single-zone, variable-cooling capacity and fan speed control in one, single-package rooftop. The new Centurion rooftops have Energy Star-certified efficiencies with up to 15.0 Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) and achieve design criteria outlined in ASHRAE 55, “Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy”, and ANSI S12.60, “Acoustic Standard.” The new series also supports LEED certification. Centurion PD series rooftops use variable-capacity scroll compressors and variable-speed indoor fan systems....

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes American DG Energy as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. Waltham, Mass.-based American DG Energy’s On-Site Utility provides clean energy in the form of electricity, heat, hot water and cooling at a guaranteed discount rate. The energy is produced with small-scale combined heat and power (CHP) equipment located at the property site, but owned and operated by American DG Energy. Hotels have no capital costs for the equipment. Turnkey installations are available. Call (781) 522-6000, e-mail info@americandg.com, or go to www.americandg.com.

SALT LAKE CITY—Echoflex Solutions Inc., a leading manufacturer of EnOcean-enabled controls, is releasing a self-powered wireless key switch. The one-of-a-kind switch is activated by hotel key cards and not only promises to reduce the cost of powering unoccupied hotel rooms, it also promises to simplify the process of conforming to ASHRAE/IESNA standard 90.1. The standard requires that hotel rooms feature an occupancy-based master control. The self-powered switch generates its own power each time a hotel key card is inserted into or removed from its dock. When guests enter a room, they insert the key card into a docking station. After...