DENVER—Restaurants around the country are catching on to the health, economic and environmental benefits of offering more locally grown foods, organic cuisine, sustainable seafood, fair trade coffee and other forms of sustainable cuisine. Eating green, however, doesn’t have to be difficult, according to Xanterra Parks & Resorts. The operator of lodges, restaurants and activities in national and state parks and resorts has introduced a variety of innovative sustainable cuisine offerings in its restaurants, and its earth-friendly menus are becoming increasingly popular with guests. “Operating a sustainable kitchen starts with a few simple steps that anyone can take, even people living in...

BENTON HARBOR, MICH.—Maytag Commercial Laundry introduces its Energy Advantage On-Premises Drying Tumblers. They benefit operators by lowering energy costs and benefit employees with simple one-touch controls. Available in 30-, 50- and 75-lb. capacities, Energy Advantage On-Premises Drying Tumblers efficiently dry bulky loads to ensure a constant supply of clean linens. The tempered glass door combined with a dryer drum designed with air holes in the back only, forces heated air through clothes to reduce drying time. This results in a reduction of energy costs and less employee downtime. Energy Advantage On-Premises Drying Tumblers come standard with microprocessor controls,...

NEW YORK—Last week’s International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show, which drew more than 35,000 people, was packed with innovative products to help hoteliers clean naturally, save energy and water, and minimize waste generation. Also on hand were vendors offering everything from environmentally friendly wall coverings to nontoxic tub refinishing. Here are a just a few highlights from the 1,250 companies who exhibited at the lodging industry’s No. 1 trade event. Action Comax Environmental Inc., Newark, N.J., introduced its BioX high-volume organic waste decomposition system. Inside of a large steel container, food waste is broken down to liquid through biological decompostion. It...

KELOWNA, B.C.—Anyone skeptical about using the power of the sun to heat and cool a hotel should give Greg Salloum a call. He is c.e.o. of Salco Management Ltd., the owner of the 154-room Best Western-Kelowna in British Columbia. For more than six years now, the hotel has been heated and cooled with the help of a solar and geothermal system. In 2000 and 2001, 102 hot water solar panels were installed on the hotel’s roof. At that time, two five-ton heat pumps also were installed in the hotel’s basement. The system cost $258,000, of which $53,000 was paid by...

CINCINNATI—Procter & Gamble (P&G) Professional, in cooperation with Homewood Suites by Hilton and the National Coalition for the Homeless have combined efforts to donate freshly laundered, hotel-quality sheets to homeless shelters across the United States through their “Mission S.O.F.T.” program. This program provides homeless persons with a way to “Start Out Fresh Today.” “When people donate to homeless organizations, they typically think of the obvious necessities including clothing, food and toiletries,” says Michael Stoops, acting director of the National Coalition for the Homeless. “Sheets are an often overlooked necessity that many shelters need and want.” The three...

BOSTON—The Green Restaurant Assn. and Chefs Collaborative have formed a partnership. Since 1990, the Green Restaurant Assn. has been helping the restaurant industry work through the association’s 11 environmental guidelines. Since 1993, Chefs Collaborative has been educating chefs and consumers about sustainable cuisine. On November 13, Chefs Collaborative chairman Eric Stenberg will announce the partnership to a room full of America’s top chefs and supporting diners. Michael Oshman, Green Restaurant Assn. executive director, will give a presentation on the restaurant/environment connection. Oshman will also announce that the host hotel, Langham Hotel Boston, is about to become America’s newest Certified Green Restaurant....

FALL RIVER, MASS.—The AD-758V, which has been a preferred ADC dryer for many years, is now available with an improved 46 percent larger door opening. This 75-pound machine offers rugged, high performance and is ideal for on-premise applications. Available in gas, steam or electric heat, the AD-758V is built for high production, and fast efficient drying. Gas units have a heat input of 175,000 Btu/hr and airflow of 1,000 cfm, providing maximum performance. ADC incorporates an exclusive patented microprocessor control that provides simple and accurate operation. Automatic drying programs take the guesswork out of cycle selection and avoid...

NATIONAL REPORT—When shopping for a walk-in cooler or freezer, it pays to be selective. A quick, uninformed purchase can result in unnecessary energy costs down the road. There are a lot of vendors out there. Before you come to a final buying decision, be sure to keep in mind all of the considerations that impact energy consumption. Insulation is one important factor. It is what provides resistance to heat flow. According to Scott Mallernee, product manager for Parsons, Tenn.-based Kolpak, polyurethane offers the best value. Four inches of polyurethane, he says, provides the same amount of insulation as...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Project Planet Corp. as a Green Product Directory partner. Project Planet is the lodging industry’s leading provider of promotional materials for linen and towel reuse programs. Project Planet’s colorful in-room materials have a significant impact on guest participation. The Dawsonville, Ga.-based company’s materials can be found in more than 5,000 hotels worldwide. Project Planet’s programs reduce energy, water, labor and chemical costs. The company sells a variety of products including pillow toppers, door hangers and more. Go to Project Planet Corp. for more information or...

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.—After examining 10 finalists in the Foodservice Consultant Society International (FCSI) 2006 North American Division Symposium’s Innovation Showcase, consultants awarded the air-o-speed by Electrolux Professional the prestigious Product of the Year award. The air-o-speed is the first high speed combi oven that provides an innovative solution to cooking through a combination of convection, steam, combi (steam and convection) and multi-wave for a completely integrated cooking process. Multi-wave is a patented microwave technology that combines with the other cooking modes to dramatically decrease cooking times, while providing the same quality result of a combi oven. It also...