SHREVEPORT, LA.—Frymaster introduces the new H55 and H55-2 High-Efficiency Series of gas fryers specifically designed for high-production frying. The H55, with its efficiency rating in excess of 55 percent, ranks at the top of the list for Energy Star fryers. It is independently rated as a fast-recovery-time unit with superior production capacity, lower idle rates and superior ease of cleaning. Electronic ignition and melt cycles, turbo-jet infrared burners, solid-state controllers and a centerline temperature sensor are all included as standard features on the high-efficiency fryers. Most important, the large cold zone catches crumbs and sediment from the frying...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Worcester, Mass.-based Wet-Tech as a Green Product Directory sponsor. Wet-Tech is a global company that designs, develops and manufactures energy- and water-saving EnviroSaver II Ozone equipment. Applications for Wet-Tech’s ozone treatment systems include the laundry, washrooms, air purification, water purification, waste water treatment, cooling towers, swimming pools, and food processing production area cleaning and sanitizing. Wet-Tech has a partnership with O3 Wash Pty ltd of Australia and is known throughout the lodging industry as an authority in ozone treatment for the laundry. Go to Wet-Tech...

CAMBRIDGE, MASS.—Henrietta’s Table, the award-winning restaurant at the Charles Hotel here, has staked its claim as one of the most environmentally friendly restaurants in America—and for good reason. Executive chef Peter Davis strongly advocates the purchase of local, organically grown vegetables, meat produced by farmers who practice humane animal husbandry, and seafood produced by well-managed fisheries. In 2005, Henrietta’s Table purchased close to $100,000 in food products directly from local farmers. As a member of the Boston-based Chefs Collaborative, a national nonprofit organization that promotes sustainable cuisine, chef Davis supports local farmers by buying as much organic produce as he...

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.—Electrolux Professional North America has enhanced its SMART Refrigeration line. It is now Energy Star rated, equipped with optional dual temperature controls, and available for under-counter installation. “Energy Star rated equipment is a huge benefit to the operator,” says Angelo Grillas, product manager for Electrolux Professional. “We are providing them with superior energy management and a sustained commitment to saving money. The SMART defrosting function automatically detects ice build-up on the evaporator and de-ices only when necessary, saving running costs and ensuring a uniform inside temperature and resulting in energy savings up to 5 percent.” ...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Cleveland Range introduces the SteamChef 6. It is a high-speed electric convection steamer that features an open-style, 1.5-gallon water reservoir in the cooking compartment to allow for easy cleaning and maintenance. The Cleveland SteamChef 6 offers cooking capacity for up to six 12-inch x 20-inch x 2.5-inch deep steam-table pans. The fan-forced KleanShield cooking compartment is designed to automatically collect and remove waste, keeping the compartment clean and safe from impurities. This feature also eliminates foaming and avoids contamination of the reservoir water. SureCook compartment controls improve cooking speed and accuracy by automatically adjusting the cooking...

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, WYOMING—At the home of Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park, laundry personnel at Xanterra Parks & Resorts are working like a geyser in reverse—saving water and energy efficiently. That is a necessity in a park with nine lodging facilities and 11 restaurants. Xanterra Parks & Resorts, which manages the guest accommodations at the park, cleans more than 2.5 million pounds of linen every year at its Gardiner Laundry Services facility. The linens include bed and bath linen and housekeeping cleaning cloths from more than 2,000 guestrooms. It also includes table linen and kitchen cleaning cloths from...

PEORIA, ILL.—Electrolux and Sharp Corp. are working together to develop a new range of midsized, energy-efficient frost-free refrigerators. This project is part of a broader strategic collaboration within major appliances between the two companies. The refrigeration project started last year and includes mutual exchange of information, know-how and consumer research. In terms of product development/technical development, the two companies have built a structure of sharing tasks on product planning, production, and assessment of products. This first project consists of joint development of six different types of environmentally friendly, energy-saving small and midsize frost-free refrigerators. Electrolux and Sharp...

BENICIA, CALIF.—Pacific Ozone Technology, a supplier of OEM ozone equipment, has launched Element Ozone, a subsidiary company supplying ozone technology for light commercial applications. Element Ozone’s countertop ozone generator is designed for kitchens in hotel restaurants and can be used to sanitize and disinfect hands, foods and food prep surfaces. “Because of the increased liability food service companies have, the industry is ready to embrace ozone as an antimicrobial agent, says Jeremy Ke, operations manager for Element Ozone. Ozone provides organizations with an effective barrier against contamination. In addition, it is natural, eco-friendly and produces a natural by-product:...

NATIONAL REPORT—Looking to trim energy consumption and costs in the kitchen? The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star “ Commercial Food Service” Web site is not a bad place to start. The site offers guidance on finding appropriate product sizes and models and features information on the four categories of products for which EPA has established energy efficiency specifications: hot food holding cabinets; steam cookers; fryers; and solid door reach-in refrigerators, freezers and refrigerator/freezers. Energy Star-qualified equipment is designed to use less energy and water, while continuing to provide high performance, reliability, efficiency and life-cycle cost benefits. “In general, Energy...

NATIONAL REPORT—With water heating accounting for approximately 40 percent of a hotel’s energy consumption, it is no wonder that an increasing number of hotels are implementing ozone laundry systems. Provided by about a dozen vendors around the United States, these systems can save about 80 percent in hot water consumption and up to 30 percent in overall water usage. The trend toward ozone system implementation comes at a time when an increasing number of hotels are bringing their laundry operations in-house. Jack Reiff, president of Worcester, Mass.-based Wet-Tech, says hotel operators who switch to ozone systems benefit from much...