TROY, OHIO—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized ITW Food Equipment Group-North America (ITW FEG) with a 2013 Energy Star Partner of the Year-Sustained Excellence Award for its continued leadership in protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency. ITW FEG’s accomplishments are to be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., on March 26. An Energy Star Partner since 2008, this is the fourth year that ITW FEG has received the Sustained Excellence award. The ITW FEG companies receiving recognition for leadership across the Energy Star program are Hobart, Traulsen, Baxter, Stero, Vulcan, Wittco and Wolf. These...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes National Energy Technologies as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. National Energy Technologies is a commercial facility conservation consultant specialist. The company introduces, prices, procures and coordinates installation of specifically targeted technologies designed to maximize utility savings with the shortest ROI. The company’s techniques will save from 5 to 25 percent on electricity, cooling, water, refrigeration, lighting, laundry, compressed air, and many other resource depleting activities. National Energy Technologies performs energy auditing, corporate counseling, public speaking services and can consult on renewable energy, demand response, deregulated...

LONDON—A growing body of evidence suggests tackling food waste could help resolve many of the sustainability challenges faced by the food industry. A number of studies are linking food losses and waste to food inflation, food security, resource inputs and climate change.The global food industry is currently experiencing its third bout of food inflation in five years because of poor agricultural harvests in the United States, Russia and South America. Analysts predict the average basket of food prices will rise by 15 percent by June 2013. The hike in food prices is raising concerns about food security and its...

ST. PAUL, MINN.—Ecolab introduces the Performance Industrial Program, which addresses the high-performance cleaning needs of industrial laundries while helping to minimize environmental impact. To improve operational sustainability and align with EPA efforts to promote alternative ingredients, many healthcare and hospitality laundries have reduced or eliminated the use of formulations with ingredients such as Nonylphenol and Nonylphenol Ethoxylates (NPEs). Given their extraordinary cleaning challenges, industrial laundries have found it challenging to find effective, NPE-free alternatives.The Performance Industrial Program is a three-product system that uses patented NPE-free chemistry to effectively remove the heaviest industrial soil—and to meet growing industry expectations for...

PHILADELPHIA—National Energy Technologies is introducing laundry ozone injection as their latest conservation strategy that will save considerable fuel, electricity, detergent waste and water as it delivers a higher quality laundered product. This process is the only proven method to kill laundry resistant deadly superbugs, and the natural biocide ozone does it in cold water.Businesses with large laundering facilities suffer high utility costs from that activity due to the combination of all of the gas, electricity, water/sewer, and detergent necessary to get the job done. A properly sourced and designed laundry ozone system will dramatically outperform traditional laundering in operational...

CHICAGO—The National Restaurant Association will showcase its first-ever Hydroponic Garden at NRA Show 2013. Attendees will explore a fully functioning hydroponic garden that will grow local, all-natural, pesticide-free produce right on the show floor. The NRA Show’s new Hydroponic Garden uses a combination of artificial light and nutrient-enriched water to give plants everything they need to thrive.Hydroponics is a method of growing plants in a water and mineral nutrient solution without soil. Compared to traditional soil gardening, hydroponics provides year-round cultivation; produces a higher yield per square foot; requires no weed pulling; uses about two-thirds less water; eliminates pesticide...

NATIONAL REPORT—On a winter’s day when the temperature in the Washington, D.C. area soared into the 70s, the ASAE Convene Green Alliance (CGA) took an adventurous group of 20 meeting professionals and industry partners on a behind-the-scenes “Green Safari” tour of the sustainability program at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View, one of only three LEED Gold certified hotels in Virginia. Participants received bandanas to wear and were greeted by Renaissance associates dressed in pith helmets and safari gear to set the theme for this unique learning format. The Green Safari demonstrated how the property earned LEED Gold status and how it...

FORT WORTH, TEXAS—Traulsen, a leader in the design and manufacture of premium commercial refrigeration equipment, has released a white paper, “Buying the Right Refrigerator: Considerations for investing in your business.” This paper is written to benefit foodservice operations that are contemplating the purchase of a new refrigerator by discussing all of the features of the refrigeration unit that can impact long-term success.“Customers expect fresh thinking from Traulsen, and this white paper highlights the key points that customers should consider to get the most out of their refrigeration equipment,” said John Davis, director of marketing and engineering for Traulsen. “We...

LOS ANGELES—As part of the company’s rebranding initiative, Mars Air Systems is launching a clean new website to engage customers through interactive videos, information portals and client case studies. The website also now serves as an industry resource for new laws, studies and programs related to energy-efficient air curtains. In addition, Mars has developed a new logo to reflect its overall vision and purpose—Mars: atmosphere is everything.Mars has redefined its mission to be the company others want to do business with by: •    cultivating an open, honest, and passionate culture for its employees; •    offering the broadest selection of high-quality,...

NEW YORK—Conrad New York, a luxury waterfront, all-suite hotel located in the heart of lower Manhattan’s Battery Park City, has been awarded LEED Gold for New Construction Certification established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). This is the first LEED Gold New Construction major renovation project certified under the latest rating system in New York. Since its inception in 1998, LEED is the nation’s top rating system for design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings, homes and neighborhoods.The Conrad New York, having already achieved ISO 9000 certification...