NATIONAL REPORT—Alternatives to the traditional 100 percent cotton or cotton/polyester blend towels are becoming more common in the lodging industry—especially at luxury and boutique properties. In fact, many suppliers now offer organic cotton towels, organic cotton towels with a blend of bamboo fibers, or 100 percent bamboo towels. One can also find 100 percent cotton towels with super-fine, Extra-Long Staple (ELS) cotton. Each of these new towel styles are more environmentally friendly in their own way when compared to the towels the lodging industry has been using for so long. There is a cost premium to buying “green” alternatives—sometimes a...

CHICAGO—Greg Christian, a Chicago native who brought a successful sustainable food program to the Chicago Public School system, is opening a national consulting firm to help restaurateurs, hoteliers, caterers, and all types of food service management achieve sustainability goals that help the community and environment. The new company, Greg Christian Consulting, (GCC), will evaluate and diagnose a company’s current corporate social responsibility and organizational accountability systems and help clients execute long-term sustainable performance. The main focus will be on procurement, environmental and waste management, seasonality, sustainability education, creative vision, and selling and marketing sustainability. Possible outcomes include implementing zero...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Cypress Luxury Bed & Bath Amenities as a Green Product & Service Directory Partner. Cypress’ focus is on exclusive bed and bath linens that are luxurious, durable, and environmentally friendly. They require significantly less energy to launder, 30 percent less water consumption, less detergent, and 10 to 20 percent less drying time. Cypress Green Earth towels are manufactured at a zero-effluent discharge textile mill in India, using Control Union-certified, eco-friendly dyes to reduce environmental impact. Call (800) 347-7623, e-mail sales@cypressbathrobes.com, or go to www.cypressgreenearth.com for additional information.

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Continental Girbau, Inc. as a Green Product & Service Directory Partner. Continental’s high-performance washer-extractors boost profits by decreasing water, natural gas and electricity usage. The equipment maximizes laundry productivity while using less labor. Thanks to Continental high-performance washer-extractors, hotels reduce utility and labor costs, and in the process, conserve the Earth’s natural resources. The company offers a full line of quality built card or coin laundry equipment and on-premise commercial washer and dryers. For additional information, call (800) 256-1073, e-mail info@continentalgirbau.com, or go to www.continentalgirbau.com.

PISCATAWAY, N.J.—American Standard announced it has begun production of solid-brass faucets that comply with new lead-free regulations. Early next year, all American Standard residential lavatory and kitchen faucets will contain less than one quarter of one percent (0.25%) total lead content by weighted average, the new lead-free standard required by California and Vermont by 2010. “American Standard faucets have long used significantly less lead than other brands,” explained Dave Meisner, vice president and general manager of American Standard. “Through an innovative new brass alloy formulation that utilizes bismuth, the new faucets will have less lead while maintaining our hallmark quality,...

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIF.— The Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort, situated in the heart of Huntington Beach, Calif., recently opened “The Green Room,” a new concept in environmentally-friendly laundry facilities, available free to all guests of the hotel. This new self-serve facility provides guests the opportunity to pack less and wash their sun and sand-drenched beach wear and other items during their stay. It is one of many initiatives at the resort designed to contribute positively to the global environment. The Green Room is 100 percent environmentally friendly and all construction materials from floor to ceiling are made from post-consumer recycled materials....

CHICAGO—In addition to being the right thing to do for the environment, going green can also have financial benefits—something the nation’s nearly one million restaurant and foodservice outlets are increasingly exploring. The 2009 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show (May 16 to 19 at McCormick Place in Chicago) will provide attendees with both inspiration and concrete tools to increase sustainability efforts, which in turn can save on operating costs, increase productivity, motivate staff and attract eco-conscious diners. “Saving money and cutting costs are crucial aspects of running a business in this current economic environment, and going green can accomplish both,...

BENTON HARBOR, MICH.—Whirlpool Corp., a leading home appliance manufacturer, has been recognized with the 2009 Energy Star Sustained Excellence award by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The award recognizes the company’s leadership in offering consumers appliance energy and water efficiency through its portfolio of brands. This is the company’s tenth Energy Star award and fourth consecutive Sustained Excellence win. Whirlpool Corp. will accept the award at ceremonies in Washington, D.C., on March 31, 2009. “Whirlpool Corporation is honored to again receive the Energy Star Sustained Excellence award,” said Mike...

KENNER, LA.—Pellerin Milnor’s V-Series washer-extractors, with 40-160 lb. (18-72 kg) capacities, now feature NEW RinSave™ water saver software that eliminates excessive rinse and intermediate extract steps. This innovative process allows a precise high G-Force to “sling” the wash liquor (including water, chemistry, and soil) out of the goods between the last wash step and following rinse cycle. Milnor’s V-Series washer-extractors with RinSave software conserve water use without compromising superior wash quality. RinSave water saver software replaces as many as two rinse steps and saves up to 10 minutes per load. No matter what capacity, Milnor’s V-Series washer-extractors with RinSave...

EUGENE, ORE.—Sustainable Foodservice Consulting has launched, www.sustainablefoodservice.com, a resource for food service owners and operators interested in adopting sustainable business practices. The website is a free resource promoting environmentally sound food service operations by providing practical information on energy-efficient kitchen equipment, green cleaning products, food waste management, links to private and public sector websites providing technical help, rebates and tax incentives, product information, and energy efficiency information. The “Tools” section offers energy efficiency calculators, energy tracking spreadsheets and a variety of forms and checklists to help implement sustainable business practices. Paul Kuck, the owner and founder of Sustainable Foodservice Consulting,...