CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Master-Bilt as a Green Product Directory partner. New Albany, Miss.-based Master-Bilt provides a complete line of refrigerated coolers and freezers—from ice cream dipping cabinets to refrigerated warehouses. Many products are designed with energy-saving features and options such as demand defrost, alarms and light management systems. Master-Bilt also offers Energy Star and CEC certified reach-ins, milk coolers and other equipment. Call 800-647-1284 or e-mail sales@master-bilt.com for more details. Go to Master-Bilt.

OSHKOSH, WISC.—Continental Girbau Inc. introduces an advanced generation of Pro-Series dryers designed to escalate efficiency, production and safety. Available in 30-, 40-, 60-, 85-, 125- and 175-pound capacities, Pro-Series II Drying Tumblers are equipped with quality internal components, easy-to-use programmable microprocessor controls and a multitude of features proven to deliver productivity and professional results for any on-premise or industrial laundry, according to Joel Jorgensen, vice president of sales and customer services at Continental. A highly advanced microprocessor control offers up to four timed-dry or auto-dry cycles and a no-heat cycle. An anti-wrinkle feature reduces the occurrence of wrinkles by initiating...

BERKELEY, CALIF.—Vaska Inc. has introduced a line of botanical laundry and housekeeping products for institutional and hospitality use. Vaska has been rigorously testing its new formulas at a fully operating commercial laundry facility with both heavy and light soils—with excellent results, surprising the non-green skeptics. Vaska’s cleaning equals top-tier non-green laundry formulas, without toxic repercussions to either personal safety or the environment. Founder Julia Fry’s background in fashion and textile design led to her passion for laundry products that didn’t compromise fabrics or cleaning action. “I grew up backpacking with my aunt and uncle who were forest rangers in Colorado, back...

OSHKOSH, WISC.—Continental Girbau Inc.’s E-Series Washer-Extractors—in 40-, 30- and 20-pound capacities—deliver energy efficiency, high-speed extract, an easy-to-install, freestanding design, and the ultimate in programmability to hotels looking to employ green practices while decreasing operating expenses. With the introduction of E-Series, Continental expands its soft-mount washer-extractor offering to include high-performance models in 20-, 30-, 40-, 55-, 90-, 130- and 255-pound capacities. Continental’s E-Series Washer-Extractors are engineered to use less water than most frontload and topload washers on the market, thanks to exclusive features and a sump-less design. The Energy Star-qualified 20-pound capacity model uses up to 57 percent less water per...

ATLANTA—Master-Bilt, manufacturer of a full line of premier commercial refrigeration systems for almost 70 years, will unveil their BSD Series, a new line of self-contained bottom mount solid door reach-in refrigerators and freezers, at the North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers (NAFEM) show October 11-13, 2007 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, booth #1423. The BSD series consists of six models that offer increased capacities of 24, 52, and 80 cubic feet over Master-Bilt’s previous bottom mount reach-ins. They come equipped with reversible door swing, and are Energy Star and California Energy Commission certified. All of the...

BOSTON—On September 1, the Jurys Boston Hotel will do what few other properties have done—offset 100 percent of its electricity consumption. The hotel will pay a premium of 6 percent for its electric power to Constellation NewEnergy, which in turn will purchase Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) from renewable generation sources in the United States. According to Stephen Johnston, general manager of the 225-room hotel, the step was taken because he and the hotel’s ownership team believed it was the right thing to do. Is paying 6 percent more for electricity an acceptable cost? If one considers the amount of savings...

ST. PAUL, MINN. —Ecolab Inc. introduced Apex, a new warewashing system that helps restaurants gain better control of their warewashing process by decreasing costs and environmental impact through optimized efficiency. Apex uses a unique combination of products, equipment and consulting services to address the operational challenges in foodservice warewashing. A complete warewashing system, the Apex products include four detergents, two rinse additives, a presoak and manual pot and pan detergent. Ecolab’s sales-and-service associates use a tablet PC and wireless technology to communicate with the Apex system’s controller to download, process and analyze data to establish each restaurant’s “rack-to-guest ratio.” By...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The EPA has announced new specifications for two new commercial food service products—dishwashers and ice machines—that will earn the Energy Star label. More efficient commercial kitchen equipment can save restaurants and food service facilities from 10 to 30 percent on commercial kitchen energy consumption. “Energy efficiency is a top priority among restaurant owners and operators,” says Bob Meyers, EPA’s principal deputy assistant administrator for Air and Radiation. “We are pleased to deliver more options to save on energy costs and help protect the environment through two new commercial food service products earning the Energy Star.” The specifications cover several...

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.—As part of Westin’s ongoing commitment to personal renewal, they are teaming up with SuperFoods Partners LLC, owners of the SuperFoodsRx brand, to become the first hotel brand to create a SuperFoods focused menu for their guests. Superfoods, known for being health-enhancing and rich in antioxidants and phytonutrients, will be the main ingredient in Westin signature dishes such as banana oatmeal brulé, green-tea-infused salmon and molten dark chocolate cake. The initiative, which is currently rolling out in 25 Westin hotels in the U.S. and Canada, will go global in 2008 with the introduction of the Westin Signature Breakfast,...

RIPON, WISC.—For years, on-premises laundries have relied on the labor and cost saving features of UniMac equipment. With the September 2007 launch of the new UniLinc control for its UW line of washer-extractors, UniMac takes efficiency to a higher level. The user-friendly control and management software bridge the gap between the laundry room and management offices—putting laundry operations data at the fingertips of general managers. “With its advanced reporting and labor-saving traits, UniLinc will have managers looking at their laundries less as cost centers and more as contributors to overall profitability,” says Kim Shady, vice president of distributor sales for...