NATIONAL REPORT—To add ambiance to a restaurant, bar or other area of a hotel, sometimes all that’s needed is a little candlelight. Whether fueled by wax and wick or liquid fuel, candles encourage a relaxing, stress-free atmosphere. As common and accepted as traditional candles are, few hoteliers may realize their true costs—from both a financial and environmental perspective. When wax candles burn down, they typically are thrown away and add to waste disposal costs—from the hotel to the landfill. Just like automobiles burning gasoline, candles using liquid fuel strain the environment. Energy is consumed through processes used to generate the...

ALSIP, ILL.—Litetronics International introduces its Micro-Brite BR30 cold cathode compact fluorescent lamps. These 8-watt bulbs directly replace incandescents up to 65 watts, saving as much as 88 percent in energy costs. Low-wattage Micro-Brite BR30 lamps deliver brighter, higher color temperature light while reducing energy consumption. Micro-Brite BR30 lamps are designed for indoor or outdoor use in table lamps, recessed cans, general area lighting, signage and most medium-based lighting fixtures. Cold cathode technology allows Micro-Brite BR30s full dimming and flashing without shortening the life of the bulb. The extended 18,000-hour life is 18 to 20 times longer than the...

SANTA CLARA, CALIF.—Watt Stopper/Legrand announces the ELCU-100 Emergency Lighting Control Unit, bringing energy savings to emergency lighting. Emergency lighting typically burns 24/7, and with recent changes to state and local building codes in major metropolitan areas, specifiers are having to devote more watts per square foot to emergency lighting than ever before. This new product allows building owners and operators to leverage the energy saving benefits of control devices such as occupancy sensors and time scheduled systems by having these devices control emergency lighting in tandem with non-emergency lighting. They can also be assured of enhanced response from...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Pineapple Hospitality, Saint Charles, Mo., as a sponsor. Pineapple, led by Ray Burger, president, has been providing green products, programs and services to the hospitality industry for more than 10 years. Pineapple’s products include the following: greenSPA amenity and dispenser system, which includes Neutrogena products; Project Planet towel and linen reuse cards; Oxygenics showerheads; NUMI teas; ecorooms program; General Electric lighting products; Guestat thermostats; Wattstopper Motion Sensor Nightlights; Nature’s Mist deodorizer; Hillyard green cleaning products; Preserve recyclable toothbrushes; Oreck vacuums; and the odor-eating Fresh Bulb. “I...

ALSIP, ILL.—Litetronics International Inc. announces the addition of the new Neolite line of T2 compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). The reduced tube size gives Neolite lamps a shorter maximum overall length (M.O.L.), so they easily fit into more applications. This gives Litetronics customers a new option when replacing incandescent lamps with energy-saving fluorescents. Neolite T2 lamps are available in three different color temperatures: 2700K, 4100K and 5000K. Every Neolite lamp has a 10,000-hour average life—five times that of an incandescent lamp—and a one-year warranty. Though small in stature, Neolite lamps generate up to 70 lumens per watt; more than...

SAINT CHARLES, MO.—Yesterday was Energy Star’s Seventh Annual Change a Light Day. It was the day Saint Charles-based Pineapple Hospitality saluted its clients who already have replaced 75,000 incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents this year. “In just the first nine months of 2006, our lodging lighting retrofits have saved a combined 6.8 million kilowatt hours, which is the equivalent of planting 1,332 acres of forest and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 10 million pounds,” says Ray Burger, president of Saint Charles, Mo.-based Pineapple Hospitality. “These green retrofits, which literally are as simple as changing out a few...

DANVERS, MASS.—Sylvania announced the largest pledge commitment to date for the Energy Star Change a Light, Change the World campaign, which encourages Americans to change one lightbulb to an Energy Star compact fluorescent bulb, helping preserve energy resources and the environment. As part of the national program, which kicked off Wednesday, Sylvania has committed to collect 100,000 Change a Light pledges on its website, www.sylvania.com. This is the company’s largest commitment ever to the energy saving campaign. “The pledges Sylvania collects as part of the Change a Light campaign can lead to greenhouse gas reductions equivalent to...

Of all the measures one can take to reduce energy costs, replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescents (CFLs) is certainly one of the easiest. Available for years now, they use two-thirds to three-quarters less energy than incandescent bulbs but last thousands of hours longer. Even with an initial higher cost, CFLs can easily put more money in your pocket in a short period of time. In public areas where lights are on 24 hours a day, savings can be significant, especially in terms of maintenance. Wednesday, October 4 is Energy Star Change a Light Day. If your...

CAPE ELIZABETH, MAINE—The Inn By The Sea, here in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, is not a bad place to stay, especially if you happen to be a bird or a bug—the good kind, that is. The luxury property, which includes 43 suites and cottages, is two-thirds surrounded by a state park and is adjacent to a bird sanctuary. Management at the Inn By The Sea takes its responsibility to maintain its surroundings seriously. Over the years, the need for chemicals has been reduced by replacing exotic plants with indigenous species that not only create a pleasing landscape for guests, but also...

DENVER—National park and resort concessioner Xanterra Parks & Resorts has received the National Park Service (NPS) 2006 Environmental Achievement Award for its performance at the Zion Lodge in Zion National Park. The NPS Environmental Achievement Award recognizes superior accomplishments in environmental stewardship. Zion Lodge also received the award in 2004. Xanterra also has received National Park Service Environmental Achievement Awards for environmental stewardship at the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, Yellowstone National Park and Mount Rushmore National Memorial. The 2006 award was presented by Fran Mainella, director of the National Park Service. “Xanterra at Zion...