BUENA VISTA, FLA.—Eight decades after McDonald’s restaurant revolutionized a speedier way to prepare and serve meals, the fast-food giant is once again setting new standards in the industry, laying the groundwork for a more ecologically responsible place to dine. The façade of the 8,000-square-foot McDonald’s at Disney World in Buena Vista, Fla., not only appears strikingly different than its traditional restaurant chain, but every segment of the building has been meticulously designed to create the world’s first “net-zero” fast food restaurant. “It’s McDonald’s goal to reduce its carbon emissions across its portfolio,” said Jean Gibbons, WSP USA Buildings Vice President. “McDonald’s...

WEST CALDWELL, N.J.—Building on the contractor-friendly features of its canless LED commercial downlights, MaxLite expands the popular RCF Series with wattage and CCT selectable models that enable installers to customize light outputs and color temperatures in the field. The RCF is a labor-saving, all-in-one solution for adding recessed downlighting to hospitality, retail, office, and other commercial lighting applications. The downlight features a built-in driver and integral whip that can be connected directly to a junction box, eliminating the need for a traditional recessed housing. The Energy Star certified series is available in four sizes (4”, 6”, 8”, 9.5” sizes) to...

WEST CALDWELL, N.J.—MaxLite announces the appointment of four new agents to represent its award-winning portfolio of energy-efficient lighting solutions and 10-year warranty program. One Source/Paolicelli Associates now represents MaxLite in western Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Founded in 1981 as Paolicelli & Associates, the agency has supported the electrical market with a strong dedication to product knowledge and commitment to quality customer service for 40 years. In 2016, Paolicelli & Associates merged with One Source Associates to offer the markets it serves “one source” for construction and design needs. One Source/Paolicelli Associates has a team of professionals and 65,000-square-foot warehouse located...

OAKLAND, N.J.—Amerlux, an award-winning design-and-manufacture lighting company, announced a partnership with Vyv, a health tech company whose signature continuous-use, non-UV antimicrobial light technology will be added into Amerlux’s lighting fixtures. The partnership represents a groundbreaking venture for Amerlux, which in recent months has sought to broaden its product portfolio in response to customer demand for lighting that can help clean environments. Within 90 days, Amerlux will integrate Vyv’s antimicrobial light technology into a variety of existing and new product lines. The antimicrobial lighting targets microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, yeast, and mold while also meeting international standards for continual and...

NORTON SHORES, MICH.—EarthTronics, dedicated to developing innovative energy-saving lighting products that provide a positive economic and environmental impact, introduces its line of LED Backup Drivers to regulate the power supplied to the LED fixture to ensure that lighting is promptly, automatically provided when power fails for people to evacuate safely in a suitable time in the event of an emergency. The backup drivers regulate the power supplied insuring that the fixture can provide egress lighting to meet local codes. When the power goes out, the emergency driver detects the AC power outage and automatically switches to the working emergency mode...

COMMERCE, CALIF.—Nora Lighting’s award-winning Iolite LED Multiple Lighting System (MLS) is now available in both a flanged style or trimless model with a contemporary, knife-edged appearance. The Iolite MLS series has one to three independently adjustable and interchangeable heads. Each head offers three reflector types, three optics and three finishes for custom applications. Reflectors include a fixed downlight, adjustable snoot, and wall wash; finishes include black, haze or matte powder white. Iolite fixtures deliver over 1,000 lumens per head and color temperatures range from 2700K to 5000K at 90+ CRI. Comfort Dim (warm dim) is an option. Iolite MLS housings are rated...

WEST CALDWELL, N.J.—MaxLite announces the appointment of two new agents to represent its award-winning portfolio of energy-efficient lighting solutions and 10-year warranty program. Effective January 1, 2021, Midwest Equipment Company Inc. will represent MaxLite in Iowa and far western Illinois, expanding its presence to more customers in the territory. Headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and with sales personnel located throughout the region, Midwest Equipment has more than 80 years of experience serving the electrical market. The Midwest Equipment team may be reached at (319) 892-3406 or www.midwestequipmentco.com. Liberty Electric Products will continue the growth and expansion of the MaxLite line in...

In next week’s column I will be highlighting the 10 most read Green Lodging News articles of 2020. It will be interesting to see how many had to do with COVID-19. While the article I just posted on Hotel Marcel may not make it because of its posting late in the year, it certainly deserves consideration as one of the most important hotel stories of both this year and 2021. Be sure to read the article. Hotel Marcel is the project of architect Bruce Becker, Founder and Director of Becker + Becker, Westport, Conn. Becker purchased the New Haven, Conn. building...

NEW HAVEN, CONN.—When the Hotel Marcel opens next summer in New Haven, Conn., it will be a shining example of sustainability and what every hotel could and should be. The 165-room boutique hotel will be the result of the renovated Armstrong Rubber Company Building, aka Pirelli Building, originally designed by Marcel Breuer in 1967. It will be run by 100 percent solar power, meet net-zero energy standards, and will target LEED Platinum certification. There will be many other bells and whistles that will make the building highly efficient. Hotel Marcel is the project of Bruce Becker, Founder and Director of...

NORTON SHORES, MICH.—EarthTronics, dedicated to developing innovative energy-saving lighting products that provide a positive economic and environmental impact, has added new “plug and play” Type A and direct wire UL Type B lamps in a range of wattages, color temperatures and sizes to its high efficiency T8 LED products lines, all featuring over 80+ CRI (color rendering index). New to the EarthTronics UL Type A lamp product line is the next generation 48” T8 LED that consumes only 14 watts to produce 2200 lumens. The LT81440G9 and LT81450G9 lamps feature 4000K and 5000K color temperatures. Designed for use on dimming fluorescent ballasts...