ATLANTA—Acuity Controls introduces xCella Wireless lighting controls for quick-configure control of lighting HVAC and plug load. Installed in a variety of retrofit and new construction applications, xCella Wireless energy management solutions deploy quickly for simple room control, and can also be networked for floor or building wide control. Featuring Pair & Play technology, xCella Wireless switches, sensors, and load controls are operational in minutes. xCella Wireless can be delivered pre-paired and packaged by room for even faster installation and reduced commissioning costs.“By combining wired and wireless relays, xCella Wireless provides the flexibility to achieve the right control for the...

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y.—Evolve Controls, a provider of enterprise wireless solutions, introduced two guest-facing applications running on the Room Operations Center (ROC), its next generation room control platform. The applications are designed to deliver touch control of virtually every element in a hotel room, ranging from temperature and lighting to the operation of the draperies and beyond. Far beyond that, however, GuestX applications deliver personalized, content-driven information and interactions.GuestX Concierge is deployed on devices running Microsoft Windows 8; GuestX YOU is specifically designed so that hotel guests can download the same functionality to their mobile phones or other devices (BYOD),...

ATLANTA—Peerless Open LED luminaires from Acuity Brands, Inc. have been acknowledged as the sole recipient of the annual Most Innovative Product of the Year award from the LIGHTFAIR International 2014 awards competition. The LFI Innovation Awards, judged by an independent panel of esteemed lighting professionals, recognize the best innovations from more than 500 of the world’s leading manufacturers across the lighting industry.“The Peerless Open luminaire represents a significant advancement in lighting,” said Jimalee Beno, Acuity Brands Lighting Vice President and Peerless Value Stream Leader. “It clearly shows we are no longer limited by form factor when designing and engineering...

ST. PAUL, MINN.—As part of its 2014 Light Fair introductions, 3M Architectural Markets debuted its 3M Specular Film Protected D50 Series. Allowing lighting designers to efficiently control LED light while saving energy, this 98.5 percent reflective film improves thermal management, increases optical efficiency and lumen output, and reduces LED and LED circuitry costs.Brad Zinke, Business Development Manager for 3M Architectural Markets, notes, “3M Specular Film is about providing more light with less energy. It encompasses everything designers consider when positioning and creating light—brightness, efficiency, distribution, and quality. The potential for applications is great. These films can be used in...

RENO, NEV.—The capital costs and the environmental impact of operating a large resort hotel almost always coincide. Heating, laundry, lighting, landscaping—they all have an impact on both a resort’s bottom line and the natural environment. Hotels have the opportunity to save money and save the environment at the same time, but launching conservation projects that significantly reduce a hotel’s environmental footprint and operating budget takes strategy, some innovative thinking and a commitment to capitalize conservation efforts. Here are five ways The Peppermill Resort, Spa, Casino saves millions of dollars each year while conserving water and energy and reducing the resort’s overall...

GREENVILLE, S.C.—In the United States, lighting accounts for approximately 23 percent of a hotel’s energy cost. To expedite and encourage savings, Hubbell Lighting announced a new energy efficient lighting program to cut hospitality electricity costs by 60 percent, translating to a 5.58 percent increase in profitability.The initiative, called createchange, consists of two offerings from Hubbell Lighting:A suite of unique audit tools and other product selection resources implemented with Hubbell Lighting consultants that allow hotels to precisely forecast the economic impact of various lighting retrofit strategies and identify any utility rebates that are available.A 90-day risk-free trial program called “Compare...

SOMERSET, N.J.—Each year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) honors select organizations that have made outstanding contributions to protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency. For the second year in a row, Philips took Product Manufacturer top honors with Partner of the Year. Philips released a total of 374 Energy Star certified products in 2013, up 40 percent over the prior year, including the world’s first Energy Star certified 100-watt LED equivalent bulb. Just recently, the company announced that its SlimStyle 60-watt LED equivalent bulb—the world’s first flat light bulb—achieved Energy Star certification.The 2014 Partner of the Year Awards...

MOUNT LAUREL, N.J.—More than two years after going “live” with their 756-kilowatt solar photovoltaic (PV) system—a structure based on 10 carports in the hotel’s parking area—the owners of the Wyndham Philadelphia-Mount Laurel are investing in additional systems to further reduce energy and water consumption and costs significantly. Investments involve a switch from heating oil to natural gas for air and water heating, an LED retrofit project, and an upgrade to ultra high efficiency toilets.Rishi Shah, Asset Manager of the hotel, says the current transition to natural gas for heating involves a significant mechanical system upgrade. “We are upgrading boilers...

ATLANTA—Acuity Brands, Inc. has been officially recognized by the 2014 Lightfair International (LFI) Innovation Awards competition for the Most Innovative Product of the Year award. The award designation honors Acuity Brands for its Peerless Open LED luminaires.Considered the most important industry awards ceremony honoring industry innovations, the Most Innovative Product of the Year Award is the highest honor presented by an independent panel of lighting professionals, recognizing the best new product.“We are honored to be recognized by our industry peers with this prestigious award for the Peerless Open,” said Jimalee Beno, Acuity Brands Lighting Vice President and Peerless Lighting...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Wireless Environment, an innovator of LED lighting technology that optimizes performance in off-grid lighting applications, has created a retrofit, backup power source for individual lamps that does not require special wiring. Wireless Environment debuted its new, patented SwitchSense backup power technology at LightFair 2014.Powerful enough to enable LED and CFL lamps to defy electrical outages for up to three hours, SwitchSense is compatible with almost all luminaires that fit lamps with an Edison base. SwitchSense is designed to intelligently detect the difference between an open light switch circuit and a power outage. An open light switch will not...