FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.—We are used to the orange glow of sodium-based parking lights; you know the ones that take forever to illuminate after a power failure. This is the most common form of exterior lighting, although many areas of your facility will use different lighting depending on the situation. For large area illumination, High Pressure (HP) Sodium and Metal Halide are most commonly used because that has been the standard for many years. These technologies do have drawbacks: low quality of light spectrum, poor low temperature operation and a short life span of about 15,000 hours. Induction Lighting is the...

NATIONAL REPORT—In meeting rooms, back of house and other areas of your hotel, chances are great that you are using T-12 fluorescent lamps or the more efficient T-8s to illuminate large spaces. At least two companies—ilumisys, Inc. in Troy, Mich., and LEDdynamics, Inc. in Randolph, Vt.—are trying to replace these linear fluorescents with LED alternatives that are more energy efficient and safer for the environment. Fluorescent tubes include mercury and despite recycling efforts, 500 million to 600 million lamps end up in landfills each year. LED alternatives do not include mercury. “LED lamps also last longer, which means you throw...

ANDERSON, CALIF.—Just south of the town of Redding, Calif., a new 122-room green hotel is nearing completion in the town of Anderson. Gaia at Anderson, built for $14 million and scheduled to open in March, is the latest project from Wen-I Chang, creator of America’s first LEED Gold certified hotel—the Gaia Napa Valley Hotel and Spa in American Canyon, Calif. Maintaining his high standards for the ultimate in an eco-friendly hotel, Chang has directed the construction crew to use state-of-the-art green building practices. Scraps of wood, cardboard and metal left over from the nearly completed construction are recycled. The contractor...

SANTA CLARA, CALIF.—Watt Stopper/Legrand has developed lighting control solutions designed to enhance high-end, modern construction. The company’s newest commercial occupancy sensors incorporate sophisticated design details that make them aesthetically pleasing as well as easy to operate. At the same time, each package is manufactured to withstand the rigors of commercial use; both the robust housing and the control electronics are engineered for longevity. Watt Stopper/Legrand’s ceiling occupancy sensors sport a low profile design that virtually disappears into the ceiling tile to be as unobtrusive as possible. Wall switch occupancy sensors, featuring soft curves and an extremely low profile, are now...

NIANTIC, CONN.—When the Sandpearl Resort opened last August in Clearwater Beach, Fla., its developer had already determined that the property would serve as a prime example of how new developments can be built and equipped to be more energy-efficient and environment-friendly. Today, with substantial help from INNCOM international, Inc., that vision is becoming reality. Niantic-based INNCOM develops, manufactures and markets room automation systems for the international lodging industry. INNCOM’s product line ranges from programmable digital thermostats to fully integrated energy management, lighting control and communication systems—all designed to enhance guest comfort, safety and satisfaction while increasing bottom-line profits and being...

DALLAS—Motel 6, the largest corporately owned and operated hotel chain in North America, has completed the rollout of the first national fluorescent light bulb and battery recycling program within the hospitality industry. Motel 6, with more than 900 properties across the country, is the first U.S. hotel chain to implement this type of recycling program at its corporate properties nationwide without a federal mandate. The program, which launched in June 2007, is a continuation of Accor’s Earth Guest initiatives that demonstrate Accor North America’s dedication to preserving the environment. “We have already embraced the national phasing out of incandescent light...

LOS ANGELES—Utilizing a patented mix of high-lumen output phosphors, Kumho Electric has launched Earthcare, a new, premium line of super efficient fluorescent lamps. Used as a replacement for 4-foot T8 lamps, Kumho Electric’s new 29-watt Earthcare T8s deliver the same illumination (3100 lumens) as a premium, high-lumen F32T8, but with 3 watts (almost 10 percent) lower power consumption. Earthcare does this without compromising on lamp life or color rendering. The Earthcare T8s are 24,000-hour lamps and have an 80 or greater CRI rating. “This is a breakthrough product that delivers real energy savings without sacrificing on light output,” says Alan...

NATIONAL REPORT—Somewhere between 60 percent to 70 percent of U.S. hotels now use compact fluorescents (CFLs), one lodging industry expert estimates. There is no doubt that number is going to grow. On December 18, President Bush signed the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Within that bill, there is a call for the phaseout, beginning in 2012, of the incandescent bulb. It is only a matter of time before CFLs totally replace the technology invented by Thomas Edison. Given the inevitability of CFLs, where do they stand today in regard to pricing? Quality? Technology? What can hoteliers expect in...

SOMERSET, N.J.—Philips Lighting Co., a division of Philips Electronics North America Corp., an affiliate of Royal Philips Electronics, announces the introduction of a new family of Halogená Energy Advantage lamps. Delivering crisp, bright light, long life, and 30 to 38 percent energy savings over traditional incandescent technology, Halogená Energy Advantage bulbs are offered in a variety of shapes and wattages and represent a powerful, energy-efficient, and unprecedented new green lighting solution for the professional lighting market. Ideal for use in table and floor lamps, recessed cans, track lighting, and general lighting fixtures, Halogená Energy Advantage lamps enable commercial, retail,...

AURORA, OHIO—TCP Inc. announced that it is a charter member of the newly formed U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Climate Protection Council. The council was announced during the two-day Mayors Climate Protection Summit in Seattle last month. The new Climate Protection Council brings business leaders and mayors together to address the issue of climate change and discuss innovative solutions for helping to make cities more sustainable. In addition to TCP, the seven Charter Members include: The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers; American Chemistry Council; DuPont; Johnson Controls, Inc.; Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and Waste Management. “As the largest manufacturer of energy saving light...