CHICAGO—The InterContinental Chicago, a 792-room hotel located on the Windy City’s Magnificent Mile, has just obtained its Energy Star rating from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy. The hotel, in a building constructed in 1929, is the first hotel in Chicago to earn the rating. The energy performance of commercial and industrial facilities is scored on a 1 to 100 scale and those facilities that achieve a score of 75 or higher are eligible for the Energy Star, indicating that they are among the top 25 percent of facilities in the country for energy performance. The...

TALLAHASSEE, FLA.—Florida Governor Charlie Crist last week applauded Walt Disney Parks & Resorts for its achievement of 100 percent of its lodging properties earning the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Green Lodging Program designation, covering all 24 of its resort hotels. “I applaud Disney’s compelling participation in the Florida Green Lodging Program,” said Governor Crist. “Through its commitment, Disney is demonstrating the importance of environmental stewardship to thousands of employees and millions of guests.” Launched in 2004 by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Florida Green Lodging Program establishes environmental guidelines for hotels and motels to conserve natural...

PHILADELPHIA—Westinghouse Lighting announces a partnership with Veolia Environmental Services (VES) North America to promote Veolia’s proprietary recycling kit, RECYCLEPAK, through Westinghouse’s website. The award-winning lighting and electronics recycling program provides a convenient way for companies to recycle large or small quantities of used lamps and ballasts. The cost of each RECYCLEPAK kit includes everything needed for recycling—environmentally-safe packaging, pre-paid shipping, labels and documentation. “We’re proud to partner with Veolia on such an important service to our customers,” says Ray Angelo, president and CEO, Westinghouse Lighting. “Veolia provides them with recycling convenience and peace of mind knowing that their used lamps and...

NASHVILLE, TENN.—Universal Lighting Technologies announces the latest in high efficiency wireless controllable lighting systems with the release of the DEMANDflex ballast family and DCL (Demand Control Lighting) controls. DEMANDflex ballasts feature an innovative wireless control technology to receive commands without the need for extra control wires. These ballasts have the flexibility to have power levels tuned during installation at the circuit level to optimize and maximize energy savings. Together, DEMANDflex ballasts and DCL controls represent one of the most cost-effective lighting systems available today. DCL controls allow for local control with energy management systems and external control via the...

SANTA CLARA, CALIF.—Watt Stopper/Legrand has developed the LS-301 Dimming Photosensor, carefully combining features for optimal performance and ease of installation and use. At the heart of the device is the groundbreaking sliding setpoint control algorithm pioneered by Watt Stopper/Legrand. The LS-301 also employs a handheld setup remote to facilitate quick and convenient commissioning. The sliding setpoint algorithm allows the controller to compensate for the disparate spatial distribution of daylight and electric light. By having two different setpoints for day and night, the target setpoint changes based on the current light level conditions. Additionally, the spectral response of the LS-301’s photodiode...

SALT LAKE CITY—Echoflex Solutions Inc., a leading manufacturer of EnOcean-enabled controls, is releasing a self-powered wireless key switch. The one-of-a-kind switch is activated by hotel key cards and not only promises to reduce the cost of powering unoccupied hotel rooms, it also promises to simplify the process of conforming to ASHRAE/IESNA standard 90.1. The standard requires that hotel rooms feature an occupancy-based master control. The self-powered switch generates its own power each time a hotel key card is inserted into or removed from its dock. When guests enter a room, they insert the key card into a docking station. After...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Lighting Supply Co. as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. Lighting Supply Co., Ferndale, Mich., offers more than 6,500 top selling lamps, ballasts, fixtures and dimming systems. Its energy-saving products can reduce operating expenses. Servicing the hospitality industry for 25 years, the company’s sales and customer service staff are industry certified. Call (800) 544-2852, e-mail info@lightingsupply.com, or click here for more information.

YORKVILLE, N.Y.—Meyda Tiffany, a leading manufacturer of decorative lighting, has begun installing the largest LED chandelier in the world. After nearly a year of planning, Meyda recently completed production in its manufacturing facilities in Yorkville, N.Y. (outside of Utica, N.Y.). Designed and engineered with state-of-the-art technology and energy efficiency for a local performing arts theater, the Meyda Chandelier illuminates with 328 LEDs made by Philips Luxeon (same LEDs used for New Year’s Eve ball drop in Times Square) using 1,120 total watts (equivalent of energy used for one-drip coffeemaker), instead of conventional incandescent bulbs requiring 7,435 watts (energy equivalent of...

FORT LAUDERDALE—The EcoGreen Award Certification, an online program spearheaded by Tropical Lights, Inc., has been developed for the hotel and restaurant industries to specifically reduce energy consumption by converting to efficient lighting technologies. The United States could reduce energy consumption by 20 percent, in just a single year, with simple light bulb changes. U.S. buildings consume 65 percent of total electricity generated, with lighting being more than 50 percent of that use. Efficient lighting technologies can reduce usage by almost 70 percent immediately, making it quite clear that lighting is the place to start. The EcoGreen Award Certification evolved from...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes LaMar Lighting Co., Inc. as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. Occu-Smart, the energy-saving lighting system from LaMar Lighting, combines an internal motion sensor with bi-level electronic ballast to provide an innovative solution for seldom-used spaces, such as stairwells, corridors and storerooms where high light levels are only occasionally necessary. The sensor detects even the slightest movement and instantly switches from the adjustable standby light level to full light output. Occu-Smart is offered in 10 attractive wall or ceiling mount luminaire styles and both dwell time and...