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...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Green Lodging News has added its fourth case study to its new Vendor Case Studies section. The case study focuses on the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority (LVCVA) and how it has effectively tackled the challenge of safely disposing thousands of fluorescent lamps. The study details how the Las Vegas Convention Center uses Air Cycle Corp.’s Bulb Eater to safely crush and store the lamps. That is important because fluorescent lamps contain potentially harmful mercury. LVCVA now has two Bulb Eater machines at the Convention Center. This OSHA- and EPA-compliant device crushes more than 1,000 fluorescent lamps (amount...

CHICAGO—In a presentation at Greenbuild earlier this month, Destiny USA founder and chairman Robert J. Congel introduced the initial design of a hotel and conference facility that will be the next phase of the Destiny USA project in Syracuse, New York. The hotel, which will feature more than 1,300 rooms, is being designed to LEED Platinum standards and will serve as a showcase for sustainability. “Five years ago, Destiny USA was still learning what it takes to build a living laboratory for environmental stewardship, renewable energy and innovation,” Congel said. “Fortunately, we were ahead of the curve. Today we are...

SAINT CHARLES, MO.—It’s no secret that lights left on in unoccupied guestrooms is a leading source of energy waste. So common is the problem that many lodging properties lose thousands to tens of thousands of dollars off each of their bottom lines every year because of it. To combat this, Watt Stopper/Legrand has developed a line of card key switches that give hospitality facilities a simple way to save energy. The HS Series of switches enable or disable power to a select number of electric circuits and loads present inside guestrooms, eliminating the potential for this waste. These card...

PHILADELPHIA—Westinghouse Lighting Corporation’s Energy Star rated, aluminum reflector compact fluorescent lamps provide the lumen output and color of conventional halogen PAR lamps while reducing energy costs by up to $60* per lamp in restaurants, guestrooms, common areas, hallways, and lobbies. The CFLs’ solid aluminum reflector eliminates the pinholes and silver degradation typical of glass PAR lamps. The lamps feature a hard glass stippled lens that provides smooth, even light distribution without “hot spots” and striations characteristic of halogen reflectors. Featuring a color rendering index rating of 82, these lamps come in 3000 Kelvin to match the light of halogen and metal...

CHICAGO—For hotel developers in search of everything necessary to build smart, high performance buildings, Greenbuild was the place to be this week. Approximately 850 vendors offering everything from environmentally friendly cinder block to roofing materials to carpeting were on hand. The event, sponsored by the U.S. Green Building Council, was held here in Chicago at McCormick Place. Here are just a few of the vendor announcement highlights: • As a part of its continued commitment to sustainable practices, Osram Sylvania announced its participation in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Leaders program. By participating in Climate Leaders, Sylvania has pledged...

GREENSBORO, N.C.—Built to use 40 percent less energy and 30 percent less water than a comparable hotel, Proximity Hotel offers a glimpse of the future while celebrating the past. Sustainable practices, custom-designed furnishings, commissioned art and innovative design await guests in every corner of the 147-room luxury hotel and the adjacent Print Works Bistro. Proximity Hotel’s sustainable design and construction follows the guidelines of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. With the goal to attain Platinum...

SOLON, OHIO—Energy Focus, Inc., a global leader in energy-efficient lighting technologies, announced that W Hotels has signed contracts to install Energy Focus, Inc.’s energy efficient EFO lighting systems at properties in Chicago and New York City. The W Hotel Brand is part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., Luxury Brand Division. The installations, which are scheduled to be completed by the end of the year, come after an extensive test by the W Hotel in Times Square. The systems will be installed throughout the public common areas of the hotels and will replace traditional MR-16 halogen lamps. “All told,...