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,...

FAIRFIELD, N.J.—Designed to provide just the right amount of uplight from the most discreet linear profile, Amerlux Lighting Solutions’ new Linea fixture is ideal for indirect, ambient lighting for commercial and retail spaces. Amerlux, a leader in energy-efficient, task-specific lighting solutions, broadens its linear fluorescent systems offering with Linea, giving specifiers and designers more flexibility. This product furthers Amerlux’s commitment to facilitating sustainable strategies recognized by organizations such as the U.S Green Building Council. More effective and appealing than larger obtrusive lighting fixtures, Linea’s diminutive size (1 7/8-inch wide by 2 3/8 inches) integrates a clean, understated look with outstanding...

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK—California’s LodgingSavers program is going strong after just one year in operation. Introduced at last fall’s California Lodging Expo, it now has approximately 150 participants, including several properties in Yosemite National Park that are managed by Delaware North Companies (DNC). LodgingSavers is implemented by Ecology Action, Santa Cruz, Calif., and funded by California utility ratepayers under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission. LodgingSavers is open to properties throughout California that are serviced by Pacific Gas & Electric Co. (PG&E). According to Aaron Glade, program specialist for Ecology Action, LodgingSavers is attractive to hoteliers because of the...

FAIRFIELD, N.J.—Amerlux Lighting Solutions introduces Profilo, a new family of compact T5/T5HO fluorescent luminaires. Designed for ambient and display lighting applications in hotels, restaurants and resorts, Profilo utilizes the latest in compact fluorescent lamps and electronic ballast technology. Adding to Amerlux’s EcoTectural product line, Profilo continues its major commitment to facilitate sustainable strategies recognized by organizations such as the U.S Green Building Council. Compact in size, the Profilo is constructed with a one-piece extruded aluminum housing and features a drawer latching system that provides clean joints in continuous row-mounting applications. Aircraft cable suspension in 4-foot or 8-foot lengths are standard....

NEW YORK—The 20-day national Energy Star Change a Light Bus Tour concluded with nearly 1 million Americans across the country pledging to change more than 2.6 million lights to help fight climate change. This represents a potential savings of nearly $70 million in energy costs and prevention of 1 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions. EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson ended the 10-city tour at Manhattan’s Union Square. “Some have said one person can’t change the world,” Johnson says. “Well, how about a million people? By teaching nearly a million Americans that protecting the environment and saving money is...

BLACKLICK, OHIO—Featuring more than 2,000 custom decorative lighting options, Besa Lighting introduces its 2007-2008 Catalog. Completely redesigned, the book includes 268 pages of handcrafted glasses in many new colors, sizes and styles, for a broad range of hospitality applications. Besa Lighting is a leading designer and manufacturer of decorative glass lighting. Besa’s line has grown in breadth and depth, from 35-watt 12V mini-pendants to 120V Mondo Glass Pendants. Many glass pendant families are being introduced, including: “Callisto,” “Castor,” “Caesar” fluted opal pendants and “Pahu” double-glass pendants. New decors include distressed metallic foils in copper, gold and silver. New decorative ADA...

NEW YORK—Philips Lighting Co., a division of Philips Electronics North America Corp., an affiliate of Royal Philips Electronics, has introduced its new StumbleLight, a motion-activated night guiding light designed to turn on when a hotel guest steps out of bed. Ideal for placement under a hotel room nightstand or on a wall to illuminate the path at night, StumbleLight lights the way through a room or to a bathroom using a warm white LED light source. The 55 to 65 lumens of light output delivered by StumbleLight, comparable to the light output of traditional incandescent night light technology, is an...

SOMERSET, N.J. – Philips Lighting Co., a division of Philips Electronics North America Corp., an affiliate of Royal Philips Electronics, announces the introduction of ALTO II, its next-generation low-mercury fluorescent lamp technology for the professional lighting market. Twelve years ago, Philips Lighting introduced its original ALTO technology and set a new industry standard by reducing the amount of mercury in its T8 fluorescent lamps to an industry low of 3.5 mg. Today, through Philips Lighting’s innovative technology, ALTO II T8 lamps now contain only 1.7 mg of mercury, a 50 percent reduction from previous levels. Now incorporated into...