ATLANTA—IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), the world’s largest hotel group by number of rooms, announced that The Hotel Management Group, the company’s Americas Operations division, will launch a new environmental initiative to replace more than 250,000 incandescent light bulbs with new energy-efficient compact fluorescent lights (CFL) in guestrooms at over 200 company-managed hotels across the Americas. This is the first of several new environmental programs, both global and regional, that the company is scheduled to introduce throughout 2007. According to Energy Star, a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, a CFL’s...

DANVERS, MASS.— Osram Sylvania announced the company’s Global Care sustainability initiative. The program represents the company’s commitment to social and environmental responsibility. “Global Care will drive positive results to the triple bottom line addressing social, economic and environmental needs,” says Charlie Jerabek, Osram Sylvania president and CEO. “This initiative represents our dedication to meeting customers’ lighting needs with a sustainable approach to product design, development, manufacturing and distribution.” Global Care is the latest milestone in Osram Sylvania’s long history of environmental achievement. A five-time Energy Star Award winner, the company recently celebrated the 10-year anniversary of its...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Pineapple Hospitality as a Green Product Directory partner. Pineapple Hospitality is a national full-service, energy efficient lighting distributor. The Saint Charles, Mo.-based company offers property audits, proposals and customized “Lighting Made Easy” order forms for small to extra large properties. Pineapple provides high quality GE and TCP products for Maintenance and Replacement Orders (MRO) and complete lighting retrofits. Pineapple works with several utilities around the country to secure available incentive funds for its lodging customers. Go to Pineapple Hospitality, write to ray@pineapplehospitality.net, or call (636)...

RIVERSIDE, N.J.—For the third time in the past four years, Sea Gull Lighting Products, LLC has been honored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its commitment and promotion of Energy Star lighting and energy efficiency. In 2004 and 2005, Sea Gull Lighting was named the Energy Star Partner of the Year Award by the EPA for its efforts to actively develop, distribute, sell and market environmentally-friendly lighting products and ceiling fans that prevent greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption. This year, the EPA presented Sea Gull Lighting with the 2007 Energy Star Sustained Excellence Award...

DANVERS, MASS.—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently recognized Osram Sylvania with the Energy Star Sustained Excellence 2007 award for its continued leadership in protecting the environment through energy efficiency. Sylvania’s accomplishments were recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 21. This marks the fifth consecutive year that Sylvania has been recognized as an Energy Star Partner of the Year, and the second year at this highest level of distinction. Osram Sylvania was honored for its long-term commitment to energy efficiency by producing energy-efficient products, installing highly efficient...

ALSIP, ILL.—Litetronics International introduces its cold cathode compact fluorescent lamps. They range from 2 to 8 watts and are a direct replacement for incandescent lighting up to 50 watts without any loss of light output. Micro-Brite lamps have an expected life of up to 25,000 hours and can save up to 90 percent in energy costs when compared to incandescent lamps. Due to their extremely long life, Micro-Brite lamps also cut down on maintenance and replacement costs. Micro-Brite lamps can be used indoors or outdoors in extreme heat and cold. They are also flashable and dimmable down to 5...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—In April, all 2,800 hotels in nearly 70 countries will help Marriott International Inc. celebrate Environmental Awareness Month, marking the company’s biggest effort to promote eco-friendly practices on the road, at work, at home and in the community. The month-long drive enlists Marriott customers, associates and business partners in a variety of projects to save, recycle and reuse, including: Clean Up the World—In partnership with Clean Up the World, a global green volunteer organization, Marriott hotels will join forces on a variety of local cleanup projects including the River Thames in London, the Potomac River in Washington,...

NATIONAL REPORT—Lighting plays a key role in the hospitality experience, from enhancing architectural effects to providing security and directional functions. Recent technological advances in the lighting industry have also made it an increasingly important consideration in sustainable design and building practices. New light sources have emerged that are both cost-effective and that perform up to or better than older technologies. While some of the newer light sources may cost more initially, the resulting electrical and maintenance savings often equate to an impressive 30 to 600 percent return on investment. The energy programs and policies of any hotel, motel or resort should...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—A coalition of energy efficiency advocates last week announced plans for proposed legislative action for a major shift toward incorporating high-efficiency lighting technologies in home and office settings. The call-to-action was introduced by Philips Electronics, Senator Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), Congressman Don Manzullo (R.-Ill.), and the Lighting Efficiency Coalition—comprised of the Alliance to Save Energy, American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, Californians Against Waste, Natural Resources Defense Council and Earth Day Network. The Philips-led coalition is advocating an industrywide initiative that would accelerate the use of existing energy-efficient lighting systems and bulbs as substitutes for less efficient...

DANVERS, MASS.— Osram Sylvania proves a small bulb can make a big difference with the introduction of the new elogic mini. The lead-free bulb offers a 50 percent longer life, an almost 30 percent smaller bulb, and consumes 5 percent less energy with only a little less light than standard incandescent bulbs. “If half the incandescent light bulbs sold in the U.S. today were elogic bulbs, we’d keep 830 tons of lead out of the environment,” says Jon DiGesu, director of brand strategy, Osram Sylvania. “And if half the incandescent light bulbs sold in the U.S. today used...