SOMERSET, N.J.—Philips Lighting Co., the U.S.-based lighting company affiliated with Royal Philips Electronics, was recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as the first company in the United States to launch a companywide effort towards meeting the EPA’s National Partnership for Environmental Priorities (NPEP) waste minimization standards. As a new partner in the national program, Philips Lighting has committed to reducing the amount of mercury used in the manufacturing of its fluorescent lamps by 780 pounds by the end of 2007. In addition, the company has committed to eliminating the amount of lead in all of its...

NASHVILLE, TENN.—Universal Lighting Technologies introduces the latest addition to the Basic-12 family of ballasts with the B260IUNVHP for use with F96T12 and energy-saving F96T12ES lamps. This new Basic-12 ballast is designed to replace traditional magnetic T12 ballasts in existing or new fixtures while reducing energy consumption by more than 15 percent. Basic-12 ballasts provide the same amount of light as magnetic T12 ballasts with reduced operating costs and improved lamp performance. Plus, electronic ballasts are significantly quieter than their magnetic counterparts. Basic-12 ballasts fully comply with today’s new federal ballast efficiency requirements for installation into new fixtures as...

NEW YORK—Last week’s International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show, which drew more than 35,000 people, was packed with innovative products to help hoteliers clean naturally, save energy and water, and minimize waste generation. Also on hand were vendors offering everything from environmentally friendly wall coverings to nontoxic tub refinishing. Here are a just a few highlights from the 1,250 companies who exhibited at the lodging industry’s No. 1 trade event. Action Comax Environmental Inc., Newark, N.J., introduced its BioX high-volume organic waste decomposition system. Inside of a large steel container, food waste is broken down to liquid through biological decompostion. It...

DENVER—Osram Sylvania announced that it has developed a business association with Veolia Environmental Services, the largest lamp and ballast recycler in North America, to provide environmentally responsible recycling alternatives. As a leader in environmentally preferable, energy-efficient lighting solutions, Osram is now expanding its range of lighting and recycling solutions by offering the sale of Recyclepak, Veolia’s proprietary recycling kit, through www.sylvania.com/recycle. Using the Recyclepak makes recycling easy for large or small quantities of spent lamps and ballasts. Prepaid packaging allows for a convenient way to manage lighting waste. One price includes everything needed for complete lamp and ballast...

NEW YORK—As an antidote for the jet-lagged road warrior, Philips Electronics debuted The Stumble Light at the International Hotel/Motel and Restaurant Show in New York City. This motion-activated device lights a path from the bed to the bathroom with only enough light to enable a safe journey, but without the bright light that usually results in total alertness. The Stumble Light is designed primarily for hotel applications and will be available during the first quarter of 2007. “We were investigating potential products that would simplify the hotel experience, and our research quickly focused on the business executive who...

NATIONAL REPORT—To add ambiance to a restaurant, bar or other area of a hotel, sometimes all that’s needed is a little candlelight. Whether fueled by wax and wick or liquid fuel, candles encourage a relaxing, stress-free atmosphere. As common and accepted as traditional candles are, few hoteliers may realize their true costs—from both a financial and environmental perspective. When wax candles burn down, they typically are thrown away and add to waste disposal costs—from the hotel to the landfill. Just like automobiles burning gasoline, candles using liquid fuel strain the environment. Energy is consumed through processes used to generate the...

ALSIP, ILL.—Litetronics International introduces its Micro-Brite BR30 cold cathode compact fluorescent lamps. These 8-watt bulbs directly replace incandescents up to 65 watts, saving as much as 88 percent in energy costs. Low-wattage Micro-Brite BR30 lamps deliver brighter, higher color temperature light while reducing energy consumption. Micro-Brite BR30 lamps are designed for indoor or outdoor use in table lamps, recessed cans, general area lighting, signage and most medium-based lighting fixtures. Cold cathode technology allows Micro-Brite BR30s full dimming and flashing without shortening the life of the bulb. The extended 18,000-hour life is 18 to 20 times longer than the...

SANTA CLARA, CALIF.—Watt Stopper/Legrand announces the ELCU-100 Emergency Lighting Control Unit, bringing energy savings to emergency lighting. Emergency lighting typically burns 24/7, and with recent changes to state and local building codes in major metropolitan areas, specifiers are having to devote more watts per square foot to emergency lighting than ever before. This new product allows building owners and operators to leverage the energy saving benefits of control devices such as occupancy sensors and time scheduled systems by having these devices control emergency lighting in tandem with non-emergency lighting. They can also be assured of enhanced response from...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Pineapple Hospitality, Saint Charles, Mo., as a sponsor. Pineapple, led by Ray Burger, president, has been providing green products, programs and services to the hospitality industry for more than 10 years. Pineapple’s products include the following: greenSPA amenity and dispenser system, which includes Neutrogena products; Project Planet towel and linen reuse cards; Oxygenics showerheads; NUMI teas; ecorooms program; General Electric lighting products; Guestat thermostats; Wattstopper Motion Sensor Nightlights; Nature’s Mist deodorizer; Hillyard green cleaning products; Preserve recyclable toothbrushes; Oreck vacuums; and the odor-eating Fresh Bulb. “I...

ALSIP, ILL.—Litetronics International Inc. announces the addition of the new Neolite line of T2 compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). The reduced tube size gives Neolite lamps a shorter maximum overall length (M.O.L.), so they easily fit into more applications. This gives Litetronics customers a new option when replacing incandescent lamps with energy-saving fluorescents. Neolite T2 lamps are available in three different color temperatures: 2700K, 4100K and 5000K. Every Neolite lamp has a 10,000-hour average life—five times that of an incandescent lamp—and a one-year warranty. Though small in stature, Neolite lamps generate up to 70 lumens per watt; more than...