OSHKOSH, WISC.—Continental Girbau Inc.’s E-Series Washer-Extractors—in 40-, 30- and 20-pound capacities—deliver energy efficiency, high-speed extract, an easy-to-install, freestanding design, and the ultimate in programmability to hotels looking to employ green practices while decreasing operating expenses. With the introduction of E-Series, Continental expands its soft-mount washer-extractor offering to include high-performance models in 20-, 30-, 40-, 55-, 90-, 130- and 255-pound capacities. Continental’s E-Series Washer-Extractors are engineered to use less water than most frontload and topload washers on the market, thanks to exclusive features and a sump-less design. The Energy Star-qualified 20-pound capacity model uses up to 57 percent less water per...

ATLANTA—Healthy and sustainable buildings are the talk of the building industry, but what exactly defines what a healthy building is? ASHRAE will discuss this and other topics at its IAQ 2007: Healthy and Sustainable Buildings conference in Baltimore. The event will be held Oct. 15 to 17. IAQ 2007 will address what tools and metrics can be used to quantify buildings’ health and sustainability and how indoor air quality can be certified as sustainable. Plenary session speakers will compare the functionality of rating systems, how they can be improved and what information other than the ratings can developers, designers and...

LEXINGTON, KY—With nearly 100 million active spa-goers globally, the spa community casts a large net. Affecting society, the economy, culture and the environment, spa is synonymous with healthy lifestyles. And the eco-conscious roots of the industry are growing deeper still. “Environmental consciousness has always been there for the spa community,” says International SPA Association Chairman Jim Root. “Sustainability is in the fabric of spa. Sustainability is based on the very same ideals as the timeless values of spa and Salus Per Aquum. Sustainability is not a passing fad; it’s a deliberate lifestyle for those who work in...

LAGRANGE, GA.—Milliken & Co., a carbon negative manufacturer, has launched an Energy Conservation Initiative focused on four action areas—People, Alternative Sources, Innovation and Green Building—to reduce energy consumption along with related emissions and water use. The Milliken Energy Conservation Initiative was announced during Respect Our Earth Day at Milliken Floor Covering in LaGrange, where proclamations from local and state officials acknowledge Milliken’s sustainable practices. Georgia Power will provide a Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) to each employee making the Energy Star pledge to switch from traditional light bulbs and is working with the company as the challenge expands statewide. ...

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND—Key players in real estate and construction misjudge the costs and benefits of green buildings, creating a major barrier to more energy efficiency in the building sector, a new study by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) reports. Respondents to a 1,400-person global survey estimated the additional cost of building green at 17 percent above conventional construction, more than triple the true cost difference of about 5 percent. At the same time, survey respondents put greenhouse gas emissions by buildings at 19 percent of world total, while the actual number of 40 percent is double this. The findings...

AMERICAN CANYON, CALIF.—Gaia Napa Valley Hotel and Spa—the United States’ first and only LEED Gold-certified hotel—has commissioned a 36-kilowatt solar project that produces electricity to help run the hotel. The system is projected to meet approximately 12 percent of the hotel’s annual energy needs and contributed two points toward the hotel’s LEED Gold certification. An energy-usage panel in the hotel’s lobby shows exactly how much power is being generated by the solar system—and how much energy is being used by the hotel, minute by minute. The Gaia project will generate 49,000 kWh of clean renewable energy annually, reflecting the priority that...

NATIONAL REPORT—If the growth of the Sustainable Furniture Council (SFC) is any indication of the current level of interest in sustainable furniture manufacturing, you can expect to read a lot more about this trend in the coming months. The Council, which was incorporated in March, already has 100 members. While the majority of all furniture purchased for lodging in the United States is not sustainable, that appears to be changing—albeit slowly. What exactly is sustainable furniture? It most certainly is not furniture that is made with illegally sourced wood, petroleum-based foams, fabrics and other materials, and finishes and glues that...

DANVERS, MASS.—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 to reduce its corporate-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This commitment to reduce emissions is just one of many social and environmental goals set by the company through its recently launched Global Care program. “Climate Leaders presented us with a new goal on which to set our sights,” says Jennifer Dolin, environmental marketing manager. “As we continue to make changes to increase the sustainability of our practices and...

SAINT LOUIS, MO.—Seeking to provide support and guidance regarding environmental responsibility, the board of directors of the International Association of Conference Centers (IACC) has commissioned a Green Task Force to help educate and inspire IACC-member conference centers to conserve natural resources while recognizing the current successes at individual member properties. This is consistent with the association’s commitment to providing an exceptional meeting experience at every level. “The task force was created to educate and guide conference centers toward eco-friendly, business-smart practices,” says Neil Pompan, president of IACC-North America (and COO of EMCVenues). “The Green Task Force will begin to develop...

OAKLAND, CALIF.—A new global survey by Lonely Planet reveals that travelers are keen to make significant changes to their behavior to travel sustainably. Lonely Planet’s annual Travelers’ Pulse survey, which polled over 24,500 people worldwide, showed 84 percent of respondents said they would consider offsetting their emissions in the future, whereas only 31 percent had done so in the past. One of the strongest changes for the future was in volunteering. A huge 79 percent of respondents said they would or might volunteer overseas in the future, with only 25 percent having done so in the past. Seventy percent of...