ORLANDO, FLA.—The expensive and marginally successful traditional methods of cleaning HVAC cooling coils are now becoming outmoded due to the introduction of an innovative coil restoration process that returns coils to like-new performance and offering a simple payback of as little as six months. Provided by AQUIS, a premier name in air handling unit (AHU) refurbishment, this new coil restoration process utilizes a unique probiotic technology to clean coils at a microscopic level, unlocking like-new system performance along with energy savings that users can literally calculate. “Traditional coil cleaning, which typically utilizes pressure washers and steam cleaners, fails to treat entrenched...

ST. PAUL, MINN.—Ecolab Inc., a global leader in water, food safety and public health technologies and services, has been named to Bloomberg’s 2020 Gender-Equality Index (GEI). The GEI tracks the financial performance of public companies committed to supporting gender equality through policy development, representation and transparency. Ecolab is one of 325 companies across 50 industries to be included in the 2020 index. “Our diverse teams are helping us fuel greater innovation, drive stronger performance and accelerate our growth,” said Chairman and CEO Douglas M. Baker, Jr. “We’re working hard to ensure Ecolab is a place where everyone can create, contribute...

SEATTLE—In a public letter citing the company’s enduring mission to inspire and nurture the human spirit, Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson announced a multi-decade commitment to be a resource-positive company, aspiring to give more than it takes from the planet. The announcement included science-based preliminary targets for the reduction of carbon emissions, water use and waste by 2030, and outlined five strategies the company has identified to move toward them. “As we approach the 50th anniversary of Starbucks in 2021, we are looking ahead with a heightened sense of urgency and conviction that we must challenge ourselves, think bigger and do...

INDIANAPOLIS—Carrier, the company founded by the inventor of modern air conditioning, is working with ecobee, the company behind the world’s first Wi-Fi smart thermostat, to offer co-branded versions of the ecobee3 lite Pro and ecobee SmartThermostat Pro with voice control. Available this spring, these thermostats will offer a new way to experience personalized comfort and enhanced energy savings. Carrier is a leading global provider of innovative heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC), refrigeration, fire, security and building automation technologies. The ecobee smart thermostats Powered by Carrier can be connected to the Carrier Connected Portal enabling contractors to remotely diagnose and...

COMMERCE, CALIF.—Nora Lighting’s Opal LED Surface Mount Series is now available with a motion sensor. The low-profile Opal offers even illumination and can be surface mounted over a standard junction box or retrofitted into an existing recessed housing. An integral PIR (passive infrared) sensor activates when motion is detected and turns off after three minutes of no motion. The sensor can detect motion within a 16’ diameter pattern when mounted at an 8’ height. Opal PIR has a white finish and is suitable for pantries, closets, laundry rooms and other small areas. It offers 1000lm (15W) with 3000K or 4000K at...

NEW YORK—LOLIWARE, the world’s leading seaweed-based material technology company replacing plastics, announced the close of a $6MM financing round, led by prominent New York venture firm Hatzimemos/Libby. As part of this announcement the company added new leadership, a new board member and announced that demand for billions of LOLIWARE’s Straw of the Future—seaweed-based, biodegradable straws—spans 68 countries across six continents. LOLIWARE will use the proceeds to meet global demand from Fortune 500 companies, scaling its first straws into the billions in 2020. LOLIWARE, co-founded by Chelsea Fawn Briganti, is focused on changing the way people think about single-use plastic. LOLIWARE’s...

SAN FRANCISCO—Visa announced the company has met its goal to use 100 percent renewable electricity by 2020, furthering the company’s commitment to lead responsibly and sustainably across the company’s global operations, including 131 offices in 76 countries and four global processing centers. Since setting the 100 percent renewable goal in 2018, Visa achieved quick action across its global facilities portfolio by advancing to a sustainable mix of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. “At Visa, we see both a responsibility and an opportunity to make broad shifts toward a sustainable and inclusive future,” said Al Kelly, CEO of Visa...

PHILADELPHIA—Aramark, the leading U.S.-based food service provider, announced a partnership with Certify My Company, to assist self-classified suppliers in obtaining third-party diversity certifications. The partnership furthers Aramark’s commitment to increase overall spend with small and diverse suppliers to 25 percent by 2025. Aramark’s robust supply chain already includes more than 6,000 small or diverse suppliers, about 18 percent of which are third-party certified as diverse. A diverse business is generally defined as one that is 51 percent owned and controlled by women, ethnic minorities, veterans, LGBTQ, or disabled person(s). By working with Certify My Company, which provides certification assistance to diverse...

JASPER, IND.—Indiana Furniture began taking orders on four new seating collections and for enhancements to four other, already-established series. Following through on an announcement made last year of a new partnership with UK-based Edge Design, Indiana Furniture has launched three contemporary collections: Me, Myself And I, Natta, and Spirit. With the growth of open and breakout areas in office spaces, and the lean toward contemporary seating styles, Me, Myself And I provides a relaxed and collective seating solution. Multiple back options, tailored button detailing, the ability for contrasting upholsteries, and coordinating tables help outfit a variety of applications with comfort and...

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.—In the hospitality industry, sustainability in all areas of design is essential. From the drapery to upholstery and even the bedding, nearly everything in the room can be made from plastic bottles otherwise destined for a landfill or a water source. At Valley Forge Fabrics, being able to ensure the durability and performance needs of these textiles while also creating them from a source like plastic bottles, is a big win. It’s no secret that plastic bottles are forever, so being able to use them as a fiber that’s woven into upholstery fabrics is vital to Valley...