NEW YORK—Schneider Electric, a leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, announced that it has renewed its partnership with CDP as an Accredited Provider of global sustainability consulting services and sustainability software. This is the ninth year that the company has collaborated with CDP to improve environmental disclosure and reporting in the commercial and industrial sector. CDP is recognized as the industry gold standard for environmental disclosure, a critical piece of measuring climate action globally. Nearly a fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions are disclosed via the CDP annual Climate questionnaire and in 2019, more than 8,000...

FRESNO, CALIF.—Jain Irrigation, Inc., a world leader in irrigation technology, announces the general availability release of JAIN Unity, an automatic irrigation control system and environmental data services platform. Unity is the first-ever smart irrigation solution for landscape management fully powered by artificial intelligence and predictive analytics. Jain Unity gives users (contractors, water managers, home and building owners) direct access to view how much water the plants in their landscape requires, along with real-time visibility to the efficiency of their irrigation system for eliminating water waste. Arcadis and Bluefield Research recently released a report that is projecting over 36 percent...

ST. LOUIS—Emerson announced it has completed the purchase of Verdant, a leader in energy management solutions for the hotel and hospitality industries. The addition of Verdant broadens Emerson’s growing energy management and optimization capabilities for residential and commercial applications. While the typical hotel guestroom is vacant more than 50 percent of the time, energy usage remains the second largest operating cost for hotels. Verdant’s products and services combine advanced occupancy and thermal sensing technologies with real-time analytics to ensure optimal energy settings, reducing consumption and maximizing cost savings for hotel operators without compromising guest comfort. “As the hotel and hospitality industries...

INDIANAPOLIS—Carrier recently announced the latest dealers to be inducted into its Dealer Hall of Fame at the 2020 Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer National Meeting in Colorado Springs, Colo. Established to recognize dealers who adhere to the highest standards in customer service and loyalty to the Carrier brand, this award celebrates years of outstanding work in the heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) industry, as well as in their communities. Carrier’s HVAC business is part of Carrier, a leading global provider of innovative HVAC, refrigeration, fire, security and building automation technologies. “This year’s inductees embody all of the qualities the Carrier...

CINCINNATI—As coronavirus paralyzes the world with fear, bioscience enterprise The Gilla Co. has developed and independently tested a product shown to be at least 99.9 percent effective in killing the deadly virus. The product, Gilla (pronounced “jilä”), received EPA registration last year as a sanitizer and disinfectant that kills germs such as the flu virus, staph, and MRSA. The Gilla Company’s pursuit of coronavirus testing is consistent with the company’s continued active exploration of the benefits of Gilla. For example, preliminary tests suggest that Gilla protects treated surfaces for a week or more. This gives Gilla the potential to...

WEST PALM BEACH, FLA.—CKI Solutions announces the promotion of Erika Lockhart to Purchasing Manager. Lockhart will be responsible for managing inventory, purchasing goods, maintaining supplier relations and pricing. Steven Gordon, President of CKI, says, “Erika has been a key part of our success and we are thrilled to promote her to this important position. She has already proven herself in many roles and we know she will excel as the purchasing manager.” Lockhart joined the company in February 2019 as a customer sales rep and quickly moved into handling national accounts. She also manages the GreenSource Mattress recycling division....

DAYTON, N.J.—Somfy Systems, Inc., the world’s largest manufacturer of tubular motors for interior window coverings and exterior solar protections, has partnered with Osram, a leading global high-tech company with a diverse array of products including connected lighting solutions. The partnership between Osram and Somfy allows natural and artificial light to work better together in building environments. Osram’s Encelium networked lighting management system and Somfy’s automated shading solutions work together to create a more seamless user experience for light management. The combination of Osram Encelium and Somfy Digital Network (SDN) creates a centralized interface for facility managers and streamlines the light...

DARIEN, CONN.—Smile Coffee Werks has unveiled compostable coffee pods made from renewable raw materials with over a 12-month shelf life. The patented technology utilizes a plant based, BPA-free cup and top, creating a commercially compostable coffee product; a seamless fit for waste-conscious consumers, private labels, retailers and hospitality groups alike. The pods are compatible with Nespresso classic style coffee makers, BPI-certified and commercially compostable in 12 weeks. Made from renewable plant-based products, the pods are the first carbon neutral, single step disposal product to hit the market. Smile Coffee Werks is available for purchase at SmileCoffeeWerks.com in compatible 100 percent...

ROUND ROCK, TEXAS—FSG Smart Buildings, a division of Facility Solutions Group, announced the release of Chariot, a Building Automation System (BAS) software with robust Energy Management System (EMS) capabilities combining lighting and HVAC controls with smart metering and IoT devices for multi-site command, control, and visibility. Chariot is capable of being a stand-alone solution or tying together disparate and legacy systems across portfolios of buildings and being a single pane of glass for all things facility-related. “Chariot brings affordable building automation and IoT solutions to the commercial market in one easy-to-use software platform,” said Justin McCullough, FSG Chief Product Officer. “The problem...

SOLON, OHIO—Tarkett, a worldwide leader in innovative and sustainable flooring, has introduced two new modular carpet designs—Vellum and Bindery. Through crisp pattern detail, color contrast and lustre variation, these complementary patterns draw on the rich tradition of book binding and impart the handcrafted patinas of early papermaking, enabling architects and designers to craft a story through interior spaces. “The passing down of story is an honored tradition in every culture, and the attention given to the craft of book binding has as much to say as the words on the page—adding a memorable richness to the experience,” said Terry Mowers,...