CHICAGO—A dirty packaged terminal air conditioner (PTAC) often has to work twice as hard and consumes twice the electricity to reach cooler room temperatures. To help hoteliers select the best A/C coil cleaning process as they plan their 2015 budgets, Cintas Corp. released a complimentary white paper covering the results of two independent A/C coil cleaning studies while providing tips for improving unit life.“Dirty A/C units have to work a lot harder and longer to cool the room, causing both increased noise and annoyance to guests,” said Todd McKeown, Vice President of Direct Sale Strategic Markets, Cintas. “This guide...

CROSSVILLE, TENN.—Executives with Crossville, Inc., a domestic manufacturer of porcelain tile collections, have announced the unveiling of the company’s 2014 Sustainability Report. The report was compiled with input from Crossville’s stakeholders as gleaned through a formal survey and follow-up discussions conducted by a third party sustainability consulting firm and is based on the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) sustainability reporting and ISO 26001 frameworks. Additionally, it meets the requirements of LEED V.4 MRc3 Credit. This is the first such sustainability report in the company’s 28-year history, and it is also the first GRI-based document released by a tile-only manufacturer, denoting...

LAGRANGE, GA.—Interface has drawn on the natural beauty found in salvaged matter and materials for the design of its new Reclaim carpet tiles. The 25cm x 1m skinny plank series echoes the look of worn, weathered wood, lending interiors a feeling that’s both warm and inviting yet completely modern. Constructed of 100 percent recycled content fiber that combines reclaimed carpet fiber with salvaged fishing nets, Reclaim remains true to its name and at the same time is in lockstep with the company’s Mission Zero promise to eliminate any negative impact is has on the environment by the year 2020....

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The National Restaurant Association (NRA) named LeanPath Inc., creators of automated food waste monitoring systems, as a preferred supplier of its Conserve sustainability program. LeanPath provides systems which enable foodservice professionals to dramatically reduce food waste, lower food costs and operate more sustainable facilities.  “As part of our Conserve Program, NRA provides tips and tools for restaurant operators looking to minimize food waste to run a more sustainable operation,” said Jeff Clark, Conserve Program Director. “Preventing food waste has a triple-line bottom impact: environmental, social and financial. As a program collaborator, LeanPath will help us connect operators with...

MINNEAPOLIS—The IrriGreen Genius Irrigation System, which utilizes next generation digital technology to advance water-saving lawn irrigation, won a 2014 Product Innovation Award from Architectural Products magazine. The Product Innovation Awards honor ingenuity in the design, development and refinement of building products. Digitally controlled to match watering patterns to the exact shape of any lawn, IrriGreen uses up to 50 percent less water than ordinary systems.“The Product Innovation Awards highlight manufacturers who have developed superior building products that deliver better performance, longer service life and more affordability,” said Jim Crockett, Editorial Director, Architectural Products magazine. “The judges determined that IrriGreen...

ST. PAUL, MINN.—A partnership between 3M Architectural Markets and designer Todd Bracher has resulted in the development, and now the commercialization of Lightfalls, an innovative new architectural lighting fixture. The fixture capitalizes on the laws of physics to distribute light from a single LED source over a large space, pouring light from one highly reflective surface to another.“Lightfalls is the result of physics meeting design,” said Bracher. “We are able to extend the reach of a single LED further than ever before—it is the work of optical engineers with unique materials who created it to steer light in efficient...

TORONTO—Totally Green recently won a Green Product Award from the Greater Miami & the Beaches Hotel Association for its unique and environmentally friendly Organic Refuse Conversion Alternative (ORCA) machine. The ORCA converts food waste into harmless water on-site at the business establishment. This cuts waste disposal costs, while eliminating pollution from landfill sites and garbage trucks. “We’re pleased to be recognized as a leading-edge organic waste solution provider,” said Shawn Dym, CEO, Totally Green.The ORCA “digests” organic food waste—up to 2,400 pounds (more than 1 ton) per day. The process is simple: Users drop the food waste into the...

MARINA DEL REY, CALIF.—According to a recent BCC Research report, last year the bottled water market reached over $117 billion and is predicted to grow to $195.4 billion globally in the next five years. While the market continues to surge, trends are simultaneously shifting. Consumers are no longer just looking for healthy, premium bottled water. They also care about the environment and are turning to companies with more sustainable initiatives. To meet this growing demand, entrepreneur Ryan Emmons has founded Waiakea Inc., the world’s first premium water of its kind to adapt a platform of healthy, sustainable, ethical and...

SAN DIEGO—HD Supply Facilities Maintenance, a leading single-source supplier to the hospitality industry, this week unveiled TruPerspective, a program that provides property management with an assessment of their guests’ experience.As part of the TruPerspective program, HD Supply Hospitality Solutions professionals will provide hoteliers with a comprehensive assessment of their property through the lens of a hotel guest. Then a full assessment including photos, feedback on areas of strength and areas of opportunity are presented and discussed with property management.“We are committed to the hospitality industry and helping our customers exceed their guest expectations,” said David Kahn, Vice President—Hospitality Solutions...

STAMFORD, CONN.— Starwood Preferred Guest, the loyalty program from Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., introduces SPG Keyless, a mobile, keyless entry system allowing guests to use their smartphone as a key. The technology helps reduce the use of plastic key cards. Rolling out to Aloft, Element and W Hotels around the globe, SPG Keyless made its official debut recently in 10 hotels in markets including Beijing, Hong Kong, New York, Los Angeles and Doha. SPG Keyless—powered by the SPG app—enables guests to bypass the front desk (where available), go directly to their room and unlock their door with a...