WESTPORT, CONN.—Rheem Manufacturing Co. was selected as the 2013 AHR Expo Product of the Year Award winner for its H2AC Rooftop Unit, a restaurant integrated AC and water heating system.During a special ceremony at the world’s largest HVACR expo in Dallas on January 29, it was announced that the product that Rheem entered was selected from among the 10 AHR Expo Innovation Award winners as the Product of the Year. The new product features refrigerant-to-water heat recovery that can reduce the water heater’s energy consumption by an estimated 50 percent. Rheem was an Innovation Award winner in the Cooling...

JARKARTA, INDONESIA—The Massindo Group, the sole distributor of Protect-A-Bed products and owner of the Comforta mattress brand in Indonesia, donated 60 foam mattresses to victims of a massive flood that is immobilizing Jakarta. Massindo Group employees, together with the Kopassus, the Special Command Forces in the region, distributed mattresses, food, flashlights, bottled water and medication to flood victims last week.The flooding began on January 17 and many areas are still under water. Concerned the waters are not receding, the Massindo Group wanted to help flood victims who did not evacuate. “As we understand so far, many individuals preferred to...

SANTA CLARA, CALIF.—WattStopper announced the release of a time-saving Niagara AX driver module that streamlines integration when WattStopper Digital Lighting Management (DLM) controls are combined with Niagara controllers in high performance buildings. The driver automatically discovers all the DLM lighting controls on the BACnet network, and all the data points available for integration. Originally developed for a WattStopper-specific JACE, the driver is compatible with other Niagara AX stations, and is now available for free download to integrators using a third party JACE. In addition to discovery, the driver adds product-specific icons to the objects tree, and gives integrators easy...

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.—Armchem, a leading business to business distributor of more than 50,000 specialty industrial products, and a winner of Merfin’s Growing Green Program Award, introduces a new green version of their number one product, Grout 66. The green version is a non-corrosive, non-fuming tub, tile and grout cleaner that provides top-tier performance for cleaning tubs, tile, grout, walls, toilet bowls, urinals, shower stalls and other bathroom surfaces. Grout 66’s highly concentrated formula uses the latest acid replacement technology to remove dirt, soap scum, salts, body oils, rust, lime, calcium and iron deposits in 30 seconds. The...

UPLAND, CALIF.—Green Suites Hotel Solutions has announced a newly formed partnership with LED lighting provider, Kaydas. Citing the targeted LED lighting portfolio, technical support and expertise of Kaydas, Green Suites Hotel Solutions believes its new offering of LED lighting will be an in-line enhancement for its 4,000+ hotel customers seeking products that deliver both environmental and economic advantages.In an effort to expand in the innovative and growing LED technology, plus further its commitment to providing high-quality, sustainable products, Green Suites Hotel Solutions is now providing an exclusive online web portal where its customers can specify and buy any of...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes NanoTouch Materials, LLC as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. NanoTouch antimicrobial mats, packaged in a tamper-evident pouch or a convenient travel tube, use nanotechnology to constantly kill bacteria, viruses and fungi without the use of heavy metals or diluted poisons. The mats can be offered as a guest amenity and be used on the bathroom vanity or desk as a place to rest a toothbrush, glasses, medicines, or other personal items.NanoTouch antimicrobial facility touch points also use nanotechnology to constantly kill bacteria, viruses and fungi....

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.—MIOX Corp., an industry leader in on-site chemical generation technology, announced it is an ISO 9001:2008 Certified Company. MIOX designs and manufactures equipment that generates oxidant based chemicals on demand.“MIOX places the highest value on the voice of the customer, and that trust is only gained through delivering great products,” said MIOX chief operating officer, Kyle Lee. “We are honored to have achieved our ISO certification based on our standard business practices. Our customers can buy with the security that they are receiving high quality standardized products continuously being evaluated for improvement.”MIOX’s ISO registrar, Orion Registrar, completed two...

NEW YORK—Scottish artist Jephson Robb challenges the notion that beautiful objects cannot be practical with his Quiet collection. Conceived as a series of work and occasional tables where subtle details elevate the typical pedestal table to both sculpture and functional object, the Quiet collection will be introduced by Bernhardt Design in April 2013. “So often tables are either pretty little things to support a drink or newspaper, or they are workhorses that are functional, but unattractive,” according to Robb. “At first glance, these tables may appear to be just some new piece of eye candy, but once you come close...

ALPHARETTA, GA.—The Refinishing Touch, a leader in on-site environmentally safe and sustainable furniture refinishing and re-upholstering for private and public organizations, has expanded its Touch Textiles fabric division with a new eco-friendly recycled leather line, Embrace.Embrace recycled leather gives The Refinishing Touch’s customers, which include hospitality, government and education institutions, the benefits and aesthetics of traditional leather at a fraction of the cost. It also maintains The Refinishing Touch’s commitment to environmentally-responsible products and services. It is available immediately as part of The Refinishing Touch’s Touch Textiles fabric offerings.Touch Textiles is The Refinishing Touch’s line of commercial fabrics, adding...

LAS VEGAS—Fifteen resorts operated by MGM Resorts International have achieved the prestigious Green Key rating for environmental conservation from the largest sustainable operations certification body in the world. The accomplishment peaks MGM Resorts’ previous achievement of 12 properties designated with “Green Key” honors.Since a previous assessment in 2010, Bellagio has risen in rank from “4 Green Keys” to “5 Green Keys” by updating energy efficient equipment and initiating new maintenance programs. Bellagio has also implemented new operating policies and procedures, and enhanced its recycling efforts and sustainable food and beverage practices. Circus Circus Las Vegas rose from “3 Green...