MILWAUKEE, WIS.—Telkonet, Inc., developer of the EcoSmart energy management platform which incorporates patented Recovery Time technology, announced that the Waterfront Hotel has become the latest hospitality leader to deploy a networked EcoSmart energy management system. In partnership with Ecology Action, a nonprofit consulting firm, Telkonet helped the Waterfront Hotel, located in Oakland, Calif., take advantage of the LodgingSavers utility ratepayer funded program. Telkonet installed a fully networked EcoSmart Energy Management System (EMS), replacing the hotel’s existing thermostats with the Telkonet EcoInsight intelligent thermostat. Because the thermostats are ZigBee-enabled to create a mesh network, they develop a facility-wide wireless network dedicated...

VISTA, CALIF.—A July 2011 survey by Waterless Co. Inc., manufacturers of no-water urinal systems and related restroom products, asked about 500 facility managers how waterless urinals compare to traditional urinals. The seven-question survey touched upon cleaning and maintenance issues and how fast a no-water system pays for itself due to reduced water and sewer charges.* According to the replies, 40 percent believed a no-water unit costs more than a water-using urinal. Another 40 percent believed the costs “were about the same,” and 20 percent said they were less. Further, 60 percent believed it cost about the same to install either...

ASBURY PARK, N.J.—The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded Philips Electronics the Bright Tomorrow Lighting Prize (L Prize) in recognition of being the first company to successfully develop an LED replacement for the common 60-watt incandescent light bulb. Submitted in 2009, the Philips LED bulb was the first and only product to successfully complete 18 months of rigorous field, lab and product testing, meeting or exceeding the high standards established by DOE for quality. In 2007 the U.S. DOE established a competition, the L Prize, challenging the lighting industry to develop replacement technologies for two of the most widely used...

MIAMI—Loews Hotels are migrating to the Hotel Service Optimization System (HotSOS) from MTech. For the past 15 years Loews Hotels have automated their processes for responding to guest requests and work order fulfillment via MTech’s Espresso! Quality Management solution. Today, the Loews Miami Beach Hotel, Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando, Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando, and Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando Resort have upgraded to MTech’s next-generation solution to provide an even higher level of quality service, and in a more timely fashion. All 18 Loews Hotels will be running with HotSOS by first...

ORTING, WASH.—Baxter, a leader in designing and manufacturing quality foodservice and bakery equipment worldwide, recently launched the next generation of its popular mini rotating rack oven. The new OV310 Series ovens include updated and additional features without sacrificing the quality performance or small footprint that have become industry standards. New features include a larger viewing area (350 square inches total) with dual-pane glass, hidden door hinges and longer-lasting silicone door gaskets for a better oven-door seal. Other enhancements include vertical door handles with a positive latching system, surface-mounted digital controls and easier access to power breaker/gas shutoff valve through the...

ST. PAUL, MINN.—Ecolab Inc. has been named to Forbes magazine’s “The World’s Most Innovative Companies’ list, which appears in the August 8 issue of Forbes. Ecolab ranks 28th out of 100 companies on the global list. “Our purpose—to make the world cleaner, safer and healthier, everywhere it matters—drives our commitment to innovation,” said Douglas M. Baker, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer, Ecolab. “Our customers want new products and programs that provide superior results along with water, energy, waste and labor savings. We remain focused on continuing to lead innovation in our industry and finding new and...

RIPON, WIS.—UniMac, a leading provider of on-premises laundry equipment, announced the introduction of over-dry prevention technology that allows laundry managers to reduce labor, energy and linen replacement costs associated with over-drying. Over-drying occurs when tumble dryers run longer than needed because they cannot detect when linen has reached its optimal dryness level or when staff uses incorrect cycles. This causes linens to deteriorate faster, decreases throughput and uses excessive energy. OPTidry over-dry prevention technology is an innovation that connects sensors located within the lifters to UniMac’s rotary transfer switch to offer high levels of accuracy. The result is a pinpoint dryness...

OAKLAND, CALIF.—Móz Designs expands its line of eco-friendly metal wall coverings with Blendz, a series of color-rich aluminum panels that introduce a new aesthetic to dull walls and surfaces. The Blendz panels are composed of 80 percent post-industrial recycled aluminum and contribute to LEED 2.0 MR Credit 4—Recycled Content. Once the product’s design life has ended, Blendz panels can again be recycled for other applications. Blendz decorative surfaces can be installed as laminates or specified as heavier-gauge pre-fabricated metal panels for walls, railings, ceilings, columns, elevators and many other architectural applications. The full range of Blendz color sequences are available in...

DALLAS—Hotels and resorts throughout the world are discovering problems with the continued use of natural thatch roofing material, which is causing harm to the environment and financial difficulty for the hotels and resorts. A recent increase in thatch roof fires has caused the hospitality industry to examine its use of natural thatch roofing materials and structures. Natural thatching requires costly and time-consuming maintenance along with the treatment of environmentally harmful chemicals, such as flame-retardants and insect fumigants that can put guests in danger or cause the loss of business. The issues with natural thatching materials can be avoided with...

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA—Concept Amenities, a leader in the supply of environmentally responsible guest bath amenities, has named Catherine “CJ” Burgher as its new vice president sales Luxury Hospitality. Burgher, who had been West Coast sales manager at rival Molton Brown, will spearhead Concept Amenities’ new luxury sector and focus on direct sales of Luxury Collection brands to the 4+ star hotel market with exclusive licensed retail brand amenities. “The expansion into luxury sales is not new to our company,” notes Gary Coward, president of sales at Concept Amenities. “We’ve created 4+ star luxury collections for over 28 years but this new...