DALLAS—VingCard Elsafe, part of the ASSA ABLOY Group, has launched a new combined corporate website. The newly designed site is meant to replace the current individual sites for the company’s brands, which include VingCard, Elsafe, Orion and Polarbar. VingCard Elsafe is a leader in developing locking systems and electronic in-room safes for the hospitality industry, offering security systems that meet the operational needs of hotels and resorts. Additional product lines include Orion energy management systems and Polarbar minibar systems, which are offered in selected regions of the world. This newly launched VingCard Elsafe website unifies the company’s comprehensive hospitality product range...

SAINT CHARLES, MO.—Pineapple Hospitality introduces the new TruDim CFL from TCP, Inc. The TruDim CFL performs like a traditional incandescent bulb—with dimming capability all the way down to 2 percent of lighting capacity—with all the environmental benefits of CFL technology. “In the past, dimmable CFL bulbs would flicker when they got to the lower end of their lighting range,” says David Geraci, CFL product manager for TCP. “This is because typical dimmer switches are built for incandescent bulbs, not CFLs. This flicker creates not only a bad visual experience, but it can actually cause early failures for the bulbs. The...

HUATULCO, MEXICO—Huatulco, in southern Mexico, recently became the first destination in the Americas to receive EarthCheck’s Gold certification. Huatulco received the certification for meeting the sustainable tourism requirements of EarthCheck across a range of aspects such as environmental legislation, energy usage, water conservation, wastewater management, biodiversity, and waste reduction. Speaking at the EarthCheck Sustainable Tourism Forum, also held this year in Huatulco, Adriana Perez Quesnel, director of the Fondo Nacional del Fomento al Turismo (FONATUR), said, “We are immensely proud to receive this certification and even more so to be the first destination in the Americas to do so. This...

ALPHARETTA, GA.—Neenah Paper has launched an enhanced version of its Neenah Eco-Calculator featuring greater customization capabilities. The Neenah Eco-Calculator instantly calculates the environmental savings achieved by choosing one of Neenah’s large selection of recycled papers made with post-consumer fiber papers. Highlights of the new Eco-Calculator include allowing the user to create a personalized, customizable and printable report and recording each project for future reference. Additional new features include:  • Personalized Environmental Savings Report. Each calculation is saved to a customized report that includes the client/customer’s name, project name and a detailed listing of the Neenah Paper selections including brand chosen;...

VERNON, ALA.—Marathon Equipment Co. and BioHitech America announced a strategic alliance to promote organic waste processing products worldwide. Industry experts estimate that more than 40 percent of the food produced in the United States—more than $50 billion—is thrown into the garbage every year. This equates to more than 32 million tons of food waste, which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates costs more than $1 billion annually in disposal costs. In its commitment to help customers reduce the costs associated with managing solid waste, Marathon, an industry leader in compaction and recycling equipment, has sought the expertise of Allendale, N.J.-based...

OAKLAND, CALIF.—Móz Designs introduces a new concept in interior décor, Móz Blendz Tapestry “floating wall” surfaces for use as room dividers and decorative elements in hospitality and hotel venues. Móz “floating walls” are fabricated from the company’s Blendz Laminate Metals, which are available in .040 gauge aluminum. Standard sheet sizes include 4-foot by 8-foot and 4-foot by 10-foot with custom dimensions also offered. The laminate metals are typically installed on the floating walls prior to site installation. The Blendz Collection features a dramatic surface treatment with blended colors, offered in a range of palettes from warm earth tones to cool...

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.—Verve Living Systems has introduced a new line of energy-saving automation products developed specifically for the needs of the hospitality industry. The products combine radio frequency and energy-harvesting technologies and incorporate wireless room controls. The products include an assortment of sensors and control devices that can be combined to work together in an organic network to determine the occupancy state of the room, set back temperature, and turn off lights and miscellaneous electrical loads to help hotels manage energy costs. The new portfolio of products uses highly efficient radio frequency technology in an attractively designed family of temperature and electrical...

OSHKOSH, WIS.—Continental Girbau recently released the new MG-Series hard-mount washer-extractors, available in 40- and 55-pound capacities. Continental’s highest performing hard-mount washers, MG-Series Washers feature up to 200 G-force extract speeds, superior energy-efficiency, and advanced programmability. The new MG-Series Washers—suited for an array of on-premise laundry facilities—are engineered to reduce utility costs and labor, while boosting productivity. Unlike many other hard-mount washers on the market, which typically produce extract speeds between 70 and 120-G-force, MG-Series generates speeds of 200 G-force. In addition to the new 200 G-force MG Series hard-mount line, Continental offers a full array of washers for on-premise laundries, including...

PORTLAND, ORE.—The historic Heathman Hotel, a luxury hotel in Portland, Ore., has received one of the highest environmental honors in the industry: Green Seal Silver Certification. Earned after a lengthy approval process, the certification—which just a select number of hotels across the country have earned—sets strict environmental standards that properties must meet to achieve leadership levels in sustainability, including waste minimization, water and energy efficiency, hazardous substances handling, and environmentally responsible purchasing. Green Seal is a nonprofit organization that uses science-based inspection tools and programs to empower consumers and identify and promote sustainable companies. “We have a longstanding commitment to...

SAN FRANCISCO—ECOtality, a leader in clean electric transportation and storage technologies, along with The Lodge at Torrey Pines have announced that they have installed ECOtality’s Blink Electric Vehicle (EV) Commercial Charging Stations at the property. The Level 2 chargers allow electric vehicle users to safely and efficiently charge their vehicles with user-friendly features and a smart, fully interactive 7-inch touch screen. These chargers will enable guests with electric vehicles to use their car for the day and know they can come back to the resort and charge their vehicle. The Lodge at Torrey Pines is dedicated to protecting the environment...