NIANTIC, CONN.— INNCOM will unveil its new, programmable switch series to complement its Integrated Room Automation System (IRAS) at the 2012 Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition & Conference (HITEC). Built on the same core as MODEVA, the EVORA Switch allows hotel guestroom designers to create lighting scenes and provide a pleasing light control environment and combine it with the ability to also control temperature, drapes and shades and guest annunciation functions without the expense of horizontal wiring within the room.“EVORA was developed to extend INNCOM switch capabilities beyond those offered in the well-established S-Series and the innovative MODEVA series,” said...

SAN MATEO, CALIF.—BuildingIQ, a provider of energy efficiency and demand response software, announced an exclusive agreement with NV Energy to trial a new energy efficiency program concept for commercial customers. As part of its long standing Market and Technology trials program, NV Energy will roll out the program concept to leading commercial customers in Las Vegas. The program concept leverages at its core the BuildingIQ technology platform to offer dynamically optimized HVAC operations in pursuit of significant energy savings. NV Energy will also be working with BuildingIQ to identify and deliver other significant opportunities for energy savings and peak...

HIGHLAND PARK, ILL.—The Houstonian Club & Spa made a commitment to sustainability three years ago with a comprehensive program addressing energy conservation, purchasing sustainable products, and waste reduction. Cher Harris, Club assistant general manager for the Houstonian Club & Spa, noted that the 14,000 members and 2,000 visits a day created challenges in diverting waste from the landfill. A survey among its members demonstrated a strong interest in recycling.The Houstonian is well known for its elegance and style sense and they were not about to add “blue plastic” recycling bins to their lobbies and other public spaces. They therefore...

SANTA CLARA, CALIF.—WattStopper has launched new universal dimming room controllers for line voltage lighting loads. The versatile devices can control virtually all load types including LEDs, and are part of the company’s Digital Lighting Management (DLM) suite of intelligent controls. Applications include daylight harvesting, lumen maintenance and scene control in areas from classrooms to offices, conference rooms, restaurants and galleries. As more jurisdictions adopt new energy codes (ASHRAE 90.1-2010 and IECC 2012), professionals must comply with multi-level control mandates. WattStopper’s universal dimming room controllers provide multi-level control solutions while also accommodating a variety of lighting types within each space. When...

PORTLAND, ORE.—Viridian Reclaimed Wood announced the introduction of a new range of reclaimed old-growth Douglas-fir flooring, according to Viridian co-owner Joe Mitchoff. Available in four varieties—nail-edge, mixed-grain, vertical (VG) and rustic—Viridian’s Doug-fir collection is reclaimed from beams salvaged from abandoned warehouses, docks and old gymnasiums, among other sources, and is derived from some of the company’s most mature raw-material sources.“This old-growth Doug-fir is in a class by itself, with very tight grain—new lumber cannot compare,” Mitchoff said. “Even our mixed-grain Doug-fir gets mistaken for what passes for today’s vertical-grain. Architects and designers who want the old-growth look but demand...

CROSSVILLE, TENN.—Crossville, Inc., a domestic porcelain tile manufacturer based in Crossville, Tenn., announced the latest results of two of its recycling initiatives: the Tile Take-Back Program and the collaboration with TOTO USA. Both initiatives are based on Crossville’s proprietary process for recycling fired porcelain products, including post-consumer materials; this is a capability unique to the manufacturer.Between both Tile Take-Back and the TOTO USA partnership, Crossville has diverted 11.2 million pounds of fired porcelain from landfills during the last two years (as of April 30, 2012). All of the company’s U.S.-made products contain a minimum of 20 percent scrap fired...

CHICAGO—Interface was recently awarded Best of NeoCon honors for its new Urban Retreat modular carpet tile collection, celebrating its global launch at this year’s show. Urban Retreat, which explores the intersection of manmade and Mother Nature, earned Silver in the Carpet: Modular category.This year’s competition drew 325 entries in 40 product and furnishings categories, and was sponsored by Contract magazine, Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc., the International Interior Design Association (IIDA), the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), and McMorrow Report.com.Urban Retreat was inspired by Biophilia—man’s innate attraction to nature. Designer and constant collaborator David Oakey drew from the growing global...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—A new online calculator from American Rivers lets individuals discover the benefits of installing green roofs on their businesses. Green roofs are gaining popularity as cities look for cost-effective ways to protect and restore clean water. A green roof is one that is covered with plants and shrubs. By absorbing rainwater and providing insulation for the building, a green roof prevents storm runoff from polluting local streams and reduces heating and cooling costs. The “Get More Green” calculator allows visitors to enter an address via Google Maps, and determine the square footage of a building’s roof. Visitors then get a...

MILWAUKEE—Eighty-five percent of building owners and operators globally depend on energy management to drive operational efficiency, according to a survey released by Johnson Controls, a provider of solutions that increase energy efficiency in buildings. This represents a 34 point increase in the last two years. Energy cost savings and financial incentives are leading this shift, but more than half say they are also looking to improve their public image and increase the value of their buildings. The 2012 Johnson Controls Energy Efficiency Indicator, a global survey of 3,500 building owners and operators, was released at the 23rd Annual North...

TRAVELERS REST, S.C.—T&S Brass, a leading manufacturer of plumbing and foodservice equipment, recently launched a new online tool to allow facilities to calculate the amount of water they can save through the use of aerators in hand sinks. With both standard and metric conversions, the new tool allows users to see how much they can save in the way of water, energy and sewage costs, based on entering some simple information, such as number of employees working in the kitchen per day, average shift length and total number of facilities. While not specifically designed to calculate restroom water...