BLUE ISLAND, ILL.—Robertson now offers a line of Instant Start T8 ballasts that comply with and are listed under the UL Type CC requirements. The fundamental Type CC requirement prescribes that the ballast not sustain an arc at the lamp socket if the connection to the lamp pin is loose or intermittent. Conventional T8 instant start ballasts do not have this type of protection and therefore limit a fixture designer’s ability to meet UL Luminaire standards for linear fluorescent fixtures without the use of expensive Type I sockets. Retrofitters who want to incorporate this latest safety technology while upgrading to...

MILWAUKEE, WIS.—Telkonet, Inc., developer of the new EcoSmart energy management platform, announced that it has been awarded a contract to provide energy management solutions in 10 Southern California-based hospitality properties through Pacific Energy Services & Facilities, Inc. Each guestroom received an HVAC system upgrade when integrating Telkonet’s SmartEnergy energy management platform. All of the hotels elected to participate in Southern California’s utility ratepayer program, and have received the maximum incentive for implementing Telkonet’s technology. The Telkonet solution minimizes energy consumption by reducing equipment runtime in unoccupied rooms, delivering savings of 20 percent to 40 percent. Because Telkonet’s energy management...

INWOOD, N.Y.—Laundrylux announced the appointment of Tim Smith as southern regional business manager for On Premise Laundry. “I have known and respected Tim Smith as a laundry industry professional for many years,” says Kim Shady, Laundrylux senior executive vice president for OPL and National Accounts. “I am thrilled to have him join the Laundrylux OPL team. Tim knows distribution, he knows customer demands in many market segments, and he has a command of technology—which is becoming ever more important in our industry.” “I met Tim about six years ago at a distributor sales event and Tim was so impressive that...

PORTLAND, ORE.—Sustainable Travel International (STI) announced that its STEP eco-certification standard has been officially recognized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). To achieve this recognition, STEP underwent a rigorous review and authorization procedure. As a result, STEP is now considered equivalent to the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria, the worldwide minimum sustainability requirements for tourism businesses of all sizes. “We’re very excited that STEP is among the first global standards to be recognized by the GSTC,” said Bobby Chappell, STI’s director of Standards and Certification. “As we continue to build the case for sustainability in the travel and tourism industry,...

ST. PAUL, MINN.—Three new Filtrete Commercial HVAC Filters have been introduced by 3M. The V-Bank style filters, available in MERV A13, MERV A14 and MERV A15 performance ratings offer customers a unique combination of performance and design features, including integral gaskets and nested pleats. Typical applications for the new Filtrete V-Bank filters include hotels and entertainment complexes. Using 3M technologies, these commercial HVAC filters offer an industry leading combination of low pressure drop, robust efficiency, longevity, low weight, as well as, unique design features. Filtrete V-Bank Filters are the only HVAC filters that feature innovative integral gaskets. The integral gaskets...

ANN ARBOR, MICH.—To handle a five-fold increase in compostable plastic product certifications since 2006, global independent public health organization NSF International has been named the new administrator of the Biodegradable Products Institute’s (BPI) Certified Compostable program. NSF International will administer the BPI program through its NSF Sustainability division, which provides testing and verification of environmental claims for consumer products, green chemicals, and sustainable furnishing and building materials such as carpet, flooring and fabrics. NSF also provides process verification services, which include greenhouse gas verification, environmental footprinting, and environmental management systems registrations. NSF earned accreditation in 2010 to provide the testing portion...

INDIANAPOLIS—Fresh together with Gilchrist & Soames announces a partnership to bring Fresh products to leading hotels and resorts around the world. The new Fresh Amenity Collection includes travel-sized selections from the brand’s best-selling skincare, bodycare, and haircare lines.Fresh products feature high-quality ingredients that are never tested on animals. Fresh products stem from the lifestyle of Fresh founders Lev Glazman and Alina Roytberg. Lev and Alina have always been avid travelers and are constantly inspired by the world around them. The Fresh Amenity Collection includes the following Fresh products in portable sizes:Soy Shampoo (60 ml/2.0 fl.oz.) is a moisturizing formula...

ANAHEIM, CALIF.—Hilton Anaheim announced that it has recently become the largest hotel in Southern California to be awarded the Green Seal Bronze certification for its dedication to environmental stewardship. Green Seal is a Washington D.C. nonprofit organization that provides science-based environmental certification for environmental and sustainability practices. “This coveted certification establishes our property as one that believes in helping to save the environment through conscious efforts,” said Shaun Robinson, general manager, Hilton Anaheim. “Hilton consistently promotes sustainability on a global level and we couldn’t be more excited that our 1,500-room property was included in an elite group of honorees.” The Green...

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.—The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) is now accepting speaking proposals for the 97th annual International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show (IHMRS), taking place November 10 to 13, 2012, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. Industry and trend experts are encouraged to submit seminar topics that address timely and relevant issues to meet the professional development needs of some 25,000 trade attendees. The deadline to submit proposals is February 29, 2012. Proposals focused on trends, within the areas of lodging ownership and management, consumer travel trends, sustainability and related issues, are preferred. Additional topics...

NEW YORK—The Hospitality Sustainable Purchasing Consortium announced that JLF/lone meadow (aka JL Furnishings), a leader in sustainable hospitality furniture design and manufacturing, has joined the Consortium as a Contributing Member. JLF/lone meadow specializes in the design, manufacture and marketing of furnishings to the contract market. Its membership in the Consortium moves further toward establishing the new Hospitality Sustainable Purchasing Index (HSPI) as the industry resource for sustainable purchasing. With more than 4.5 million hotel rooms in the United States, guestroom furniture is a major investment for all hotels, brands and owners—and as a central element of design it has a...