FAIRFIELD, N.J.—Tommy Bahama dispensers have found a home in a number of hotels along the Pacific Coast with the help of Essential Amenities, Inc. and Pineapple Hospitality. The Acqua Hotel, Hotel FIVE, The Maxwell Hotel, University Inn, and Watertown Hotel have all recently adopted the Tommy Bahama hotel amenities in all guestrooms as part of an effort to reduce waste and make a positive impact on the environment. “We’re very proud because we are the first hotel in California to feature the Tommy Bahama dispensers,” says Kurt Helmke, general manager for the Acqua Hotel, located in Marin County just outside...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes LittleFootprint Lighting as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. The company is the maker of the HeronLED Personal Task Light. It is the first desk lamp made from recycled ABS plastic from e-waste. The replaceable LED bulb lasts 15 years or longer and uses just 4 watts. The lamp produces a “warm white” light, more than 230 lumens, at 58 lumens/watt. The desk lamp and bulb are manufactured in the United States and can contribute to LEED in several categories. The desk lamp comes with a...

WEST CHICAGO, ILL.—CFR, a leading manufacturer of recycling carpet extractors, has introduced the next generation of one of its best-selling machines, the ECO-500. The new machine, part of the ECO-500 AW Series, is powered by an all-new vacuum motor engineered with a number of advanced features that improve cleaning performance, reduce energy needs, and make the machine quieter than earlier models. Most importantly, the new unit is specifically designed for foam- and moisture-laden applications. “New moisture shields protect the motor’s bearings, the cooling fan has been repositioned to improve airflow, and the machine’s electronic system has been re-engineered to help improve...

NOTTINGHAM, PA.—Zandur, a green manufacturer dedicated to developing the world’s most environmentally sensitive flooring products, announces the launch of a new tile size in their “True Green” line of natural Cork Rubber Flooring. The 12" x 24" tile addition creates extensive opportunity for designers to discover their own unique patterns by mixing and matching square or plank cut tile in nearly limitless combination. Zandur’s high performance material is available in 48 standard colors.    Zandur’s Cork Rubber Flooring is made from more than 65 percent recycled and renewable cork and 35 percent rubber and meets the requirements of numerous...

ST. PAUL, MINN.—Ecolab Inc. has received the 2011 Cleantech Tekne Award from the Minnesota High Tech Association (MHTA) for its new Aquanomic laundry system. Designed for use in hotels and other institutional settings, the Aquanomic laundry system utilizes innovative wash formulas and low-temperature chemistry to reduce water and energy consumption by up to 40 percent while providing clean, white and soft results.“Ecolab’s purpose is to help make the world cleaner, safer and healthier everywhere it matters, and that’s what drives our innovation,” said Dr. Larry Berger, senior vice president of Research, Development and Engineering and chief technical officer. “Our...

VISTA, CALIF.—Surprisingly, one area often overlooked as a facility becomes greener and more sustainable is the restroom. Yet more water is used in restrooms than virtually any other area of a facility, and because water and energy are interconnected, water consumption increases the amount of energy necessary to power a facility.In addressing this issue, Klaus Reichardt, CEO and president of Waterless Co Inc., offers the following suggestions to make commercial restrooms greener and more sustainable: •    Lighting: Restroom lighting is often on 24 hours a day. Install motion sensors to turn off lights when the restroom is not used.•    Lightbulbs:...

NEW YORK—Concept Amenities, a supplier of environmentally responsible guest bath amenities, will introduce an array of new retail brands at this year’s International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show (IHMRS). The event, which is scheduled for November 13 to 15 at the Javits Center in New York City, will also include a special appearance by world-renowned explorer and environmentalist Jean-Michel Cousteau. Jean-Michel Cousteau will be on hand for the November 14 launch of Concept Amenities’ The Luxury Collection, which includes six new and established brands of guest amenities. Among the new products are Linden Leaves, French Connection and Australian Organics. The...

NIANTIC, CONN.—The Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa recently upgraded its guestroom temperature control system to a networked energy management system utilizing the Deep Mesh Network (DMN) architecture from INNCOM. Since the 1,310-room property converted to this wireless environment nearly eight months ago, energy consumption has dropped by 21 percent without requiring the 40-year-old facility to undergo an extensive or costly installation effort. “Over the past few years we have witnessed the need for a robust and reliable wireless architecture that is available at a lower installed price than traditional wireless systems, and that has the capability of adapting to...

NEW YORK—Protect-A-Bed, a leading supplier of bedding protection products for the hospitality industry, will focus on hygiene and showcase sustainability solutions in the company’s expanded booth (#3132) at IHMRS.  Protect-A-Bed, an established leader in the continual fight against bed bug infestations, is encouraging hoteliers to also think about another ongoing challenge. “While bed bug infestations will continue to cause problems for hotel owners and operators, there’s actually a more consistent threat that is universal: the human contamination of mattresses,” says Sandra DiVito, vice president of Hospitality at Protect-A-Bed. “Hoteliers are challenged every day to maintain clean mattresses for their guests,”...

MILWAUKEE, WIS.—Telkonet, Inc., developer of the EcoSmart energy management platform incorporating patented Recovery Time technology, announced that New York City’s Crowne Plaza Times Square Manhattan has become the latest hospitality leader to select Telkonet’s cloud-based EcoSmart energy management platform. This 770-room, full service hotel located on Broadway in Times Square is one of New York’s leading and most successful hotels.The Crowne Plaza Times Square selected PAC Consultants to deploy Telkonet’s EcoSmart System throughout the property to optimize guest comfort while reducing energy consumption and operating costs.“We installed a number of test rooms and Telkonet performed exceptionally well throughout the...