SAN DIEGO—The Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina has initiated one of the most comprehensive public space recycling programs in the industry utilizing T2 Site Amenities “Upscale” Recycling Bins. “Recycling should be easy to be effective,” says John Ford, motel manager at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina. Plus, effective recycling reduces costs while obviously having a positive impact on the environment.” The Sheraton has addressed recycling from two aspects. The first is behind the scenes, as in composting. The second is recycling in public spaces and guestrooms for collection of paper, cans, bottles and plastic. Metro Receptacles Selected Ford also determined...

PALM BAY, FLA.—Car Charging Group Inc., a provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging services, announced that it has signed a contract with Laxmi Inc. of Palm Bay, Fla., owner of the Comfort Suites in Palm Bay, to provide electric car charging services at its hotel. “We’re pleased to announce our partnership with Laxmi Inc. of Palm Bay,” said Michael D. Farkas, chief executive officer of Car Charging Group. “Earlier this year, President Obama challenged the country to put one million EVs on the road by 2015. However, without a proper EV charging infrastructure this goal is not attainable. Through partnerships...

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.—Verve Living Systems, developers of wireless, battery-less control products, will be exhibiting a new line of energy-saving automation products during Greenbuild 2012. Greenbuild will be held in Toronto October 4 to 7. The new Verve product portfolio uses highly efficient radio frequency technology in an attractively designed family of sensors and control devices that enable significant energy savings without compromising comfort. The Verve product line consists of four primary categories of product: Occupancy Detection, HVAC Control, Lighting and Load Control, and User Interfaces. Verve sensors determine the occupancy state of a room, and communicate wirelessly with other Verve devices...

WAALWIJK, THE NETHERLANDS—Desso, a global carpet manufacturer renowned for its Cradle to Cradle design vision, has launched an interactive website for its Hospitality division. Visitors to the site can view Desso’s range of products and services for the hospitality sector, recolor or design their own carpet, and then see how it would look in a virtual environment. The Design Library includes a broad reflection of a total of 25,000 designs that Desso has created. A thousand of these, sourced from completed client projects and themed collections including recent collections such as “Intrinsic Energy” and “Renaissance Redux,” have been selected for...

AURORA, ONT.—CleanRiver Recycling Solutions, a division of Midpoint International, Inc., has introduced waste and recycling stations that make it easy to implement recycling programs and adjust to future changes. Transition TRH Series Configurable Recycling and Waste Stations use stream-specific, interchangeable opening plates and moveable internal dividers to accept multiple types of recyclables in a single unit that is easily configured—and reconfigured—to meet current and future waste stream requirements. “Twenty years of working with our customers to fine-tune their recycling programs has been engineered into this unique and forward-thinking recycling station to offer unprecedented flexibility in a compact footprint,” said CleanRiver...

DALLAS—Motel 6 and Studio 6 have completed Green Key certification of the network’s 1,100 locations. After committing in January 2011 to rank and certify all properties within the network, the company achieved this goal in less than six months. The Green Key Eco-Rating Program is one of the first of its kind to rank, certify and inspect hotels and resorts based on their commitment to sustainable “green” practices. The certification process consists of a 150-question online self-assessment regarding corporate environmental strategy, housekeeping and engineering. The Green Key certification process also includes: • Being ranked 1 to 5 Keys based on responses to...

PULASKI, N.Y.—Amsterdam’s De L’Europe recently opened 10 allergy-friendly PURE Room guestrooms and suites in partnership with PURE Global. PURE Room uses a patented seven-step process specially treating all surfaces, and purifying the indoor air to greatly reduce allergy and asthma symptoms. The seven purification steps include: 1. Air sanitization via units that heat and cool air entering the room.2. Maintain sanitized air with tea tree oil, an organic disinfectant.3. Clean all soft surfaces with PURE Clean to remove dirt, bacteria, mold and other allergy triggers.4. Perform a one-time ozone shock treatment to remove any lingering odors, leaving air crisp and fresh...

UPLAND, CALIF.—Green Suites Project Planet recently donated more than 6,000 individual personal care products to aid the Joplin, Mo., relief effort. The May 22 tornado destroyed more than 8,000 buildings and leveled 30 percent of the Joplin area. It is now labeled by the National Weather Service as the deadliest tornado in more than 60 years. ACSDR (Adventist Community Services Disaster Response) received the donation of environmental soaps, shampoo and lotions on behalf of the Joplin residents. “The products Green Suites Project Planet donated are exactly the kind of personal care items people desperately need here, and the donation has already...

EAST LONGMEADOW, MASS.—Excel Dryer, Inc. announced that BUILDINGS Magazine has selected its XLERATOR high-speed, energy-efficient hand dryer as a Top Money-Saving Product for 2011. Finalists were based on the money-saving qualities offered to building owners and facility managers in areas such as energy consumption, water savings, lighting, productivity, maintenance, and more. After reviewing more than 125 submissions, BUILDINGS’ editorial staff selected an elite group of products. XLERATOR completely dries hands in 10 to 15 seconds—three times faster than conventional dryers. It uses 80 percent less energy and delivers a 95 percent cost savings versus paper towels, while creating a more...

NEW YORK—The Hospitality Sustainable Purchasing Consortium announced that Shafer Commercial Seating has joined the Consortium as a Contributing Member. A family-owned U.S. manufacturer of chairs, booths and tables for the hospitality industry for more than 75 years, Shafer’s membership in the Consortium is another important step toward building a new Hospitality Sustainable Purchasing Index (HSPI) that will reflect industry-wide sustainability performance standards for all suppliers, large and small. “High quality, comfortable furniture is an essential element of the guest experience for all hospitality providers,” said Randy Shafer, president of Shafer Commercial Seating, Inc.  “Over the past 15 years, we have...