TROY, OHIO—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced that ITW Food Equipment Group–North America (ITW FEG) has been honored with a 2010 Energy Star Sustained Excellence award. ITW FEG’s accomplishments were recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. ITW FEG was the only commercial foodservice equipment manufacturer that received the 2010 Sustained Excellence award. ITW FEG, an Energy Star partner since 2008, was recognized for the third consecutive year for its long-term commitment to energy efficiency. With 455 Energy Star qualified units, Hobart, Traulsen, Stero, Vulcan, Wittco and Wolf are among the ITW FEG independent companies that support...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Green Seal, Inc. as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. Green Seal is a nonprofit organization that uses science-based standards and certification to help shoppers, travelers and companies identify what is truly green. Since 1995, Green Seal has partnered with the lodging industry, the United States’ second largest employer, to promote environmentally responsible products and practices within lodging properties. Green Seal works in a variety of ways with the lodging industry and its users, providing technical guidance, case studies, and certification of green hotels. Green Seal does...

DALTON, GA.—Shaw Industries Group, Inc. has launched Eco Impacts, an environmental product label for the company’s commercially branded carpet tile and broadloom products. Detailing each product’s ingredient materials, recyclability, environmental certifications and environmental impact, the Eco Impacts label is available through the Patcraft and Shaw Contract Group websites as part of each brand’s product specifications. “In the same way a food label provides consumers with at-a-glance nutrition information to help them make informed purchase decisions, the Eco Impacts label provides our customers with details about the specific environmental attributes of each of our products—all in one place,” said...

DES PLAINES, ILL.—Hospitality bedding manufacturer United Feather & Down has teamed up with eco-friendly home fashions brand Portico to introduce the Portico Hospitality bed and bath collection, a line of products offering a combination of comfort and sustainability. Portico’s basic bedding collection for hospitality will be launching at HD Expo in Las Vegas from May 19 to 21. The bedding collection features 100 percent GOTS-certified organic cotton fabrics paired with hypoallergenic Lyocell Down, United Feather & Down’s patented blend of Freshness Assured down and lyocell fibers, or the down alternative Naturelle, a down-alternative made from recycled materials and lyocell fibers....

OREM, UTAH—ILLUMRA, a leader in wireless battery-free controls, announced the release of a new solar-powered light sensor that can run indefinitely on a few hours of light a day. The new product, when used with other wireless devices, creates a daylight harvesting solution that is both easy to install and use. “The new light sensor gives building owners a powerful tool to control costs,” said Jan Finlinson, director at ILLUMRA. “By reducing electrical light levels in a room and taking advantage of the ambient light, we could greatly reduce the world’s $200+ billion light bill.” The ILLUMRA light sensor communicates to...

TROY, OHIO—For the fourth consecutive year, the Hobart Center for Foodservice Sustainability (HCFS) is awarding a $5,000 grant to the individual or company judged to have the best-executed foodservice or food retail sustainability project of the year. Submissions are currently being accepted, and the recipient will be announced at the 2010 Greenbuild Expo scheduled for November 16 to 19 in Chicago. “At a time when every dollar counts, the Hobart Center for Foodservice Sustainability is again able to offer an additional payback for the foodservice or food retail individual or company deemed to be a best practice leader,” said...

PHOENIX—The Doubletree Hotel, Austin, Texas became the 1,200th lodging property to complete iStayGreen.org’s online self-audit, earning a 2 Green Eco-Leaf Rating. The eco-rating allows the public to know the specific environmental initiatives in place at a property, which enables the environmentally conscious traveler to make informed lodging decisions. Properties complete the comprehensive online self-audit and earn a Green Eco-Leaf Rating ranging from 1 to 5 Eco-Leafs with 5 Green Eco-Leafs being the highest level attainable. Ratings are based on environmental initiatives in-place at the property. Only 20 properties have earned the coveted 5 Green Eco-Leaf Rating thus far; 12 in...

VERO BEACH, FLA.—David Francis will introduce new eco-chic lounge chairs at HD Expo. The event will be held May 19 to 21 at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas. As an environmentally responsible furniture designer, David Francis has been using natural materials to create luxurious furniture for more than 25 years. The most eye-catching and contemporary is the Fairmont Lounge Chair, constructed of plantation-grown mahogany and featuring an intricate rattan grid on all three sides. Pure whimsy, the Wilshire Lounge Chair mixes cane and rattan and features circular rattan accents on each side. For more traditional...

ROSWELL, GA.—Dectron Inc., a leading international manufacturer of indoor air quality equipment, introduces the DRY-O-TRON DSV Series, an energy-efficient dehumidifier designed for light commercial and residential indoor pool and spa areas. Besides Dectron’s signature feature of heat recovery for free pool water heating, the new DSV Series includes green features such as a variable frequency drive (VFD) controlled plenum fans, optional electronically-commutated motors (ECM), micro channel condensing coils, and the energy-saving Supervisaire controller. Additionally, DSV offers engineers and contractors a choice of three environmentally-friendly refrigerants: R-134a, R-407C or R-410A. “The new DSV is state-of-the-art energy efficiency and total designer indoor air...

MOORESTOWN, N.J.—Star Linen & Supply has announced the development and release of a new line of green terry products. Through a proprietary process and an exclusive distribution agreement, Star’s Marquis Green line of terry products are manufactured in a state-of-the-art zero discharge facility that produces no emission of effluents into rivers and streams. These products are also manufactured from pre-consumer regenerated cotton, thereby eliminating the need for land, water and pesticides. The company’s eco-friendly recycling certification is defined by the use of the pre-consumer cotton waste and cutting scraps (obtained from a closed-factory environment), GOTS certified dyes and detergents that...