MILPITAS, CALIF.—The Z-Wave Alliance, an open consortium of leading global companies dedicated to establishing Z-Wave as the standard in wireless home control, announced the addition of Evolve Guest Controls as its newest principal member. Evolve Guest Controls, a leading provider of energy management solutions, joins a list of industry leaders on the Z-Wave Alliance board of directors including: 2Gig Technologies, Cooper Wiring Devices, Danfoss, Fakro, Ingersoll Rand, Leviton and Sigma Designs. Evolve offers a comprehensive solution to its hospitality customers via Z-Wave energy and device management tools for in-room control options, including: lighting, TV, electronics and thermostat products. To date,...

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.—Representatives of Valley Forge Fabrics attended Unifi’s official opening of the REPREVE Recycling Center early last month in Yadkinville, N.C. The $8 million investment will allow Unifi to expand production capacities of its REPREVE recycled fiber. At the ribbon cutting ceremony, Valley Forge was recognized by Unifi along with other major brands such as Nike and Patagonia as customers with REPREVE in their product offerings. REPREVE is a family of first quality recycled polyester and nylon fibers that can be used in a wide range of applications, including apparel, automotive, seating and paneling fabrics. Since its introduction in...

RIPON, WIS.—Alliance Laundry Systems LLC, a leading global commercial laundry equipment provider, announced that it has streamlined its in-house loan process with a new online credit application. The credit application will be available through Alliance’s brand financial programs—Speed Queen Financial Services, UniMac Funding, Huebsch Financial Services and IPSO Finance. New investors looking to open a vended laundry, existing store owners and laundry facility managers can apply for loans of up to $100,000 using the new online credit application. Investors will receive a response within one business day. The new credit application is designed for ease of use, safety and security. Using...

ALLENDALE, N.J.—After three years spent as a leading provider of organic waste decomposition equipment, BioHitech America has partnered with Marathon Equipment Company, a leading supplier of solid waste and recycling equipment worldwide. BioHitech and Marathon will be working together to provide their combined customers with green technology that diverts the maximum amount of food waste possible while minimizing environmental impact.   “We are excited about leveraging Marathon’s many years of manufacturing experience and distribution network to increase the presence of our newly branded Eco-Safe Digester (formerly known as the GOHBio 1001) worldwide,” said Frank Celli, CEO for BioHitech America. “BioHitech brings its...

CHICAGO—Bird-X recently introduced “Bed Bug Alert” at the National Hardware Show in Las Vegas. Bed Bug Alert is a clear, safe, rigid plastic bed bug monitoring device—about the size of a business card—that slips under the mattress or into other tight spaces where bed bugs are suspected. A special gel inside the device, containing human pheromones, attracts and traps bed bugs if they are present, alerting one to the problem before it is too late. Bed bugs are found in homes, apartments, dorm rooms, hotel rooms, airplanes, public transit seats, cars and moving vans—pretty much anywhere they can find a...

MILL VALLEY, CALIF.—NanaWall Systems, a producer of opening glass walls, introduces the first folding door system in the United States to feature custom-crafted frames of laminated bamboo. The Energy Star-certified NanaWall folding door system incorporates the most ecologically responsible wood-alternative material on the market today. “We chose laminated bamboo because our customers requested more ecologically responsible material to use in LEED certified projects,” said Ebrahim Nana, president of NanaWall Systems. “We already offer FSC wood but laminated bamboo takes the concept one step further and is recognized as a rapidly renewable resource by the U.S. Green Building Council.” The NanaWall is...

SAN JOSE, CALIF.—Switch Lighting announced the first ever 100 watt-equivalent LED bulb. The bulb was unveiled at the 2011 LIGHTFAIR International Trade Show in Philadelphia. Using their “City of Light” technology, the bulb creates a self-cooling environment inside, allowing maximum brightness with fewer LEDs. “Nobody in the LED space can produce this incandescent-quality light,” said Boris Lipkin, CEO of Switch Lighting. “The brightest LED you can see on the shelf is a 60 watt-equivalent. We announced our 75 watt-equivalent last month, now we’re announcing the 100-watt equivalent.” All Switch Lighting bulbs offer incandescent quality light, are dimmable, and can be used...

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIF.—Cogenra Solar, a provider of distributed solar cogeneration systems and renewable energy service solutions, announced that its solar cogeneration modules have become the first solar energy solution to pass requisite third-party standards for both concentrating solar thermal and solar electric certifications established by the independent certification bodies Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), respectively. These industry evaluations enable customers of Cogenra’s solar cogeneration solution to benefit from significant financial incentives for renewable energy installations throughout the United States. Cogenra is the first concentrating solar collector to receive OG-100 certification for meeting the...

COSTA MESA, CALIF.—Cadiz Design Studio continues to work with Xanterra Parks and Resorts in revitalizing their Grand Canyon South Rim properties. Located on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, the 198-room Yavapai East building now offers its guests upgraded, eco-conscious amenities. Renovations included designs that honor the beauty of the National Park’s landmark. The rooms have been transformed to showcase the park’s natural surroundings through the use of indigenous patterns, textures and colors. Green initiatives include U.S. manufactured furnishings and fabrics shipped within 500 miles of the site. Carpets and textiles contain significant amounts of recycled content and can...

HOUSTON—Waste Management and Cartridge World Group Holdings Pty Ltd and Cartridge World North America, LLC launched a new recycling program to increase the collection of used printer cartridges and the sale of remanufactured cartridges. The program, called “Recycle-2-Save,” offers businesses free recycling of their used printer cartridges and the opportunity to purchase replacement inventory for less than the cost of new cartridges. Under the collaboration, WM LampTracker, Inc., a subsidiary of Waste Management, will provide free recycling services for used ink and toner cartridges. Free recycling boxes are available by logging onto www.wmlamptracker.com and clicking on “Cartridge Recycling” under the...