GLEN ALLEN, VA.—Just in time for Earth Day, the Wyndham Virginia Crossings Hotel & Conference Center will share a different kind of “green” with its guests traveling in hybrid and electric vehicles. With its new “Go Green, Get Green” package, guests who arrive at the Wyndham Virginia Crossings Hotel in a hybrid vehicle and stay for two nights or more through September 1, 2011, will receive a $25 Visa gift card. The Go Green, Get Green package includes deluxe, overnight king- or double-bedded accommodations, a $25 Visa gift card, and wireless high-speed Internet access. The package is based on qualifying...

NEW CASTLE, PA.—Berner International Corp., a leading U.S. manufacturer of air curtains, introduces the second generation of the In-Ceiling Mount featuring the Intelliswitch 2 digital controller and the new patent-pending Pro-V Nozzle resulting in one of the HVAC industry’s most feature-rich and effective air curtains for environmental separation and energy savings in commercial front entrances and lobbies. The In-Ceiling Mount is an aesthetic ceiling flush-mounted solution to energy-saving environmental separation for 8 to 10-foot high, 3 to 12-foot-wide pedestrian entrances in hotels, office buildings, hospitals and other commercial buildings when the inconspicuousness of mechanical support equipment is critical to interior...

WAITSFIELD, VT.—In a gala gathering at Burlington, Vermont’s ECHO Center on April 14, Freeaire Refrigeration was awarded the Green Mountain Environmental Leadership Award in the “What a Great Idea!” category. This inaugural award celebrates environmental stewards and initiatives that have encouraged long-term conservation of Vermont’s rich and diverse natural environment, and is sponsored by Free Press Media and ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center. Freeaire Refrigeration is an emerging leader in energy-efficiency solutions for commercial refrigeration and has innovatively realized technology that allows cold outside air to be used for cooling. Freeaire systems greatly increase the efficiency of commercial refrigeration systems...

BARRIE, ONT.—Paper coffee cups are a huge part of our waste stream. In an effort to divert coffee cup waste, Busch Systems is launching its Coffee Cup Recycler to combat this issue. The Coffee Cup Recycler will be making its debut at the 23rd Annual Specialty Coffee Event of the Year Exposition hosted by the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) from April 28 to May 1, 2011. Billions of coffee cups make their way into landfills daily. It is clear that if a solution isn’t found to divert coffee cup waste, the negative impact on the environment will be...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Endurance Wind Power as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. Endurance Wind Power offers wind turbines for any rural lodging to produce their own supply of clean energy. The company’s wind turbines are suitable for lodgings from small B&Bs to international hotel chains. A wind turbine can demonstrate a commitment to sustainable energy to guests while insulating a business from rising energy prices. Call (888) 440-4451, e-mail info@endurancewindpower.com, or visit www.endurancewindpower.com for more details. Also be sure to check out the company’s Fountain Prairie Inn &...

MIAMI BEACH–Congress Hotel South Beach announced the addition of French Connection Bathroom, a new collection of environmentally responsible guestroom toiletries from British fashion retailer, French Connection, to their guest suites. The range of products is fragranced with a floral blend of grapefruit, jasmine and vetiver. “This is South Beach,” says Claudio Bono, general manager of Congress Hotel. “Our celebrity and VIP guests expect to see lifestyle brands in the suites. What really sold us on French Connection was the environmental aspect. We’re working to implement a wide variety of ecological initiatives across all properties that cater to both the needs...

MIDLAND, MICH.—The Dow Chemical Company announced that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will fund key lab research as part of a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between Dow and DOE’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to accelerate the adoption of cool roof technologies in the United States. As a critical element of the research agreement, ORNL will partner with DOE’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) to bring a broad range of cool roof technology and experience from their applied research in this field. The research will focus on the development of new solar reflective technologies that would...

NASHVILLE—A new Drury Plaza Hotel, the more upscale brand within the Drury family, is currently being built in Franklin, Tenn., and the shell of the building is being made with ultra-efficient, eco-friendly insulated concrete forms, commonly referred to as ICFs. Middle Tennessee’s most established ICF builder, A Better House, Inc., has been hired to assist in the construction. The structure stands at more than 130 feet, giving it a total of 11 stories plus a penthouse. The anticipated opening date is set for sometime this fall. As one of the first hotel chains to utilize ICF construction, Drury has quickly...

SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS—The Roaming Gnome is hosting a week-long scavenger hunt, where Twitter followers have a chance to win prizes, while finding the “greenest” hotspots from uptown to downtown Manhattan. “The Roaming Gnome Makes Earth Day Sweet Scavenger Hunt” kicked off today, April 18, in New York City. The Roaming Gnome will be posting updates throughout the week, and the first Twitter follower who decodes his Tweeted clues and appears at the right location will win the grand prize. Grand prizes include hotel stays, show tickets and more. The next 100 runners-up will enjoy a green cookie from Sweetery, one of...

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.—For the third year in a row, Broward County has selected Valley Forge Fabrics to receive one of the County’s 2010 Emerald Awards in the Recycling category for environmental excellence. The Emerald Award is given annually by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners and Environmental Protection Department to honor businesses for exceptional commitment to protecting the environment. Valley Forge Fabrics, a leader in sustainable textiles and decorative fabrics for hospitality, launched its FRESH initiative more than five years ago. FRESH is an acronym for Fabrics Redefining Environmental Standards for Hospitality. The company’s Tencel+Plus Lyocell products are the...