TROY, OHIO—ITW Food Equipment Group announced the launch of its sustainable design website. The new site provides customers with information on how to create a more sustainable operation in order to reduce operating costs and decrease impact on the environment. “Our customer awareness and deep product knowledge has shown us foodservice and grocery operators as well as suppliers are pledging to reduce waste, energy use and water use,” said Tom Szafranski, president of ITW Food Equipment Group-Commercial. “From this insight we created the sustainable food equipment site as a resource for our customers, showing them how to save money on...

MARIETTA, GA.—Do you have an eye for cutting-edge carpet design? Durkan, the hospitality brand of The Mohawk Group, is calling on design professionals and students to discover a new way to express their creativity with its second annual carpet design contest. Supported by NEWH (The Network of the Hospitality Industry), D*scover aims to exhibit the talent of hospitality designers, while contributing toward the education of future designers. Participants will compete for the opportunity to travel to the HD Expo and Conference (HD Expo), which will be held May 18 to 20, 2011 in Las Vegas, and showcase their winning...

PALO ALTO, CALIF.—Southwall Technologies Inc. and Dow Corning Corporation announced the availability of energy-efficient Heat Mirror “S” film and 982FS two-part structural silicone sealant for commercial building projects in North America. Having successfully worked together over the past three decades, the two companies are now combining the best of their suspended film and silicone sealant technologies to provide the industry’s lightest weight and most energy-efficient multi-cavity insulating glass available for large glass-intensive projects. With the combined solution, architects and window manufacturers can now increase energy savings by up to 30 percent, block more than 99 percent of UV radiation...

WAYLAND, MASS.—A breakthrough drought-resistant grass seed is saving commercial property owners on watering, mowing and fertilizer, while preserving drinking water supplies and protecting consumers from the health risks of lawn irrigation waste. Customers have attractive, low maintenance, low cost, “green” results. Pearl’s Premium Ultra Low Maintenance Lawn Seed is the result of eight years of research and development by scientist and environmental expert Jackson Madnick, who said it grows at one quarter the rate of blue grass, requiring mowing only once a month rather than every week. With 12-inch roots, Pearl’s Premium needs no fertilizer, rarely needs water once established,...

NEW YORK—LG Electronics recently showcased advancements in energy-saving technologies and luxury design elements at the 2010 International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show. LG highlighted its Multi-V Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) technology and its stylish Art Cool units, demonstrating new ways to reduce energy output and climate control costs without sacrificing design. “As hoteliers continue to look at LEED and green initiatives, LG is proud to offer innovative solutions in our ever-expanding line of commercial HVAC products,” said Steve Schmitt, director, Commercial Air Conditioning, LG Electronics USA. “Our current line of commercial HVAC products demonstrates enhanced air flow options and low...

LOS ANGELES—With the holiday season upon us, millions of people across the United States will be on the move, either returning home, visiting friends and family, or enjoying a well-earned vacation. They may also be bringing unwanted travel companions with them, in the form of bed bugs. Media interest in the current bed bug epidemic may have diminished a bit in recent months, but the problem continues to grow and holiday season travelers are likely to help the pests spread farther and wider. “Travel is one of the easiest ways for bed bugs to spread,” says Holly Walker, vice president...

ROSEMONT, ILL.—Hyatt Regency O’Hare announces the introduction of 34 hypo-allergenic rooms. Designed for all travelers but especially suited to guests with asthma, allergies and other respiratory sensitivities, the Respire by Hyatt Hypo-Allergenic Rooms, powered by PURE Solutions NA, are designed to eliminate up to 98 percent of airborne viruses and bacteria, as well as pollen and other irritants commonly found in indoor environments. Respire by Hyatt rooms will be available at all Hyatt Resort, Park Hyatt, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Hyatt, and Andaz properties across the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean, with most of them available to reserve by...

SAN MARCOS, TEXAS—Philips Wide-Lite, a leading manufacturer of sustainable lighting products, unveils a new family of indoor and outdoor RGB LED floodlights that allows users to simply “paint” with light—thanks to four levels of dynamic color-mixing control. Designers seeking to better integrate lighting solutions with dynamic color mixing schemes now have the flexibility and diversity to do so, thanks to the innovative Color-Tune technology that TAG offers. Color-Tune allows the user to control everything directly at the fixture. Simply power up a TAG luminaire for the first time and 16 million color possibilities are available. Push the Color-Tune button to...

SMITHBURG, MD.—Noventri recently announced their latest digital signage product offering—packaged digital signage systems for menu boards that are used by hotels, convention centers, and restaurants. The Eco-Menu Board digital signage packages contain all the needed hardware and software for a complete digital signage application that is up and running quickly. The Eco-Menu Board package provides dynamic pricing and food item updates as well as FDA compliance. Both offer streamlined convenience for customers and staff. Each digital signage package is a simple ‘plug and play’ solution and includes: LCD Display, 32”, 42”, 52” or 55” options; a display mount; an Eco-Series...

PHOENIX—Phoenix-based Easy Energy just announced the completed installation of a solar water heating system at the Orange Tree Golf Resort, one of Arizona’s finest luxury golf resort destinations. The solar water heating system is designed to offset the natural gas usage in the nine large boilers throughout the Scottsdale Golf Resort. It is estimated that the new system will save 465 tons of CO2 annually, which equates to planting 34,500 trees each year. The new system provides all 160 Orange Tree Golf Resort guestrooms and on-site laundry facilities with water heated by the Arizona sun. “Solar water heating is the...