GENEVA, SWITZERLAND—Against a background of rising world energy prices, ISO’s announcement of a third quarter 2011 target for publication of its ISO 50001 International Standard for energy management is particularly timely. ISO 50001 will help organizations to improve their energy performance, increase energy efficiency and reduce climate change impacts. ISO 50001 will establish a framework for industrial plants, commercial facilities or entire organizations to manage energy. Targeting broad applicability across national economic sectors, it is estimated that the standard could influence up to 60 percent of the world’s energy use. ISO 50001 is being developed by ISO project committee ISO/PC 242,...

NEW YORK—Paradigm Group, a leader in environmentally friendly office, break room and disposable products for businesses, has introduced its line of “tree-free” disposable products. The Emerald Brand now features 70 percent tree-free bath tissue, facial tissue, napkins and 100 percent tree-free plates.   The Emerald Brand is the cornerstone of Paradigm Group’s larger cost-neutral conversion initiative, which allows businesses such as hotels, restaurants, corporate offices and educational institutions, among others, to purchase green products for the same or less than what they are paying for non-green alternatives. The new tree-free line is less expensive than traditional products because its manufacturing process...

PHILADELPHIA—StarCite, Inc., a leading provider of Web-based solutions to strategically manage corporate meetings and events, announced a new partnership with the Green Hotels Global program to provide planners with a source for environmental information about hotel properties worldwide. Hotel properties that are members of the Green Hotels Global program will be identified to meeting planners within the StarCite supplier database. Room night and event-related environmental metrics from each property will be available to meeting planners during their online sourcing process. The information will allow planners sourcing within StarCite to easily identify the properties that are leaders in environmental responsibility and...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes the Venus Group as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. Venus Group’s ECOtouch towel collection is made from 100 percent natural cotton. The collection is designed with classic dobby styling and engineered to be plush, soft and absorbent. Venus offers its customers premium quality Farm to Finish (F2F) towels, manufactured through responsible processes. The company’s vertical manufacturing capabilities enable it to develop products made from biodegradable materials such as hemp, seaweed, bamboo, and kapok. In addition to towels, Venus Group offers sheets and pillowcases, robes and slippers,...

LONDON—Guinness World Records Limited announced that Impact Enterprises, Inc., maker of a full line of eco-friendly products, has been awarded a certificate for the new Guinness World Records record for “Largest Ring Binder.” The subject ring binder measured approximately 44.5” wide x 61” high in the closed position. It is important to note that the subject ring binder is a functional ring binder that was manufactured for a customer required to present oversized technical drawings to the military. The binder was not manufactured to win a contest. According to Ralph Salisbury, senior vice president marketing of Impact Enterprises, the thought...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Greenview as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. Greenview provides expertise to organizations interested in publishing a sustainability report. The company can advise on the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) framework, manage the reporting process, analyze and format data, write the report, and engage stakeholders as well. Greenview’s goal is to advance sustainable development within the hospitality industry by increasing the presence of sustainability reporting, measuring, and metrics. According to Greenview, sustainability reporting is becoming more important. Environmental and social issues are increasingly considered by clients and guests...

DALLAS—Lennox has developed a commercial HVAC unit that integrates directly with a solar-energy system. The patent-pending SunSource Commercial Energy System collects energy from the sun, feeds it directly into a solar-ready Energence rooftop unit, and supplies any excess electricity to the rest of the building or to the power grid. Designed to reduce business energy spending and emissions, the SunSource system can effectively double the Energence rooftop unit’s efficiency rating—from 17.0 SEER to an effective efficiency level of 34 SEER and beyond. In certain regions adding additional solar modules can help the rooftop unit achieve net-zero energy status, as the...

GARDEN CITY, N.Y.—Combining craftsmanship and old world styling with the flexibility and performance of modern track lighting, WAC Lighting introduces Cartier LED track luminaires. From the instrument-like engineering and hand finishes to the onyx crystal details, Cartier LED track luminaires have been designed for upscale residential and commercial spaces.  Utilizing state-of-the-art, multi-chip LED technology, this 12-watt luminaire projects a strong amount of light. With models offering a light output up to 625 lumens, Cartier exceeds Energy Star requirements and is a direct replacement for a 50-watt MR16. Cartier was crafted and designed exclusively in the company’s clean manufacturing campus with...

BOSTON—CAN2GO, a leading provider of wired and wireless controllers for building automation, is enabling companies to cut up to 40 percent off their building wireless automation installation labor costs with the help of ZigBee networking technology from Ember. CAN2GO controllers, which offer a variety of wired and wireless networking and control options, provide the missing link in building automation, allowing facility managers, contractors and OEM manufacturers to deploy integrated solutions for HVAC, lighting and other applications. Important labor savings are attained when the controllers are networked via self-forming and self-healing wireless mesh networking systems from Ember. A recent project in a...

KISSIMMEE, FLA.—In an effort to contribute to global ecological initiatives, Island One Resorts, with properties in the Orlando marketplace and Florida locations, is adding a new line of environmentally responsible guestroom toiletries, ERP, from Concept Amenities, based in Melbourne, Australia.The Eco Fresh collection has a citrus fragrance. Liquids and soaps are formulated with essential ingredients to maintain moisture for healthy skin and hair and include shampoo, conditioner; hand & body wash and hand & body lotion; along with an assortment of grooming accessories. The Eco Fresh packaging is manufactured with an organic additive that renders polymers biodegradable when disposed...