ALPHARETTA, GA.—Hansgrohe introduces the Raindance and Croma product series, which provide the full coverage of high-end showerheads and handshowers combined with 20 percent water savings. According to Lars Christensen, director of product development, “Hansgrohe’s commitment to the environment has been part of the company’s modus operandi for many years. Our talented engineers and designers have joined forces to create these products, which are aesthetically and technically in a class by themselves. We are proud to raise the industry bar with these new additions.” All Raindance AIR Green EcoRight products employ Hansgrohe’s patented AIR-injection technology, which provides enhanced spray performance and...

EAGLE BEACH, ARUBA—Bucuti & Tara Beach Resorts has added a new feature to its expansive environmental program: INNCOM’s Glass Series Guest Interface Device Suite. The device is an eco-friendly, central control system that allows guests to opt in to the resort’s conservation program with just the touch of an aptly named “Green Button” that controls the lights, thermostat and humidity of guestrooms. The fully automated system uses motion detectors and door sensors to identify when the room is occupied and unoccupied and adjusts energy settings accordingly. For example, when the sensor identifies that a guest has left the room, lights...

DALLAS—Until the recent growth of the green building industry under the LEED program, the cost and time involved with using carbon dioxide sensors in commercial buildings often outweighed the perceived benefits. “Today, building owners and designers see more reasons than ever to include CO2 sensors in building design and remodels, as the cost and reliability have improved with the maturation of the technology over the last two decades,” says Jeff Hartnett, commercial split systems product manager for Lennox Industries.  While a certain level of CO2 is natural in buildings—humans produce it with every breath exhaled—high levels can cause a...

INDIANAPOLIS—After months of strategic planning and a high profile Neocon preview in June, U.K. textile innovator Camira has opened for business in North America with staff, stockholding and samples all in place to service the North American interior fabric marketplace. The Camira North America operation is headquartered in Indianapolis, with initial stocked inventory totalling more than 200 SKUs all available on a quick ship service via a cut yardage program and with full sampling support.  Camira is a market leading European textile manufacturer, independently recognized for product and environmental innovation, achieving annual sales of 10 million yards to global clients...

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA—Consumers today are inundated with green messages that can be confusing to the average person, as they sift through mounds of technical and scientific data to figure out what’s really green and what is or is not easily biodegradable. In an effort to educate consumers, Concept Amenities, an Australian manufacturer of hotel bathroom toiletries, has taken steps to simplify the message that biodegradable products dissolve easily in the environment, without destroying nature, by launching a short 90-second educational video featuring Mikey the Microbe; a green cartoon character who gobbles landfill waste including Concept Amenities’ biodegradable amenity bottles. The video opens...

PORTLAND, ORE.—MeetGreen announces the release of their updated calculator. In response to advancements in sustainable meetings practices such as the release of APEX/ASTM Green Meetings and Events Standards, British Standard for Sustainable Events, and increased awareness of social responsibility and community engagement, MeetGreen has launched an updated version of what was already a robust benchmarking calculator. MeetGreen has advanced the calculator to incorporate a higher level of sophistication to meet the industry’s desire to benchmark their efforts. The MeetGreen Calculator was originally released in 2007. Developed by MeetGreen and reviewed by a technical advisory committee comprised of individuals with extensive...

PORTLAND, ORE.—Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. and local hotel owner Harold Pollin announced that Aloft Portland Airport at Cascade Station has received Green Seal certification for its commitment to environmental responsibility, becoming the city’s first airport hotel to carry the distinction. “Travelers have come to rely on Aloft Portland as an eco-friendly place to stay, and receiving the Green Seal is a huge accomplishment for our environmental efforts,” says Randall Thayer, executive vice president of Pollin Hotels. “The Silver Tier certification is a perfect complement to our recent Starwood award as ‘Aloft Hotel of the Year.’” The Green Seal announcement...

TEMPERANCE, MICH.—MTS Seating has introduced a new series of chairs specifically designed for hospitality dining and breakfast areas. The new DinePlus 20 chairs from MTS feature a 20-inch wide, COMFORTweb seat that meets the requirements and specifications of a wide range of hospitality brands. The DinePlus 20 features a fully upholstered back and COMFORTweb seat to provide superior comfort to the seated patron. Offered in two back styles with either a pullover or drop-edge seat, these chairs are also available with a two-tone seat and back combination.  “We designed these chairs to have the look and feel of residential dining chairs,...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, has added a ClearWater Tech, LLC case study to the Green Lodging News website. The case study details how Manoir Pierrefonds in Pierrefonds, Quebec has benefited from an EnvirO3matic Advanced Laundry Oxidation System. (For the record, the name EnvirO3matic was developed and trademarked by Coinamatic for equipment manufactured by ClearWater Tech in the United States, for which it is the exclusive Canadian distributor.) The senior care facility has benefited in many ways from the ozone system: 16-minute reduction in cycle time, resulting in an increase of 26 loads per...

PALM SPRINGS, CALIF.—On September 18, World Water Monitoring Day will focus attention on protecting and preserving water resources around the world. In recognition of this international awareness campaign, American Leak Detection, specializing in the accurate, non-invasive detection of all types of leaks, asks citizens nationwide to become more “water wise,” and take steps in to conserve and protect this critical resource. “Water is the most common substance found on Earth, but we can’t make or produce new water,” according to Stan Berenbaum, president of American Leak Detection. “That’s why it’s so important to conserve and manage the water we have.” That...