CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Concept Amenities Inc. as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. Concept Amenities is the maker of ERP, a complete range of bathroom guest amenities that are biodegradable in the landfill. Designed to reduce solid waste disposal, ERP products, according to Concept Amenities, will not negatively impact the environment in the long term. Concept Amenities offers a wide range of other product lines including Eco Fresh, Basic Earth Botanicals, Ecossential Elements, and Kudos Spa. The company also offers Eco Fresh and VIVE dispensers for public rest rooms, spa...

OSHKOSH, WIS.—Continental Girbau, Inc. recently introduced the 55-pound capacity E-Series, a soft-mount washer-extractor engineered to reduce operating costs at on-premise laundries through decreased gas, water and electricity consumption. The E-Series line of high-speed, soft-mount washers previously included 20-, 30- and 40-pound capacity models. But, the market’s demand for a larger option spurred the addition of the new 55-pound capacity machine, according to Joel Jorgensen, Continental vice president of sales and customer services. “On-premise laundries demand high-speed, soft-mount washers in order to improve productivity using less labor and utilities,” Jorgensen said. “Continental’s 55-pound machine is just the next step in the...

GARDEN GROVE, CALIF.—Sterling Hospitality has partnered with Michael Koo, founder of NuBrand and former Managing director/chief executive with Simmons Asia, to bring Sterling Hospitality’s modular mattresses to the Pacific Rim. “We are excited to work with Michael and his team at NuBrand to expand Sterling Hospitality’s presence in South East Asia,” says Sterling Hospitality CEO, Tony Hochschild. “This partnership will allow Asian hotel owners to provide a high quality mattress that will increase guest satisfaction and decrease solid waste by reducing the number of mattresses being sent to landfills.” Koo will distribute Sterling Hospitality’s environmentally sustainable beds to hotels, clubs and...

BENTON HARBOR, MICH.—Whirlpool Corp. announced it has been named to the Newsweek Green Rankings, a list of the 500 greenest big companies in America. Whirlpool ranked 78th on the list. “We are honored to be included in the Newsweek Green Rankings,” said Jeff M. Fettig, Whirlpool Corp.’s chairman and CEO. “Recognition like this is only possible because of the people at Whirlpool who make our long-term commitment to sustainability a reality.” Nearly 40 years ago, Whirlpool Corp. established a corporate office for environmental control and, in 2003, became the world’s first appliance manufacturer to announce a global greenhouse gas reduction target....

SAN FRANCISCO—When the upscale Hotel Griffon in San Francisco receives its October water bill, they can anticipate a pleasant surprise. That’s because the boutique building’s 57 rooms and five luxury suites have recently been retrofitted with Perfect Flush dual-flush systems by Brondell. This dual-flush functionality will reduce the Hotel Griffon’s toilet water use by upwards of 18,000 gallons monthly, thereby saving the establishment close to $3,500 dollars per year. In 2007, the Hotel Griffon underwent a full renovation. While that makeover included the installation of 1.6-gallon toilet tanks in all of its rooms, the popular Bay-area hotel wanted to...

MURRIETA, CALIF.—Green Globe International, Inc., the worldwide owner of the Green Globe brand, announced that it has recognized the Greater Chattanooga Hospitality Association’s Chattanooga Green Lodging Program, the leading certification program for tourism accommodation in the state of Tennessee. “The Chattanooga Green Lodging Program is the first U.S.-based program to be fully recognized by Green Globe,” said Guido Bauer, CEO of Green Globe Certification. “All hotels certified under the Chattanooga program will automatically receive Green Globe Certified status.” GCHA member Tom Cupo first proposed the Green Lodging Program in the fall of 2008, and continued to develop the program until its...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Atlantis Hospitality Group as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. The Atlantis Hospitality Group is a full service consulting organization providing operations and service solutions to the hospitality industry. Atlantis professionals assist independent owners, small ownership groups, financial institutions and hotel brokerage firms with cost-effective solutions to specific hotel operational needs. As president of the Atlantis Hospitality Group of consultants, Ray Hobbs provides assistance and guidance for Green Globe Certifications and Audits, green sustainability programs, and implementation of green consumption reduction practices in existing hotels. Ray is...

NEW YORK CITY—Sina Pearson, founder and head of New York City-based Sina Pearson Textiles, introduces her latest eco-friendly collection with Crypton Green technologies. The collection utilizes the exuberant palette of India. Indian Summer, sustainably produced from post-consumer recycled polyester fibers, offers two related patterns in a total of thirteen colorways. The Crypton Green finish adds stain, moisture, microbial and odor resistance, without harming the environment. The collection will premier in November 2009. To create the fabrics’ palette, Pearson imagined women in brightly colored silk saris standing in rice fields, a juxtaposition of hot colors with earthy green and brown landscape...

CARLSBAD, CALIF.—When Hassan Ghamlouch heard that lotus turned ordinary tap water into a chemical-free cleaner that is faster and stronger than chlorine bleach, he found it hard to believe—until he actually saw what it could do. “I was reluctant at first, but an easy convert after the astonishing results,” said Ghamlouch, director of housing at the University of California at Riverside. The lotus Chemical-free Cleaning System uses standard 110 volt power to turn tap water into liquefied ozone—a powerful natural cleaner. “Our chemical-free system is greener, cleaner, and costs less,” said Davis Gravelsins, vice president of marketing with Tersano Inc....

AUSTELL, GA.—YKK AP America, a leader in manufacturing high quality architectural products, introduces enerGfacade, its new family of energy-efficient products, as part of the YKK Group’s 50 year anniversary in the architectural products business. The family includes several products, such as Luminance, ThermaShade and YOW350T. These flagship products are currently available on the market, and new products will be added soon. “Sustainability is—and always has been—a core philosophy for us,” said Oliver Stepe, senior vice president of YKK AP America. “YKK president Tadahiro Yoshida first wrote the Environmental Charter in 1994. Since then YKK AP has continued that...