TEL AVIV, ISRAEL—Phoebus Energy, developer of the Hybrid Water Heating System, launches its expansion into the hotel industry with successful installations at Hagoshrim and Inbal Hotels in Israel. Hotels and resorts consume large amounts of fossil fuel to heat water for showers, space heating and swimming pools. Fossil fuel costs represent a significant percentage of the total energy expenses at hotels and are extremely volatile. The Hybrid Water Heating System packages modern heat pump technology with intelligent Web-based monitoring and control software. The Phoebus Energy solution reduces fossil fuel consumption and carbon emissions while significantly reducing energy costs at hotel facilities. “The...

BOURNE, MASS.—Onset, a leading supplier of data loggers, has introduced the HOBO ZW Series, a family of wireless data nodes for centralized monitoring of energy use and environmental conditions in buildings. HOBO ZW Series data nodes reduce the cost and complexity of data collection by measuring, recording and transmitting real-time energy use and environmental data—from dozens of points—to a central PC. Different from traditional data loggers, HOBO data nodes work together in a self-healing wireless network to transmit logged data to a PC at regular intervals. This eliminates the need of having to spend time retrieving collected data from individual...

NIANTIC, CONN.—The Saybrook Point Inn & Spa is one the first properties in Connecticut to be certified for a new program that allows hotels, motels and other lodging owners to market their businesses as “green” in order to protect the environment. Installing the e4 Smart Digital Thermostat with ecoMODE from INNCOM International Inc. played a big role in helping the premiere four diamond waterfront New England inn and spa to achieve “Connecticut Green Lodging—Accommodating You and Our Environment” status. The Connecticut Green Lodging program is a joint effort of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Connecticut Commission...

LAGRANGE, OHIO—West Development Group (WDG), a leader in sustainable roofing products and practices, introduces E-VersiBlock, a high-performance, versatile, and sustainable alternative for mounting commercial rooftop accessories. WDG’s E-VersiBlock rooftop equipment mounting system can be used in a variety of ways to support HVAC unit rails, gas pipes, electrical conduit, and walkways. It can also be used for equipment curbs, solar panel mounting, and structural framing mounts. These units are connectable and offer increased versatility when used with metal framing, pipe clamps, struts, couplings and other attachments. Each E-VersiBlock is designed to allow for two-way drainage that significantly reduces...

DALLAS—Coming to this year’s HITEC 2010, VingCard Elsafe, a global leader in hospitality security, debuts its next generation of wireless solutions, designed to help hotels go green for guests—and contribute to hotels’ environmentally friendly initiatives. Energy expense is the second highest cost for hotels and by changing the way properties consume energy, hoteliers will dramatically increase energy savings and reduce expenses at hotel properties of all sizes. VingCard’s new technology, designed with hoteliers’ and guests’ needs in mind, promises to change the way properties use and save energy. VingCard Elsafe will demonstrate its new product innovation on Tuesday, June...

ATLANTA—Lithonia Lighting, a leader in indoor commercial and architectural lighting, announced that it is fortifying its presence in the LED lighting market with the introduction of RTLED. RTLED is a high-quality, volumetric recessed luminaire that delivers ambient white light throughout an entire space while reducing energy costs, maintenance costs and a building’s environmental footprint. “RTLED is an innovative breakthrough for high-quality LED lighting solutions in commercial interior spaces,” said Dave Ranieri, vice president of Lithonia Lighting Fluorescent/LED Business Unit. “In addition to maintaining high efficacy and excellent color over a 50,000-hour system life, RTLED creates an optimum balance...

LOS ANGELES—Green Globe International, Inc., the worldwide owner of the Green Globe brand, announced that at the recent World Travel & Tourism Council Global Travel & Tourism Summit in Beijing, a cooperative agreement was signed for the deployment of the Green Globe Index sustainability assessment program to be implemented by China’s Hotel Purchasing and Supplying Association (HPSA), which is headquartered in Beijing. HPSA is the most renowned and influential trade association in China’s hospitality industry, with 6,000 corporate and individual members from the industry and their supply chains. The Green Globe Index sustainability assessment program will help China hotels and...

SAINT CHARLES, MO.—For the past four years, Save Your World, in conjunction with Conservation International, has been successful in raising funds to save more than 200,000 acres of Guyana rainforest—some of the most pristine on Earth—through the sale of its “Earth friendly” hotel amenity products. During this time, Pineapple Hospitality, a distributor of green hotel products and marketing programs for the hospitality industry, has been a leading distributor of the Save Your World amenities and a key contributor to the conservation efforts. Due to this success, Save Your World has decided to discontinue the manufacture and selling of personal care...

KNOXVILLE, TENN.—Sansin Corp. released its new Purity Interior Zero VOC Penetrating Stain (0-VOC), a water-based interior wood stain with a base free from any harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that penetrates both soft and hard woods with consistent, uniform coverage. Sansin has been a leader in researching and developing environmentally friendly interior and exterior wood stains for a quarter century. The Sansin Purity Interior Zero VOC Stain is available at participating dealers or can be shipped direct from a nearby dealer location. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identified VOCs as a source of unhealthy indoor air with health...

NEW YORK—Sofitel Luxury Hotels announced that all nine North America properties received a rating of 3 Keys or higher (based on a 1 to 5 Key rating) following a comprehensive environmental audit by the Green Key Eco-Rating program, the hotel group’s official green lodging certification program. In some cases, Sofitel properties were the first and only hotel in their respective states to earn a Green Key rating. Sofitel Montreal, Sofitel Philadelphia, Sofitel Washington D.C., Sofitel Minneapolis and Sofitel San Francisco received a 4-Key rating, while Sofitel Miami, Sofitel Chicago, Sofitel New York and Sofitel Los Angeles received a 3-Key...