NIANTIC, CONN.—INNCOM International has unveiled its next generation of guestroom controls that builds on its “Glass Series.” With a MODular design, the guest-facing DEVice boasts heightened functionality and customization to accommodate new construction and retrofit hotel projects with equal ease, and the solution’s artistic look and feel can meet nearly any design requirements conceived for the hotel guestroom. MODEVA was just introduced at the 2010 Hospitality Design Exposition & Conference at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas. “Our customers have pushed us to deliver products and systems that give guests memorable, positive experiences without confusing technology,”...

COOPERSBURG, PA.— Lutron Electronics Co., Inc., a world leader in the design and manufacturing of light and shade control solutions, has launched the LED Control Center of Excellence. This new resource is devoted to providing answers to all questions about LED lighting solutions. As the use of energy-saving LEDs becomes more widespread in both commercial and residential applications, it is clear that there are many questions about which LED products are compatible with which lighting controls. For instance, “dimmable” has not been clearly defined for LEDs. Despite manufacturers’ claims for dimmable LEDs, many do not perform well with a variety...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Grant & Sons Co., the Personal Care Division of Erwyn Products, as a Green Product & Service Directory sponsor. The division of Erwyn Products recently introduced My Earth, an amenity line featuring 100 percent compostable bottles that contain no petrochemicals. The soaps and accessories are packaged in recycled cardboard and printed with vegetable-based inks. Specific items that are part of the My Earth line include: shower cap, dental kit, convenience kit, nourishing shampoo, hydrating conditioner, cleansing body wash, moisturizing lotion, facial soap, moisturizing bar, and bath soap. For...

HOUSTON—In an effort to even further reduce their carbon footprint, Hilton Americas-Houston, the city’s largest hotel and first Green Seal certified hotel in Texas, is now even greener with the installation of the AquaRecycle water recycling system in the hotel’s laundry. The laundry facility, covering 27,000 square feet and rivaling most commercial laundry plants in both size and capacity, is by far the largest hotel laundry in the city, washing and finishing more than 675,000 pounds of linens per month. The two Lavatec tunnel washers wash 100 pounds of linens every two and half minutes, with a maximum working capacity...

ATLANTA—Simmons Bedding Company announced that all of the polyurethane foams in the company’s mattress lines have earned the CertiPUR-US certification seal, verifying that the foams are low-VOC and free from ozone-depleting CFCs. The certified foam products are made without PBDE fire retardants, lead, mercury, formaldehyde, prohibited phthalates and other potentially harmful materials. Simmons played an instrumental role in facilitating the CertiPUR-US certification process for each of its foam suppliers, encouraging them to achieve the certification as a way to address growing consumer concerns about the safety of polyurethane foams. “Consumers today are paying very close attention to what’s inside...

GREENSBORO, N.C.—Columbia Forest Products was named a 2010 Corporate Sustainable Standard-Setter by the Rainforest Alliance at the organization’s gala dinner and awards ceremony on May 12 in New York City. The honor recognizes companies that have worked with the Rainforest Alliance and exhibited outstanding leadership in efforts to promote sustainability. “Columbia Forest Products is one of those companies that truly understands the principles of sustainability, integrating them into the core of its business practices,” said Tensie Whelan, president of the Rainforest Alliance. “We consider the company to be a leader in its field.” Columbia is one of North America’s...

AURORA, OHIO—TCP, Inc., a leader in compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) manufacturing and technology, introduces a new fully dimmable CFL product line incorporating a patent-pending high performance CFL ballast design that features proprietary NXP GreenChip power management IC chip technology. This new design approach, dubbed TruDim Technology, results in a CFL with smoother full range dimming performance from 100 percent down to one percent. The dimming curve is designed to more accurately match the human eye’s reactions, which is more pleasing to the end-user. “In the past, customers have had to put up with dimming CFLs that don’t dim...

MILWAUKEE, WIS.—Telkonet, Inc. announced that the SmartEnergy system has been chosen as a component of a utility rebate and incentive program administered by Conservation Services Group, Inc. The Premium Efficiency Cooling Program will provide incentives to participating contractors and lodging properties to install Telkonet SmartEnergy on heating and cooling equipment in the greater San Diego County area and in limited areas in southern Orange County. With typical HVAC run time savings of 30 percent, hotel and motel operators can reduce energy costs, advance green initiatives, and improve guest comfort with Telkonet’s energy management controllers and occupancy sensors. The Premium Efficiency...

NORTH OLMSTED, OHIO—Moen Incorporated’s Commercial Division introduces M•Power, a full line of sensor-operated flush valves featuring durability, water savings and sanitary protection for commercial restrooms. The M•Power line offers a number of options, including standard flow, high efficiency, dual flush and pint flush models. All M•Power flush valves require little or no maintenance, offering lower lifetime costs for a facility. As an added benefit, installing Moen’s M•Power flush valves contributes to a building’s eligibility to obtain LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, earning the building up to two points in the Water Use Reduction category. “M•Power...

DALLAS—Two proven ecopreneurs and ecological advocates have launched CompostMania.com, a comprehensive online destination for all things composting, including state-of-the-art products and educational resources for beginners to seasoned composters. “CompostMania.com provides composting products for the most advanced gardener to families who want to start teaching their children about the importance of being good stewards of the environment,” said CompostMania.com founder and CEO Robert Olivier. “Our goal at CompostMania.com is to encourage consumers to reconnect with their local ecosystem through composting and organic gardening, which will promote the Earth’s natural lifecycle.” CompostMania.com offers composting, gardening and water harvesting products. Specialty indoor...