PHOENIX, ARIZ.—ARAMARK Parks & Resorts, a division of ARAMARK Harrison Lodging, announced that it has chosen Renewable Choice Energy, the award-winning, full-service provider of renewable energy credits and carbon offsets, and Bonneville Environmental Foundation, to continue its traditional energy offset program. In 2007, ARAMARK began offsetting 100 percent of its traditional energy consumption with alternative energy solutions at its national and state park managed properties. ARAMARK has purchased 17,152,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power in Renewable Energy Credits (RECs). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that this purchase helps avoid the same amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions produced...

VISTA, CALIF.—Nearly 100 commercial, educational, and government building facility managers, who have installed waterless or no-water urinal systems in their facilities, were asked their thoughts on waterless or no-flush urinals. “This is one of the few surveys taken on the subject,” says Klaus Reichardt, founder and managing partner of Waterless Co. LLC, the oldest U.S. manufacturer of waterless urinals. “However, with the growing interest in greening building operations, the systems are becoming quite common and are now found in many locations.” As to overall opinions, when asked if they had a choice between installing conventional or waterless urinals again, 60 percent...

FERNLEY, NEV.— Polyglass USA, a leading manufacturer of modified bitumen roofing products, has introduced its Kool Roof Solutions Package, which includes its Polykool, Polybianko and Polyfresko self-adhesive roofing membranes. These high-performance white membranes are designed to provide superior reflectivity and energy efficiency for low-slope roofing applications. Manufactured with patented ADESO dual-compound technology, Polyglass’ Kool Roof Solution membranes combine a top ply of APP modified bitumen compound with a self-adhesive bottom ply, providing durability and waterproofing protection. This self-adhesive technology also provides a safe, easy and efficient application, eliminating the need for fasteners and other installation accessories. Polykool, Polybianko and...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Free Clean Solar as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. The Free Clean Solar website provides a list of solar installers as well as lenders that finance solar panel installations for hotels, restaurants and casinos. The company’s solar power calculator tool shows how to save money on utility bills while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The website makes it easy to get quotes on solar projects and provides access to rebate information. For additional information, call (888) 498-3331, e-mail info@freecleansolar.com, or go to www.freecleansolar.com.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.— TOPS’L Beach & Racquet Resort in Destin, Fla., owned and managed by ResortQuest Northwest Florida, has been awarded the EcoGreen Award following their “Go Green” initiative. The resort wanted to rethink the way it did business and look at ways to help the environment, while saving money in the process. They discovered a large portion of energy consumption is related to lighting and discovered that it made sense, on a cost-saving level, to commit to the EcoGreen Award online program, pioneered by Tropical Lights, Inc. in Fort Lauderdale. The 52-acre property is comprised of gulf-front and...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes The Natural Mattress Store as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. The Natural Mattress Store offers a large selection of organic mattresses and manufactures the Eco-Cloud brand of healthy, durable and comfortable mattresses using organic cotton, organic wool and 100 percent natural latex. The Natural Mattress Store also carries 100 percent natural latex pillows, organic wool pillows and wool mattress toppers from Holy Lamb Organics, and organic millet pillows and organic buckwheat pillows from Serenity Pillows. For additional information, call (877) 628-6288, e-mail sales@thenaturalmattressstore.com, or go to...

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.— Valley Forge Fabrics, Inc. has been honored by Sustainable Florida with a Best Practice award in the Large Company Category. The winners were announced June 9 at an awards ceremony in Tallahassee. Sustainable Florida is an alliance of business, government, and civic leaders and organizations committed to defining excellence for Florida’s economic, environmental and social future. Winners of the Best Practice award were selected by an independent panel of nine representatives from private and public sectors involved in the sustainability movement. Valley Forge, in business for 30 years, recently took a FRESH look at its business model....

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Recognizing that the status of the environment has become a top business and public policy priority, with major implications for travel, the Travel Industry Assn. and American Express announced they have joined forces in the name of travel sustainability. The two organizations are working together to develop the Travel Sustainability Initiative, a comprehensive plan designed to make crucial information available and to guide the travel industry in its response to assuring sustainability in travel and tourism. “Our initiative with American Express is a comprehensive review of domestic and international efforts related to travel and climate change, and the...

BERKELEY, CALIF.—VASKA, Inc., a Berkeley, Calif.-based manufacturer of botanically-based commercial laundry care products, is pleased to announce it has been awarded the Environmental Protection Agency’s Design for the Environment (DfE) certification for four of VASKA’s laundry care products. This certification allows the business community to identify and choose products that protect the environment and are safer for workers. VASKA submitted its product formulas to the EPA which reviewed the chemical background of each ingredient for its effects not just on the environment, but also on workers’ health and safety. Julia Fry, founder of VASKA, has worked to create a trustworthy...

GERMANTOWN, MD.—Telkonet, Inc., a leading provider of innovative, centrally managed solutions for integrated energy management, networking, building automation and proactive support services, announced that it has won an energy management contract with Cornerstone Hotel Management as part of Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy incentive program. Cornerstone Hotel Management will initially install the in-room, occupancy-driven Telkonet SmartEnergy (TSE) energy management system at three of its properties to lower utility bills by eliminating unnecessary heating and cooling of unoccupied guest rooms. Launched in March 2008, Telkonet and Focus on Energy provide eligible hospitality customers in Wisconsin with discounted energy management products and installation...