PISCATAWAY, N.J.—American Standard announced it has begun production of solid-brass faucets that comply with new lead-free regulations. Early next year, all American Standard residential lavatory and kitchen faucets will contain less than one quarter of one percent (0.25%) total lead content by weighted average, the new lead-free standard required by California and Vermont by 2010. “American Standard faucets have long used significantly less lead than other brands,” explained Dave Meisner, vice president and general manager of American Standard. “Through an innovative new brass alloy formulation that utilizes bismuth, the new faucets will have less lead while maintaining our hallmark quality,...

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.—Valley Forge Fabrics has introduced an innovative time-saving Technical Bedding Specifications book packaged in a new cover. It is the industry’s first of its kind Technical Bedding Specifications book. The 59-page book includes all details required for appropriate and varied customized bedding while showcasing ideas in artful and sophisticated combinations. “Designers and specifiers now have one central reference to help them prepare accurate bedding specifications for any item that could be on a guestroom bed,” says Diana Dobin, senior vice president of Valley Forge. “Complex and hard-to-illustrate ensembles for guestrooms, including box spring covers, dusters, bed scarves, bed...

SANTA CLARA, CALIF.—Watt Stopper/Legrand has launched a versatile 0-10 volt wall box controller that can be used to dim or switch lighting loads or raise and lower shades. The DRLV1 controller is the first such device to include an input allowing automatic control by an occupancy sensor when used for lighting control. The device is RF-enabled and is also the first 0-10 volt wall box controller that can be incorporated into a wireless scene control system. The DRLV1 is part of Watt Stopper’s line of Miro Controls, which includes wireless RF dimmers and scene controls. Wireless Miro reduces the cost...

OMAHA, NEB.—LEO A DALY, an international architecture, planning, engineering, interior design and program management firm, announced that 27 of its employees have recently become Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accredited Professionals (APs). LEED APs pass an exam to demonstrate a thorough understanding of green building practices and principles and the LEED Rating System, a third-party sustainable design and construction verification tool created by the United States Green Building Council. The employees who received accreditation are technical designer Kenwood Burrows, senior associate and architect Mark A. Chalkley, intern architect Jay Chavda, junior interior designer Maria T. Araiza Davalos, interior...

NEW YORK—Perf Go Green Holdings, Inc., a leader in biodegradable plastic products and everyday green solutions, announced the launch of Perf Go Clean all-natural and sustainable household cleaning products, to be distributed beginning May 1, 2009. The highly-effective Perf Go Clean retail line includes Total Bathroom, Glass, and Multi-Purpose Cleaner, Fresh & Clean Air and Stain & Odor Remover and are all hypoallergenic, readily biodegradable, nontoxic, non-flammable and never tested on animals. Perf Go Clean gets the job done, at an affordable price, without toxic and harmful chemicals found in traditional cleaning products. Perf Go Clean bio-based products provide total...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes PTAC MAGIC as a Green Product & Service Directory Partner. The company specializes in installing, cleaning and recycling Packaged Terminal Air-Conditioning units. The steam cleaning of PTACs improves air quality, cuts electric bills significantly, increases profits, kills mold and viruses, reduces repair costs, lowers replacement costs, and increases guest satisfaction. Steam cleaning is a chemical-free process. For more information, call (888) 401-7822, e-mail david@ptacmagic.com, or go to www.ptacmagic.com.

CHICAGO—Everpure, a leading foodservice industry supplier of commercial water treatment products, announced the launch of SMARTWORKS, a turnkey water analysis program that provides foodservice operators with a completely customized water filtration solution. The SMARTWORKS program provides step-by-step assistance on everything from end-user water testing to providing a user-friendly water analyzing and product sizing program, offering targeted solutions to best fit individual operation’s unique water needs. Research shows that programs like SMARTWORKS are in high demand. According to a recent survey of restaurant operators, 73 percent thought foodservice operations needed water filtration solution treatments, while only 52 percent said they...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes KOJO Worldwide as a Green Product & Service Directory Partner. KOJO Worldwide offers a full line of eco-friendly linens and towels made from organic cotton and bamboo, as well as TENCEL and Lenzing Modal—biodegradable eco fibers made from wood pulp cellulose. KOJO Worldwide also offers custom bedding ensembles for global brands and independent properties around the world. KOJO’s eco-friendly ensembles are made from TENCEL, organic cotton and bamboo. KOJO Worldwide is known for creating fabrics that have a high-end appearance yet are cost effective and constructed to...

PALO ALTO, CALIF.—Vipe Inc., a leading provider of B2B video messaging sales solutions, announced the release of Vipe Hospitality 1.0, the second in a series of Software as a Service (SaaS) business applications providing personalized, active and targeted video marketing communications that result in increased sales and lower costs of marketing collateral. “We are extremely pleased to introduce this new product following so quickly on the heels of our wildly successful Vipe Recruiting product,” said Adam Peterson, president and CEO of Vipe Inc. “Vipe has proven that video messaging definitely enhances sales and marketing efforts and produces measureable increases in...

ROGERS, MINN.—Activeion Cleaning Solutions, LLC, announced the launch of its first commercial cleaning product, Activeion Pro, marking the first time the technology that transforms tap water into a powerful cleaner is available in a spray bottle. Activeion Pro is safe because it contains no added chemicals of any kind. Activeion Pro uses activated water technology rather than harsh chemicals to clean, making it a safe option for cleaning professionals, the customers they serve, as well as the environment. Activeion Pro is a versatile cleaner and ideal for use on glass, stainless steel, wood, stone and marble as well as carpet...