CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Continental Girbau, Inc. as a Green Product & Service Directory Partner. Continental’s high-performance washer-extractors boost profits by decreasing water, natural gas and electricity usage. The equipment maximizes laundry productivity while using less labor. Thanks to Continental high-performance washer-extractors, hotels reduce utility and labor costs, and in the process, conserve the Earth’s natural resources. The company offers a full line of quality built card or coin laundry equipment and on-premise commercial washer and dryers. For additional information, call (800) 256-1073, e-mail info@continentalgirbau.com, or go to www.continentalgirbau.com.

SAINT CHARLES, MO.—Pineapple Hospitality announced that USFI | GreenWorks and INNCOM International have signed on as Strategic Partners and Corporate Sponsors of EcoRooms & EcoSuites. EcoRooms & EcoSuites is an online listing and resource for green hotels in the United States and abroad. EcoRooms & EcoSuites utilizes eight criteria for membership—a rigorous set of standards for ecologically responsible hotel products, practices and principles. “By adhering to the EcoRooms & EcoSuites criteria, hoteliers reduce their energy use, water use, waste and toxic by-products,” says Dan Ruben, executive director, Boston Green Tourism. “When one stays in an EcoRooms & EcoSuites-listed hotel,...

CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, PA.—Allegheny Printed Plastics is introducing biodegradable plastic cards as part of an ongoing commitment to provide more environmentally friendly product alternatives. The biodegradable PVC core card stock and laminate material perform just like standard plastic and is ideal for many common card applications. The biodegradation process begins when the product is introduced into a fertile environment (soil, water, compost, or wherever microorganisms are present) and works in both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The absence of oxygen or water will not keep the product from biodegrading. All that is needed are the presence of microorganisms which consume the plastic...

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA.—Worrell Water Technologies announced enhancements to its Next Generation Living Machine system, a proprietary ecological wastewater treatment system. Unlike today’s approach to wastewater treatment, the Living Machine operates as a decentralized, on-site system for water treatment and recycling, creating quality fresh water without chemicals, odor or nasty by-products. The Living Machine is a ‘turbo-charged’ engineered wetland system which combines the compact footprint of traditional wastewater treatment technologies with the energy efficiency of conventional constructed wetlands. In operation in more than two dozen locations worldwide, the Living Machine system is a patented and trademarked technology offered only by Worrell...

UPPER SADDLE RIVER, N.J.—The Window Covering Manufacturers Association (WCMA) Product Innovation Awards are the benchmark of excellence in the industry. The 2009 award results were just announced and Hunter Douglas, a leading manufacturer and marketer of custom window fashions, has once again topped the esteemed competition. The window fashions leader captured more awards than any other manufacturer—27 out of the 41 awards conferred went to Hunter Douglas companies—more than it has ever won. Hunter Douglas also swept more categories than ever before—five out of a total of 12—including: Cellular Shades, Green Products, Shadings & Sheers, Specialty Applications and Merchandising. “We’re delighted...

SEATTLE—The GreenHotels Directory, an online reservation system designed for travelers seeking environmentally-friendly hotel accommodations, was launched by a partnership between Environment News Service and ARES Travel Network. Business and vacation travelers are able to instantly locate and make online reservations at hotels offering responsible conservation features. Thousands of hotels have participated in the launch of the GreenHotels Directory initiative and more are being added every day. ARES has documented the environmental contributions of hotels and attractions so that travelers are offered a way to identify green lodging when booking their vacations. Industry-wide surveys of more than 47,000 hotels have...

SANTA FE SPRINGS, CALIF.—Cal Springs, the maker of BioGreen Bottles, an environmentally innovative plastic water bottle that is completely biodegradable once its drinking days are over, has recently announced the release of the Hollywood Bottle, the newest addition to their eco-friendly water bottle line. The Hollywood Bottle offers a sleek, contoured design and comes in a variety of colors. Although new in size and shape, the Hollywood Bottle is made of the same reusable, recyclable and biodegradable material that made BioGreen Bottles a popular choice. The bottles are lightweight and safe for kids to handle, making them a practical, green...

MONTREAL, QUEBEC—To celebrate Earth Day, Kaba Lodging Systems (KLS) is introducing two types of environmentally-friendly keycards today. The “green keys” are made either from 100 percent recycled polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic or from polylactide acid (PLA) plastic. The high-performance PLA is made from a corn byproduct and is both recyclable and biodegradable. Both key types function like traditional magnetic stripe keycards, carrying important information such as a guest’s room number, duration of the stay, and an encrypted lock access code recorded onto track three. A leading global electronic lock provider, KLS expects hotels will be receptive to these green keys....

SAN DIEGO—HD Supply Facilities Maintenance, a leading distributor of maintenance products and operating supplies, announced the release of its 2009 catalog (Volume 59) containing 20,000 stocked maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) products. The catalog also features the company’s value-added services. The annually produced catalog has more than 1,600 pages of products, trade tips and technical information to help customers find what they need quickly. The catalog is also available at www.hdsupplysolutions.com in a fully searchable version. “Now more than ever in these tough economic times, our customers are looking to us to provide them with choices,” said Anesa...

BROADVIEW, ILL.—Air Cycle Corp. recently announced the creation of its new environmental consulting division, Greener Results. Greener Results is a consulting group that works with its clients to assess their needs, improve their environmental programs, and help them get credit for their environmental achievements. Greener Results’ goal is to help all of its clients improve their environmental performance, while simultaneously saving money and improving marketability. Air Cycle has long been an industry leader in lamp recycling, featuring the industry standard for drum-top crushing, the Bulb Eater, and it has expanded its services over time to include additional universal wastes, such...