GRESHAM, ORE.—BioGreen Products has introduced a line of biodegradable garbage bags in 8-, 13-, 30-, 33- and 45-gallon size. The bags, which are not made of corn starch-based plastic, utilize a new technology. The bags have sizes that will work for in-room waste baskets all the way up to containers in back-of-the-house areas. The bags, when put into landfill, begin the degradation process when exposed to bacteria and oxygen. The first process is the breakdown in the structure of the bags, followed by the dissolving of the material as the bacteria consume it. This process is called oxo-biodegradable plastics. Plastics...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Green Lodging News has added its tenth case study to its Vendor Case Studies section. The case study focuses on the 480-room Hilton Palacio del Rio hotel and how it was able to reduce its water consumption by 6 million gallons in the first eight months after Caroma’s Sydney dual flush high efficiency toilets were installed. The hotel worked with the San Antonio Water System as part of a trial program. Caroma’s efficient dual flush toilets, which use 1.6 gallons of water for solid waste and 0.8 gallons for liquid and paper, replaced models that were using 5 gallons...

LAGRANGE, OHIO—West Development Group (WDG), a leader in sustainable roofing products and practices, introduces the Z-Guard Pedestrian Traffic System for use on sprayed-in-place polyurethane foam roofs. Z-Guard is a one-component, moisture curing, silicone/quartz liquid composite slurry designed for use around all equipment requiring servicing, as well as areas of heavy foot traffic. The Z-Guard reinforced, silicone walkway is a dispersion of silicone rubber, organic hardeners, and quartz aggregates. It is a one-part, ready-to-use material that can easily be applied to a dry, frost-free surface, and cures at normal temperature in 12 to 18 hours by reacting with moisture in...

VISTA, CALIF.—Living Earth Crafts (LEC), an industry leader in creating spa treatment tables from Earth-friendly materials and processes, announced its recent Manufacture of FSC-certified portable and stationary massage table certification (FSC Certification Registration Number: SCS-COC-001574) by Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) in accordance with the rules of the Forest Stewardship Council A.C (FSC). Certification means wood used in Living Earth Crafts’ designated FSC portable and stationary massage tables has been harvested from forests that meet stringent environmental, social and economic standards. “We are honored to secure FSC certification for our production facility as well as for our designated line of portable...

ROGERS, ARK.—BioBased 1701s Insulation is the first spray polyurethane foam insulation to meet the stringent GREENGUARD Certification guidelines for indoor air quality. The GREENGUARD Certification Program is an industry-independent, third-party testing program for low-emitting products and materials. The first GREENGUARD Certification was awarded in the fall of 2002. BioBased Insulation’s soy-based, water-blown, closed cell insulation product earned both the GREENGUARD Certification and the GREENGUARD Certification for Children & Schools. “Our company is focused on developing insulation products that are more sustainable than traditional products,” said Mike Muccio, chief operating officer of BioBased Insulation. “We believe that sustainability means more than just...

WESTFORD, MASS.—Spinwave Systems, Inc. and AscentIQ, Inc. announced that they have teamed up to produce a complete energy management solution that will make it faster and easier to reduce energy consumption in commercial buildings. Combining second-generation wireless technology with a flexible software platform, the new energy management solution will make energy usage data available to company management in a clear format, tied directly to business goals. The system allows users to integrate their energy management systems with software used to run their businesses, such as financial reporting programs, making it easier to analyze, share, and apply energy usage information throughout...

SANTA CLARA, CALIF.—Watt Stopper/Legrand welcomed close to 300 guests to the company’s headquarters here last month for its highly successful GreenFair. More than 30 exhibitors were on hand to discuss environmentally friendly products and services that ranged from building materials made from reclaimed materials to electric vehicles to recycling programs and commute alternatives to organic food, wine and pet supplies. Also in attendance were the mayors of Santa Clara and Los Gatos as well as San Jose’s energy officer. Watt Stopper/Legrand president Jerry Mix greeted early attendees, explaining that the fair was the work of Watt Stopper employees who wanted...

SPARTANBURG, S.C.—Dave Rutherford, who has more than 10 years of hospitality sales and marketing experience and 15 years of foodservice sales experience, has become an independent representative for several different companies. His company, RDI Sales and Marketing, is specializing in companies that offer “green” products to the hospitality industry. “I started down this path years ago while I was the director of sales and marketing with Sunbeam Products,” Rutherford says. “We developed products that would save energy and show a return to the hotels. The focus now is not only on the hotel but the environment as well. The company...

PORTLAND, ORE.—With shared vision and focus, The Heathman Hotel and Ankrom Moisan Associated Architects (AMAA) have partnered to deliver a locally responsible, sustainable and efficient remodel of all 155 of the historic hotel’s bathrooms. Beginning this month hotel guests are able to experience the remodeled bathrooms and see that luxury and sustainability can coexist. In October 2007, AMAA, an integrated architectural and interior design firm based in Portland, Ore., was tasked with implementing a sustainable remodel within a historic and luxury hotel. “We welcomed the opportunity to work with the Heathman Hotel, a renowned Northwest historic icon,” said Karen Bowery, head...

BROADVIEW, ILL.—As public demand for green initiatives in business increases, management and public relations teams are constantly looking for more effective ways to communicate the effectiveness of their environmental programs to current and potential customers. In response to this growing market trend, Air Cycle Corp. has developed Online Recycling Reports, an innovative solution to identify, track, review, and communicate lamp, ballast, battery and electronic recycling totals for any organization. Air Cycle Corp. has already established itself in the recycling services market with the EasyPak pre-paid recycling container program, bulk pickup options for larger facilities, and the Bulb Eater, the original...