FORT LAUDERDALE—Valley Forge Fabrics, Inc. debuted its second FRESH collection at the Hospitality Design Boutique Exposition & Conference in Miami last month. The two new FRESH collections were created by New York designer Celerie Kemble and Palm Beach designers Mimi McMakin and Brooke Huttig. FRESH is an acronym for Fabrics Redefining Environmental Standards (for) Hospitality and represents the first environmentally friendly comprehensive fabric program designed specifically and only for the hospitality industry. With these new collections, the FRESH line now spans six volumes and more thant 550 skus of patterns with vibrant colors. “This collection is innovative and beautiful,” says Cliff...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Eco Crown Hospitality as a sponsor. The company, led by CEO Andrea Spiess, offers a comprehensive, globally recognized eco-certification program for the hospitality industry. Eco Crown participants receive global and local recognition in the company’s Eco Network through its 24-hour 1-877-ECO-STAY reservation system and online booking systems, industry Web links and eco organization links. Call (403) 609-2229, write to andrea101@ecocrown.com, or go to Eco Crown Hospitality to learn more about Eco Crown Hospitality’s many certification and marketing options.

DANBURY, CONN.—FuelCell Energy Inc., a leader in the development and manufacture of fuel cells for Ultra-Clean electric power generation, announces the launch of a new website at www.fuelcellenergy.com. The new site contains extensive information on the company’s patented Direct FuelCell (DFC) technology, and also provides a comprehensive overview of the benefits fuel cell power plants offer for a wide variety of markets and industries. The new website provides information on FuelCell Energy’s global power plant fleet and contains the information, resources, and products customers need to implement reliable, Ultra-Clean power for their 24/7 baseload power requirements. In addition to information...

DALTON, GA—In a continuing expansion of its Seal of Approval carpet cleaning testing and certification program, the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) today announced two green additions: higher performing vacuum cleaners for indoor air quality (IAQ) and green cleaning chemical certification. The CRI Seal of Approval program currently identifies superior carpet cleaning solutions and equipment that, when properly used, remove soil and stains without damage to the carpet. More than 250 products carry the blue and green CRI Seal of Approval. “The Seal of Approval program sets a new standard for carpet cleaning effectiveness, and we are raising the bar again...

NORTH VANCOUVER, B.C.—RSI International Systems Inc. announced that their RoomKey Property Management System has become “Carbon Free” through a carbon emission offset partnership with Carbonfund.org. RoomKey is the first fully integrated Web-based property management software solution that offers hoteliers complete functionality while providing an opportunity to help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. RoomKey enables hotels, inns and resorts to effectively manage their property while conveying their environmental commitment to guests and other stakeholders. RoomKey uses approximately 94 percent less energy than traditional server-based property management systems. Because RoomKey is Web-based and centrally hosted, every client using RoomKey PMS can reduce...

NEW YORK—Philips Lighting Co., a division of Philips Electronics North America Corp., an affiliate of Royal Philips Electronics, has introduced its new StumbleLight, a motion-activated night guiding light designed to turn on when a hotel guest steps out of bed. Ideal for placement under a hotel room nightstand or on a wall to illuminate the path at night, StumbleLight lights the way through a room or to a bathroom using a warm white LED light source. The 55 to 65 lumens of light output delivered by StumbleLight, comparable to the light output of traditional incandescent night light technology, is an...

WINCHESTER, VA.—Rubbermaid Commercial Products has introduced its Premium Step-On Container line. Rubbermaid’s new Premium Step-On makes waste collection more efficient and helps reduce labor costs. Innovative features include an integrated lid damper and heavy-duty can liner retaining straps. With aesthetically pleasing designs, Rubbermaid’s Premium Step-On Containers are the smart choice wherever a large capacity, hands-free waste collection solution is required. “A recent CleanLink survey found that labor-related costs are the number one concern for maintenance professionals,” says Christen Brooker, product manager for RCP. “Our new Premium Step-On Containers, in 23-gallon and new 30-gallon capacities, help cut labor costs by reducing...

LAGRANGE, GA.—Milliken Hospitality announced Trees for Carpet, an education program offering customer incentives for acts of stewardship, during HD Expo in Miami Beach. “We are committed to spreading the principles of sustainability along the supply chain and using these opportunities to educate our industry about the value of green building,” says business manager for Milliken Hospitality, Steve Hillis. “Trees for Carpet provides a simple platform for our customers to make a difference.” Milliken & Company, an international carbon negative manufacturer, has demonstrated its passion for stewardship for more than a century. Trees for Carpet is a program under Milliken’s Trees for...

SAN DIEGO—Oster and Associates, Inc., a San Diego-based marketing agency, has announced a shift in agency branding to a focus on green marketing. “Being environmentally conscious is not a new philosophy for us,” says Bev Oster, the agency’s president. “It has been at the core of much of the business the agency has done over the past 21 years.” “If we had announced that we were a ‘green’ agency five years ago, no one would have noticed,” she adds. “Today, green is attracting everyone’s attention. And that has triggered some significant growth for the agency.” The agency’s green...

MINNEAPOLIS—Honeywell introduced EXCEL 5000 OpenViewNet, a secure network device that connects the EXCEL 5000 family of controllers to the Internet, delivering remote, Web-based monitoring and control of heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) systems. “We’re bringing secure Web access to a legacy control system without forcing users to migrate to a new platform,” says Mike Taylor, vice president of Americas marketing, Honeywell Building Solutions. “With OpenViewNet, facility managers always have control of their EXCEL 5000 systems at their fingertips, saving time and increasing efficiency.” OpenViewNet gives users quick access to building data via Internet Explorer or a Pocket PC-enabled mobile device using...