APPLE VALLEY, MINN.—The new Climate Control Zoning System from Uponor uses the latest wireless technology for complete radiant control in every room of a building—offering users a system that is more convenient to control and requires less time for contractors to set up and install. “When designing the new Climate Control Zoning System, we wanted to offer our customers a convenient way to control room temperatures while providing a system that would be faster and easier to install,” says Mark Hudoba, senior product manager, Heating and Cooling, at Uponor. “By eliminating the hassle and expense of running thermostat wires through...

AUSTIN, TEXAS—Control4 Corp. and LG Electronics announced plans to co-develop an integrated automation system for HDTV sets that will allow hotel guests to control lighting, room temperature, draperies and entertainment systems through the television with a single remote control. The companies are collaborating on a card, based on the proven Control4 Operating System, which will be integrated with LG Electronics’ hospitality HDTVs via their unique interface port—eliminating the need for a separate controller box. “Integrating our automation operating platform with LG hospitality TVs represents a new chapter for Control4 and the industry,” said Will West, chief executive officer...

SHEFFIELD, MASS.—Cypress Hotel & Spa, a leading designer and manufacturer of luxurious bathrobes, towels, slippers, and sheets for the hospitality and spa industry for more than 25 years, announced that their exclusive MicroCotton Green Earth towel has been re-engineered to be more absorbent, durable and eco-friendly. “In today’s eco-economy, it is critical for hotels to reduce energy usage and expenditures,” stated Gene Faul, Cypress founder and CEO. “However, most hoteliers have been reluctant to implement the use of ‘green’ or organic linens because they are typically not as soft, durable or luxurious as traditional ones. Our new Green Earth...

MONSEY, N.Y.—Unique Amenities, one of the nation’s leading sources for guest amenities for the hospitality industry, announces the launch of a reusing drive to help change the direction of the hotel industry’s approach to going green. Unique Amenities is committed to its mission of a greener and cleaner earth, and to keeping toiletry bottles out of the nation’s landfills. Unique Amenities is therefore offering an unprecedented rebate on all its returned cartons and bottles, which will be processed for reuse. Unique Amenities’ 100 percent pure New Zealand-made products are vegetarian based and contain GE-free ingredients. The packaging is all 100...

CHICAGO—The Ashkin Group has been recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) as an official Educational Provider. It is the first time the USGBC has selected a member of the cleaning industry as an official Education Provider. The Ashkin Group was acknowledged for its half-day program entitled, “Solving the Green Cleaning Puzzle.” The material and interactive activities enable participants to gain a more thorough knowledge of green cleaning in both practice and application. The Education Provider Program (EPP) facilitates access to high quality professional development courses in order to further enrich the knowledge and understanding of green building theory,...

DALLAS—In the current North American hospitality market, an estimated 18 million traditional plastic keycards are discarded by hotels and their guests every week, ultimately ending up in landfills across the continent. Additionally, experts say the industry could save as many as 9 million batteries each year by switching to more energy efficient locking systems. With this in mind, VingCard, a leading hospitality security provider and part of the ASSA ABLOY Hospitality Group, is introducing new eco-friendly initiatives to support hoteliers’ efforts to go green. Innovative recycled keycards are now available to VingCard customers, and one unique guestroom door lock not...

BURBANK, CALIF.—A new Steril-Zone room air purifier that uses a three-stage process to clean the air in rooms up to 1,000 square feet is now available from Steril-Aire, Inc. Safe and ozone-free, the portable air purifier is the first to incorporate the company’s multi-patented and award-winning UVC Emitter to clean the air of bacteria, mold and viruses. The UVC lamp combines with a high efficiency air filter and long-life carbon filter to remove all three categories of indoor air pollutants and irritants—particulates, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and microorganisms—for enhanced control of allergens, dust and odors in hotel environments. Steril-Zone’s germicidal...

SAINT CHARLES, MO.—Three hospitality industry veterans have come together to form Atlantis Hospitality Group, giving hotel investment groups and developers a full-service consulting resource with more than 100 years of combined experience in providing cost-effective solutions to specific hotel operational needs. The Atlantis Hospitality consultants—Ray Hobbs (senior vice president for Kelco Management and Development), Ray Burger (founder and president of Pineapple Hospitality) and Diane Bogino (president of Performance Strategies, Inc.)—bring specialized expertise in all facets of hotel and resort management, including turn-key operational support, sales development, marketing programs, asset management, franchise alignment and temporary hotel management. “In the past couple of...

LAS VEGAS—Harrah’s Operating Company, Inc., a subsidiary of Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc., and NativeEnergy, an international marketer of high quality carbon offsets and renewable energy credits (RECs), announced an agreement to provide Harrah’s guests the opportunity to mitigate the global warming impact of their travel to Harrah’s managed resorts by purchasing carbon offsets from new renewable energy projects. “We are continually looking for innovative environmentally sustainable practices to implement throughout our portfolio of 40 domestic properties,” said Gary Loveman, chairman, CEO and president of Harrah’s Entertainment. “Environmental stewardship is an important component of our Code of Commitment, the casino entertainment industry’s...

SANTA CLARA, CALIF.—Watt Stopper/Legrand announces the launch of RoHS-compliant occupancy sensors as part of the company’s ongoing commitment to the environment. Specifiers, building owners and contractors who select these lighting controls can be assured that they are helping reduce the amount of hazardous waste that will enter the environment, in addition to achieving energy savings. RoHS is the European Union’s (EU) directive on the restriction of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment sold in the EU market. It addresses the use of four heavy metals and two flame retardants used in plastics. RoHS compliance requires the design, or redesign,...