GREENWOOD VILLAGE, COLO.—FoodServiceWarehouse.com launched its Going Green Program, an industry-vetted program aimed at helping commercial kitchens cope with the costs and complexities of going green. Through educational resources, rewards and the industry’s only free certification process, FoodServiceWarehouse.com is dedicated to helping commercial kitchens slash energy costs, conserve water and reduce their environmental impact. To kick-start the program, FoodServiceWarehouse.com will give away a green commercial kitchen worth up to $40,000 to one qualifying kitchen. “Restaurants that invest strategically in energy efficiency can cut utility costs between 10 to 30 percent without sacrificing service, quality, style or comfort—while making significant contributions...

NEW YORK—Perf Go Green Holdings, Inc. (“Perf Go Green”), a marketer and distributor of biodegradable plastics, has completed the company’s first major commercial conversion with the Grand Hyatt hotel in New York City. Beginning this fall, the Grand Hyatt will use Perf Go Green custom-sized commercial trash bags in three different sizes for their entire hotel operations, including executive offices, hotel trashcans, steward stations and ice bucket containers. Grand Hyatt’s conversion to Perf Go Green is part of a larger environmental program through the Hyatt Corp., known as Hyatt Earth, which outlines a timeline for the company’s 365 hotels to...

PEACHTREE CITY, GA.—Cooper Lighting, a division of Cooper Industries, Ltd., announces the addition of LED recessed lighting to its Halo downlighting product line. Designed for new construction and existing applications, the LED recessed lighting features a Halo LED module that installs into a new construction housing or into existing Halo and All-Pro housings. The new Halo LED downlight offers the benefits of energy savings, long life, improved quality of light, reduced maintenance, and may help to protect the environment by reducing the electrical load and lowering power plant emissions when compared to traditional light sources. Providing color quality with a...

COUR D’ALENE, IDAHO—Two cleaning agents recently introduced by U.S. Products as part of their new Professional Series line of cleaning chemicals for carpet, upholstery, and hard-surface floors have been green certified by multiple environmental eco-labeling programs. The two products are: • Environmental Carpet Cleaner/Rinse (ECC), for both portable- and truck-mount-extractor use, helps turn soils and residue into free-rinsing soaps for easy removal and has been certified by EcoLogo and Envirodesic. • Environmental Heavy Duty Degreaser, a multiuse cleaner/degreaser for both portable- and truck-mount-extractor use, dissolves heavy soils for removal and has been certified by both EcoLogo and Envirodesic. According to Nick Wiebe,...

LONDON—The International Tourism Partnership (ITP), the leading umbrella organization of responsible companies in the travel and tourism industry, announced the release of the third edition of its Environmental Management for Hotels, an industry-acclaimed guide to quality environmental management and sustainable operations. In keeping with ITP’s mandate of guiding the hospitality industry in its approach to responsible tourism, the manual provides hotels and other related businesses with the knowledge and means to develop practical solutions to green their operations. The manual focuses on key areas such as energy management, water conservation, waste management, purchasing and supply chains, food safety and...

BOULDER, COLO.—The National Tour Association (NTA) Board of Directors has officially endorsed Sustainable Travel International’s (STI) Sustainable Tourism Eco-certification Program (STEP). Through this strategic agreement, NTA is furthering its core values and goals to embrace sustainable travel and educate its members on best practices. “NTA’s endorsement of STI and our Sustainable Tourism Eco-certification Program is noteworthy as it speaks to the organization’s commitment to sustainable tourism and the future of the travel industry,” said Brian T. Mullis, president of Sustainable Travel International. “Our programs will help NTA members to proactively integrate responsible business practices into their operations, improve the health...

CHICAGO— Mr. Bamboo, Inc. is introducing BamLoc strand-woven “click” or “floating” bamboo flooring for eco-friendly commercial spaces. BamLoc is the first 100 percent solid strand-woven floating bamboo floor with a unique interlocking design. The sustainability, durability and natural beauty of strand-woven bamboo flooring make it a popular choice for designers, builders and remodelers. This wide-plank, strand-woven bamboo is ideal for heavy traffic areas. BamLoc is also ideal for spaces with subfloor environments. Mr. Bamboo created BamLoc to be just as strong as BamStrand, the company’s nail-down bamboo floor. BamLoc is not a composite; it is the latest innovation in bamboo...

GERMANTOWN, MD.—Telkonet, Inc., a leading provider of centrally managed solutions for integrated energy management, networking, building automation and proactive support services, announced that it will be installing the in-room, occupancy-driven Telkonet SmartEnergy (TSE) energy management solution throughout the eco-friendly luxury Metro Hotel, located in downtown Milwaukee, Wis. Milwaukee’s first Travel Green certified venue, the Metro Hotel selected TSE after a comprehensive trial, highlighting TSE’s Recovery Time technology and efficient operation as key factors, in line with its green energy strategy and focus on improving guest satisfaction. TSE will be implemented during August with the help of Focus on Energy, Wisconsin’s...

BOULDER, COLO.—Sustainable Cards, producer of the United States’ first wood hotel key card, announced that its eco-friendly cards will debut in Denver hotels during the Democratic National Convention. Sustainable Cards has partnered with its manufacturer, CPI Card Group, to donate more than 70,000 biodegradable cards in a ground-breaking effort to reduce the waste and negative environmental impact created by traditional plastic key cards. The Sustainable Cards are emblazoned with the Denver 2008 Host Committee logo and made from sustainably harvested wood, making them a coveted souvenir of the historic event. The cards will serve to reinforce efforts to make this...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Moran Architects, P.C. as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. Moran Architects is an international, multi-disciplinary design firm specializing in sustainable design for the wellness and hospitality industries. With each new project, the company strives to reduce or, when possible, eliminate its carbon footprint. The firm incorporates regenerative design solutions that work within the existing ecosystem to create more energy, clean water and habitat than previously existed. For additional information, call (480) 990-8448, e-mail gmoran@moranarchitects.com, or go to www.moranarchitects.com.