LOS ANGELES—The Natural Bedroom by Vivètique, an organic mattress brand based in Los Angeles, has introduced the Eco-Lux mattress. While most consumers are now well aware of the importance of being green, Vivètique’s Eco-Lux is an eco-friendly mattress that is also non-toxic, the next evolutionary step to green, created with the health of consumers and the planet in mind. “Many mattress manufacturers are still creating chemical-based products, and the cost of these commercial products can be high with long-term health concerns for families and increased environmental pollution caused by their manufacture and disposal,” said Steve Carwile, CEO and president of...

DES PLAINES, ILL.—From eco-friendly certified organic bedding to a new hospitality line from sleepwear designer Eileen West, luxury bedding manufacturer United Feather & Down will debut several new products during this year’s HD 2008 Expo & Conference in the Sands Convention Center, Las Vegas, May 15 to 17, 2008. New product offerings will include: • Prestige Naturals Organics, a new hospitality line of eco-friendly bedding. United Feather & Down is introducing the new Prestige Naturals line for hospitality at this year’s show. Inspired by nature, the Prestige Naturals line offers pillows, comforters, blankets and mattress pads in 300-thread-count certified organic...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes American DG Energy as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. Waltham, Mass.-based American DG Energy’s On-Site Utility provides clean energy in the form of electricity, heat, hot water and cooling at a guaranteed discount rate. The energy is produced with small-scale combined heat and power (CHP) equipment located at the property site, but owned and operated by American DG Energy. Hotels have no capital costs for the equipment. Turnkey installations are available. Call (781) 522-6000, e-mail info@americandg.com, or go to www.americandg.com.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.—Valley Forge Fabrics, Inc.’s established reclamation program will now include FRESH bedding fabrics. These high thread count fabrics are made from 100 percent recycled polyester. FRESH is an acronym for Fabrics Redefining Environmental Standards (for) Hospitality. The FRESH collection is a group of more than 1,000 fabrics that are made of 100 percent recycled polyester, that are also 100 percent recyclable. Valley Forge is the only textile company to date that has an established reclamation program to facilitate the recycling of textiles. Products made of 100 percent recycled content at a low energy manufacturing platform is important, but...

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA—The Novotel hotel group has entered into an agreement with Green Globe, a leading benchmarking and certification program for the tourism and hospitality industry, to achieve worldwide certification of the network’s 400 hotels across 61 countries, including the 22 Novotel hotels and resorts in Australia, and five in New Zealand. The Green Globe program is managed by Brisbane-based EC3 Global, the commercialization and adaptation division of the Sustainable Tourism Co-Operative Research Centre, whose research program is overseen by 17 of Australia’s leading universities. Green Globe is the only international benchmarking and certification program based on Agenda 21 principles. It provides...

AMES, IOWA—Siemens Building Technologies, Inc. has expanded its sustainability product offering to include the industry leading educational touchscreen kiosk software, GreenTouchscreen, developed by Quality Attributes Software, Inc. (QAS). Siemens selected QAS technology so that it could offer its customers a powerful but accessible interface that displays energy consumption data and real-time interactive analysis. By presenting live building energy consumption data on the GreenTouchscreen kiosk in the foyer of the building, Siemens can reveal “hidden” energy conservation measures to building occupants. As people become aware of the energy they use and better educated as to its environmental impact, they just might...

BOULDER, COLO.—Sustainable Travel International, a leading nonprofit organization committed to sustainable tourism development, has introduced upgrades to the first travel-related carbon footprint calculator, complimenting a globally recognized carbon offset portfolio. “The various ways in which we can offset carbon footprints have evolved since we first introduced the calculator three years ago,” said STI president Brian Mullis. “These upgrades give consumers more flexibility in how they offset the footprint they just calculated and businesses more customized options in the calculators they feature on their own websites.” The calculator has always included options to measure the carbon footprint of air travel, car travel,...

MANITOWOC, WISC.—The Manitowoc Company, Inc. announced that agreement has been reached on the terms of a recommended acquisition of Enodis plc in a transaction valued at approximately $2.1 billion, including the assumption of Enodis’ net debt (approximately $207 million as of September 29, 2007). The transaction, which was unanimously approved by both companies’ Boards of Directors, provides for a cash payment of 258 pence per Enodis share. In addition, in advance of the closing of the transaction, Enodis will pay a dividend of 2 pence per Enodis share in lieu of an interim dividend in respect of the financial year...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Aquawing Ozone Injection Systems (AWOIS) as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. AWOIS’ patented Aqua-Fusion System provides energy and water savings along with an increase in wash quality. Patent pending variable ozone allows the Aqua-Fusion ozone laundry system to customize the amounts of ozone delivered to each washer. More heavily soiled laundry receives more ozone and lighter loads receive reduced amounts for maximum cleaning and saving effects. AWOIS’ Aqua-Fusion System reduces hot water usage, shortens wash cycles, increases linen quality while reducing linen replacement costs, and provides...

NASHVILLE, TENN.—Universal Lighting Technologies announces the latest in high efficiency wireless controllable lighting systems with the release of the DEMANDflex ballast family and DCL (Demand Control Lighting) controls. DEMANDflex ballasts feature an innovative wireless control technology to receive commands without the need for extra control wires. These ballasts have the flexibility to have power levels tuned during installation at the circuit level to optimize and maximize energy savings. Together, DEMANDflex ballasts and DCL controls represent one of the most cost-effective lighting systems available today. DCL controls allow for local control with energy management systems and external control via the...