WISCONSIN DELLS, WISC.—Kalahari Resorts’ long-standing commitment to energy efficient operations continues as it adds the AquaRecycle system, a laundry water recycling and filtration system which will allow Kalahari Resorts to reuse 70 percent of its laundry water. The AquaRecycle system’s chemical-free filtration and treatment recycle process will provide clean, disinfected and pre-heated water to the laundry systems at Kalahari Resort properties in Wisconsin Dells, Wisc., Sandusky, Ohio, and eventually a third resort in Fredericksburg, Va. Home to a 740-room hotel in Wisconsin and an 884-room hotel in Ohio, Kalahari Resorts estimates the AquaRecycle system, which is expected to be operating...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Wascomat Laundry Equipment as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. With more than a century of experience, Wascomat’s products are engineered for quality, energy/water efficiency, and with strict attention to consumption of resources and fossil fuels. Wascomat’s washers, dryers, and flatwork ironers are designed to minimize environmental impact in production, use, and disposal. Nearly all parts of Wascomat’s products are recyclable. The company’s equipment is accredited according to the ISO14001 Environmental Management System and ISO9001 Quality Management System. Wascomat manufactures and distributes a complete line of precision-engineered commercial...

SPARTANBURG, S.C.—Milliken & Co., long recognized for sustainable leadership and environmental stewardship, has launched its second partnership to harvest methane as an alternative energy source. Spartanburg County approved the initiative on the eve of Earth Day 2008, April 21. “Milliken is constantly seeking ways to conserve energy and to reduce our footprint,” said Richard Dillard, director of public affairs for Milliken. “With the success of our methane program in LaGrange, Ga., Spartanburg County immediately realized the benefit of this proposal to the local government, our community, Milliken, and ultimately the Earth.” Spartanburg County will be responsible for...

BOULDER, COLO.—The Renewable Energy in Tourism Initiative (RETI) has recently developed a set of Best Practices in Renewable Energy for the tourism industry. They can be downloaded for free and public input is strongly encouraged. These RETI best practice manuals were developed to feature industry leaders that have adopted best practices in renewable energy and energy efficiency, and to provide information and guidance to businesses of all sizes interested in realizing these benefits. Through the use of case studies, each manual outlines renewable energy adoption strategies and highlights that maximize energy efficiency, minimize environmental impacts, and result in cost savings...

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...