MINNEAPOLIS—Healthier Choice, a premium carpet cushion manufacturer, will use BiOH polyols, a soy-based ingredient in greener foam production, to offer a more responsible, greener choice in cushioning for carpet and flooring. Derived from natural vegetable oils such as soybean oil, BiOH polyols can deliver unique performance benefits while helping customers reduce their environmental footprint and market themselves to downstream customers. Healthier Choice, an environmentally conscious maker of functional foam underlay, sees a partnership with BiOH polyols as a logical step. The company is now integrating the use of BiOH polyols throughout its total product line, including Healthier Choice Carpet Cushion,...

ATLANTA—Georgia Power recently signed an agreement with TOTO USA, Inc. to begin providing the company with green energy. Under the terms of the agreement, TOTO USA, Inc. has agreed to purchase 480,000 kilowatt-hours of green energy. Green energy is environmentally friendly electricity generated from sources like the sun, wind, water, landfill methane and biomass. Customers who participate in the program help reduce the environmental impact of energy production, conserve natural resources, and support domestic energy self-reliance. “The recent green energy purchase by TOTO USA is evidence that more and more of our customers see the value of making renewable sources...

SINGER ISLAND, FLA.—The Global Green Hospitality Consortium (GGHC) has been founded to provide the hospitality industry with the resources needed to implement sustainable standards and practices offered by various green associations, state and federal programs. Federal programs include EPA Green Partnership, Energy Star and the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). “GGHC will work within any framework a hotel property identifies by providing the practical tools and skilled assistance to implement the desired standards,” said Kim Karch, the group’s chief marketing officer. “The intention is not to duplicate existing or impending green hospitality standards. On...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Met-Tile, Inc. as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. The Ontario, Calif.-based company’s “tile panel” cool roofing features 10 designer colors that meet or exceed Energy Star requirements. It combines the popular look of tile with the light weight of metal, often saving on construction costs because substructure requirements are reduced. It also offers all-weather performance, including a 230+ miles per hour wind rating. Call (909) 947-0311, e-mail met-tile@met-tile.com, or go to www.met-tile.com.

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS—For the second consecutive year, Friedrich Air Conditioning has been awarded an Environmental Excellence Award by San Antonio Water System (SAWS). San Antonio Water System serves more than 1 million people in the seventh largest U.S. city. Friedrich received this award in recognition of its continued efforts to reduce water consumption. In 2007, the company reduced the amount of process water requiring treatment by approximately 50 percent and has optimized the use of its water treatment process. Environmental Excellence Award recipients must demonstrate best management, water conservation, and pollution prevention practices as well as innovative...

LOS ANGELES—Having worked successfully for such real estate clients as Wynn Las Vegas, the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort, Mandalay Bay and W Hotels, B|W|R Public Relations has been retained by Los Angeles-based hotelier Deirdre Wallace. B|W|R will focus on raising awareness of The Ambrose in Santa Monica, while seeking opportunities for the president and founder, Deirdre Wallace. For more than 28 years, B|W|R has earned a reputation as a service-intensive firm adept in a cross-section of public relations disciplines. In addition to destinations and real estate ventures, they include special events (star-studded parties, award shows), nonprofit (e.g., annual Revlon...

LAGRANGE, GA.—Milliken Hospitality’s latest carpet introduction, Orsay, takes its design cues from the work of the great impressionist masters—Renoir, Monet and Cassatt. With original interpretation from decorative artist Tracy Lee Stum, Orsay draws from an encyclopedia of decorative painting techniques and calligraphy. Using Milliken’s étage technology, the collection allows designers to define their own style and create a fully custom look quickly and easily. By simply selecting and combing pattern layers, the designer has complete control to create their own masterpiece. Orsay is available in both broadloom and 36-inch tile formats. The collection includes small, medium and large scale...

CITY OF INDUSTRY, CALIF.—For the fifth consecutive year, Bentley Prince Street has been recognized for its efforts to reduce waste and conserve resources. It is the winner of the Waste Reduction Awards Program (WRAP) award. Sponsored by the California Integrated Waste Management Board, the state’s leading authority on recycling and waste reduction, the WRAP Awards recognize California companies for their commitment to a range of environmentally preferable business programs, including resource-efficient practices and innovative waste reduction, reuse and recycling achievements. “At Bentley Prince Street, just as we have our own Mission Zero goal of eliminating our potential negative impact on...

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.—Electrolux Professional North America announced its release of SMART Refrigeration to the North American market. Each Electrolux Smart Reach-In Refrigerator or Freezer is fully equipped with a control system to ensure back-of-house efficiency as well as the preservation of food safety and quality. Unlike traditional refrigerators, the Electrolux Smart Refrigerator is linked to a total of four temperature probes, allowing for continuous management of ambient, internal storage, condenser and evaporator temperatures. The Electronic Control System includes a memory function that will record up to 24 hours of performance time and temperature history. This feature also allows the appliance...

ORLANDO, FLA.—Housekeeping is critical to the success of today’s hospitality operations. The most basic guest expectation is a clean room, and with increasing media coverage of hotel cleanliness, it’s essential to know how to manage the people and processes that make the housekeeping department function. The newly-published third edition of Managing Housekeeping Operations, from the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (EI), presents a competency-based approach to directing the day-to-day operations of this department, from big-picture management issues to technical details for cleaning each area. The third edition of this EI textbook has been completely revised, with more than 100...