SAINT CHARLES, MO.—Pineapple Hospitality, a provider of green products, marketing programs and consulting services to the hospitality industry—in conjunction with the Hotel Investment Conference, Hotel Developers Conference and The 2nd Annual Green Hospitality Conference—has proclaimed March 9-15 as Green Lodging Education Week. (a.k.a. Green Week). “Green Week is our opportunity to lead and educate the hospitality industry on the most important issue we will face in our lifetime,” says Ray Burger, president of Pineapple Hospitality. “Our goal is for hotels, hotel management companies and hotel brands to use the week as a springboard, as their opportunity to announce and implement...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes RoomService Amenities as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. The Morganville, N.J.-based company has introduced Green from NATÜRA, an amenity program designed with the environment in mind. This collection features biodegradable bottles made from corn-based PSM (Plastarch Material). All natural, vegetable-based soaps and accessories are packaged in recycled paper cartons printed with soy-based inks. Even the shower cap is made from PSM. Customization and co-branding is available. Call (732) 591-0500, ext. 119, e-mail sales@roomserviceamenities.com, or click here to go to the website.

LOS ANGELES—Utilizing a patented mix of high-lumen output phosphors, Kumho Electric has launched Earthcare, a new, premium line of super efficient fluorescent lamps. Used as a replacement for 4-foot T8 lamps, Kumho Electric’s new 29-watt Earthcare T8s deliver the same illumination (3100 lumens) as a premium, high-lumen F32T8, but with 3 watts (almost 10 percent) lower power consumption. Earthcare does this without compromising on lamp life or color rendering. The Earthcare T8s are 24,000-hour lamps and have an 80 or greater CRI rating. “This is a breakthrough product that delivers real energy savings without sacrificing on light output,” says Alan...

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 five years, announced that it has become the exclusive distributor of MicroCotton towels, the newest innovation in luxury bath amenities. MicroCotton Towels by Cypress are made from a unique cotton yarn developed exclusively in India, using Exceptionally Long Staple cotton fibers virtually identical to “Sea Island Cotton.” The soft and plush feel of MicroCotton is complimented by the ability of this towel to be light, yet densely arrayed. The greatest benefit of...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes NativeEnergy as a sponsor. The Charlotte, Vermont-based company is a provider of traditional renewable energy credits and offsets. These allow its customers to help build market demand for clean energy and other carbon mitigation projects. Some of the projects NativeEnergy is currently supporting include: the Wray School District wind turbine, Brubaker Farms anaerobic digester project, Hillcrest Saylor family dairy farm methane project, and farmer-owned distributed wind. For more information, call (802) 735-0796, e-mail travel@nativeenergy.com, or go to www.nativeenergy.com.

BENTON HARBOR, MICH.—Whirlpool Corp. announced it will increase the company’s commitment to environmentally sound business practices by reducing total greenhouse gas emissions 6.6 percent by 2012. The company will make these global, voluntary reductions while at the same time increasing production by 17 percent. The positive output of this reduction is equivalent to approximately 4.47 million acres of trees, an area larger than the size of Connecticut and Rhode Island combined. Whirlpool Corp. is an industry leader in energy and water efficiency, and the only appliance manufacturer that brings an “across the board” focus to energy and water conservation,...

NIANTIC, CONN.—HEI Hotels & Resorts, a rapidly growing hotel ownership and operating company, has invested more than $4 million in an aggressive energy conservation program designed to improve profitability across its 29 hotels. Of that investment, $1.2 million has been spent replacing existing HVAC control systems with the e4 Smart Digital Thermostat from INNCOM international Inc. Approximately 3,600 of HEI’s 7,900 guestrooms were equipped with INNCOM’s e4 energy-management system last year. As a result, the company expects to add $400,000 to the bottom line this year, with a return on the total INNCOM investment achieved in less than three years....

DES PLAINES, ILL.—Leading luxury bedding manufacturer United Feather & Down introduces the season’s newest bedding collection from designer brand Joseph Abboud, with a focus on eco-friendly materials inherent in the designer brand’s exclusive, modern, organic aesthetics. The Joseph Abboud brand is a sophisticated American lifestyle brand with a rich heritage that reflects and expresses the confidence of its discriminating customer who embraces smart luxury and approachable style. Inspired by this heritage, the Joseph Abboud bedding collection of comforters, duvet covers, pillows, blankets, sheet sets, and decorative accessories naturally embodies eco-friendly materials of organic cottons, luxurious silks, rich wool and soft...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Green Lodging News has added its sixth case study to its new Vendor Case Studies section. The case study focuses on the Holiday Inn Hotel North Vancouver and how it has benefited from Energex Inc.’s sensor-based guestroom energy management system. The hotel installed Energex’s solution in 162 guestrooms. So far, it has saved the hotel approximately $16,000 a year in energy costs. The Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites North Vancouver joins nearly 100 other properties in 11 countries that have adopted Energex’s energy management technology. Energex has been providing property and hotel managers with energy saving solutions since 1992....

ROANOKE, VA.—Give Kids The World Village is a 70-acre, nonprofit resort in central Florida that provides accommodations at its whimsical Village. It donates attractions tickets, meals and more for a week-long, cost-free Wish vacation to children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. Give Kids The World has partnered with Lodging Technology on the installation of the GEM System Energy Management Sensors in each of the villas. The sensors will provide a significant reduction in energy use and cost to Give Kids The World. “We are excited to work with Lodging Technology,” says Michael Bausman, facilities director, Give Kids The World....