CHICAGO—Master-Bilt, manufacturer of a full line of commercial refrigeration systems for over 65 years, announced that it has received the Kitchen Innovations (KI) 2007 Award from the National Restaurant Assn. Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show for its Master Controller with patented Reverse Cycle Defrost for walk-in refrigeration systems. The Master Controller is an electronic control system that regulates an electric expansion valve for precise refrigerant pressure and superheat through the evaporator coil. It also features demand defrost which automatically detects when a defrost is necessary. When combined with Reverse Cycle Defrost, energy savings can reach 27 percent. The award winning...

BENTON HARBOR, MICH.—Maytag Commercial unveils it 304-grade stainless steel top, front and sides, Soft-Mount, High-Speed Extractors. This line of high-speed washer/extractors provides the right size and useful features for on-premises launderers. The expanded breadth of Maytag soft-mount product is available in a variety of sizes to best meet on-premises laundry needs including 25-, 35-, 50-, 80-, 100- and 125-lb. capacities. Every size offers a large cleaning capacity, plus installation flexibility. The soft-mount suspension system eliminates the need for machine bolt-down, so even wooden floor installations are possible. With an inverter drive system, on-premises launderers will notice a decrease...

LAGRANGE, GA.—Characterized by originality and high fashion impulses, Funkygraphic is Milliken’s latest collection of state-of-the art carpet designs for hospitality interiors. The European influenced designs of Funkygraphic divide into five color moods—Jungle Fever, Purple Haze, Color Spot, Duo Tone and Fade to Grey. Each color mood represents a collection of different designs coordinated to make creating innovative interiors simple. Designs represent a graphic retro style, spiced with oblique angles and original perspectives. With over 172 standard options, there is a mood for all environments. Jungle Fever evokes a trendy ecological restaurant where an encounter between nature...

MINNEAPOLIS—Honeywell announced it has been awarded a $4.7 million contract to implement an energy-efficiency program that will significantly reduce electricity use in small hotels and motels throughout the Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) service territory in northern and central California. The Cool Control Plus program from Honeywell Utility Solutions, part of Honeywell Building Solutions, will provide lodging owners with free, energy-saving retrofits designed to eliminate wasteful use of air-conditioning and heating units. The two-and-a-half-year program will cut consumption and costs for owners, and help the utility meet state conservation targets. It is expected to save 12 million kilowatt...

LAKE PLACID, FLA.—Every year tens of millions of cans of chafing fuel are burned worldwide, emitting hazardous carbon dioxide; they are then disposed of in landfills or oceans. To address that, Intracoastal Innovations Inc. introduces the Buffet Burner Chafing Dish Heater, an eco-friendly, electric alternative that offers incomparable advantages over canned chafing fuels. Among the features is the “smart” controller which is designed to allow the user to safely and easily adjust the intensity of the temperature. The slim stainless steel profile and patented magnetic design enable this heater to fit most full-size chafing dishes. The Buffet...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—A coalition of energy efficiency advocates last week announced plans for proposed legislative action for a major shift toward incorporating high-efficiency lighting technologies in home and office settings. The call-to-action was introduced by Philips Electronics, Senator Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), Congressman Don Manzullo (R.-Ill.), and the Lighting Efficiency Coalition—comprised of the Alliance to Save Energy, American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, Californians Against Waste, Natural Resources Defense Council and Earth Day Network. The Philips-led coalition is advocating an industrywide initiative that would accelerate the use of existing energy-efficient lighting systems and bulbs as substitutes for less efficient...

SAN FRANCISCO—Walkwire, a leading provider of automated lobby PCs, business centers and boarding pass PCs, announced that it is working with Carbonfund.org to not only offset their own energy consumption but also that of every new PC that the company deploys in its client’s hotel properties. “We’re in the business of providing critical guest amenities,” says Gregor Gomory, Director of Sales and Green Business Initiatives at Walkwire. “Recent studies show that the vast majority of hotel guests want to know that hotels are operating in an environmentally-conscious way. Today’s travelers want to stay connected and they truly appreciate...

BENTON HARBOR, MICH.—Whirlpool Corp. announced that it will receive the 2007 Energy Star Partner of the Year Award for Sustained Excellence from the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This award is given to a select group of organizations that have exhibited outstanding environmental leadership year after year, while sustaining product and marketing excellence. This unique honor represents the company’s eighth Energy Star Award win. Whirlpool Corp. will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 21, 2007. Whirlpool Corp., an Energy Star partner since 1998, will be honored for its...

FRANKLIN PARK, ILL.–Sloan Valve Company’s new AC-11 Series Act-O-Matic showerheads, which have a flow rate of 2.0 gpm/7.5 Lpm, conserve 20 percent more water than standard showerheads using 2.5 gpm/9.4 Lpm, the maximum flow rate allowable under the U.S. Federal Energy Policy Act of 1992. The AC-11 conserves water while maintaining a consistent, powerful spray. Sloan’s new AC-11 2.0-gpm models with fingertip water volume control are appropriate for commercial applications, such as hotel rooms and health club locker rooms, as well as multi- and single-family residences. Sloan will continue to offer 2.5-gpm Act-O-Matic showerheads that are suitable for...

TUALATIN, ORE.—Hartmann & Forbes, maker of sustainable handcrafted window coverings, has launched its EcoWeave Collection of 15 environmentally responsible solar screen fabrics. Specially woven from eco-friendly polyester yarns, EcoWeave is among the first collections of its kind in the industry. “The EcoWeave Collection is the natural evolution of solar screen materials,” says Michael Jones, founder and CEO of Hartmann & Forbes. “We are eager to provide a resource to designers and architects that adds environmental benefits to their design. This collection is particularly exciting as EcoWeaves can be used to help achieve LEED certification.” Designed under Project-Green...