CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes USA Technologies Inc., Malvern, Pa., as a sponsor. The company’s VendingMiser reduces beverage vending machine electricity use by up to 46 percent and can help existing machines perform to Energy Star specification levels. Other USA Technologies products that produce similar savings include: VM2iQ for vending machines; CoolerMiser & CM2iQ for glass-front coolers; SnackMiser for snack machines; and PlugMiser for plug-in equipment. Be sure to ask the company about available rebates. USA Technologies can be reached at (888) 521-6982, or by e-mail at jgroff@usatech.com. Go to...

SOMERSET, N.J.—Philips Lighting Co., the U.S.-based lighting company affiliated with Royal Philips Electronics, was recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as the first company in the United States to launch a companywide effort towards meeting the EPA’s National Partnership for Environmental Priorities (NPEP) waste minimization standards. As a new partner in the national program, Philips Lighting has committed to reducing the amount of mercury used in the manufacturing of its fluorescent lamps by 780 pounds by the end of 2007. In addition, the company has committed to eliminating the amount of lead in all of its...

OAK PARK, CALIF.—Designed to conserve water and reduce costs associated with water consumption, the Cyber-Rain XCI eight-zone sprinkler controller is an easy-to-use computerized system that manages an area’s watering needs. It is the most effective solution for hotels in areas with severe water shortages. The Cyber-Rain XCI combines the power of a PC, the internet, and the latest wireless technology to automatically manage a property’s watering schedule based on weather conditions. Features include software that allows you to set your watering schedule in minutes. The system will also automatically check your local weather forecast several times a day...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Water & Salt Consulting, Sac City, Iowa, as a Green Product Directory partner. The company’s Wellness Shower system not only removes 99 percent of chlorine from water for up to 24 months but also removes a host of other potentially harmful chemicals. It also enhances the water unlike any other shower system on the market. “The Wellness Shower is the only shower filter on the market that removes contaminants and also enhances the water for healthier and better looking skin and hair,” says Stan Zimmer, owner,...

LAGRANGE, GA.—The Commonwealth of Massachusetts presented Milliken Contract and its Framingham, Mass.-based service provider State Contract Carpet with a 2006 Business Environmental Purchasing and Sustainability Award for exceptional sustainable practices. The business awards recognize leadership and creativity in promoting sustainable products and practices beyond the contract obligations for statewide contractors. Nominees were reviewed on criteria extending beyond recycled content, including background on initiatives for greenhouse gas emission reduction, waste minimization, Design for the Environment, Life Cycle Assessment and other sustainable practices. “Milliken’s rich eco heritage and leadership in sustainable practices across the board were quite impressive,” says...

ATLANTA—The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has released the ASHRAE GreenGuide: The Design, Construction and Operation of Sustainable Buildings. The organization says it will help teach designers how to participate effectively on design teams charged with producing green buildings. “This is a design guide for mechanical engineers who are interested in advancing integrated, high performance/green concepts and applications on building design projects,” says Malcolm Lewis, Ph.D., a member of ASHRAE’s technical committee on building environmental impacts and sustainability, which wrote the book. “The guidance will help building professionals analyze system design options and point...

NORCO, CALIF.—Quick Crete Products Corp. has introduced a virtually smokeless ash receptacle for the disposal of cigarette and other tobacco-related litter in public areas. Through a patent-pending process, the new Halo product virtually eliminates tobacco smoke and odors, keeping the surrounding air cleaner and easier to breathe. The Halo’s covered design also eliminates the unsightly appearance caused by partially smoked or spent cigarette and cigar butts. “Because cigarette litter is becoming such a major environmental issue in communities, customers have been asking us for a better solution to the problems associated with it, especially in public areas frequented...

ALPHARETTA, GA.—Mario Insenga, principal of The Refinishing Touch, has been selected to join the General Service Administration’s National Furniture Center’s Quality Partnership Council (QPC) board of directors. The QPC is an open forum held quarterly, with the goal of exchanging ideas and information regarding the furniture and furnishings industry within the vast federal government marketplace. “We are pleased to be part of this organization and look forward to working closely with the QPC board in the future,” Insenga says. The Refinishing Touch prevents tons of furniture from going to landfills each year by refinishing it. The...

BENTON HARBOR, MICH.—Maytag Commercial Laundry introduces its Energy Advantage On-Premises Drying Tumblers. They benefit operators by lowering energy costs and benefit employees with simple one-touch controls. Available in 30-, 50- and 75-lb. capacities, Energy Advantage On-Premises Drying Tumblers efficiently dry bulky loads to ensure a constant supply of clean linens. The tempered glass door combined with a dryer drum designed with air holes in the back only, forces heated air through clothes to reduce drying time. This results in a reduction of energy costs and less employee downtime. Energy Advantage On-Premises Drying Tumblers come standard with microprocessor controls,...

CITY OF INDUSTRY, CALIF.—Bentley Prince Street announced that all of its standard broadloom and carpet tile products have achieved Scientific Certification Systems’ (SCS) Sustainable Choice Gold/Environmentally Preferable Product (EPP) certification under the new Sustainable Carpet Assessment Draft Standard, NSF-140. This new draft standard for sustainable carpet replaces the previous EPP standard, to which all of Bentley Prince Street’s standard products were certified. In addition, all of the company’s standard broadloom products are certified to the stringent “California Gold” standard required for State of California carpet purchases. Also achieving California Gold certification are broadloom products using the optional Prestige...