CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications L.L.C., the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Leonardo Media B.V. as a Green Product Directory partner. Leonardo is a world leader in travel content management, e-marketing and content distribution solutions for the global travel chains. Leonardo’s electronic solutions are designed to simplify the management and optimization of interactive rich media content, the creation and delivery of e-marketing promotions and e-brochures, and the automation of image distribution to travel channels. Leonardo provides a one-stop central source for travel channels and travel partners to receive up-to-date digital interactive travel content in the variation of...

CITY OF INDUSTRY, CALIF.—For the fourth consecutive year, Bentley Prince Street has been recognized for its progressive efforts to reduce waste and conserve resources with 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 the successful implementation of resource-efficient practices and aggressive waste reduction, reuse and recycling programs. “At Bentley Prince Street, just as we have our own Mission Zero goal of eliminating our potential negative impact on the environment by the year 2020, we’re...

BOULDER, COLO.—Sustainable Travel International (STI) announced that it is launching TravelGreen, a carbon offset initiative designed specifically for hoteliers. Through TravelGreen, hoteliers around the world can connect their guests with the opportunity to support the development of solar and wind power while traveling. “At its most basic, the TravelGreen program is a tool that allows for the sale of clean, renewable electricity generation through the purchase of renewable energy certificates, also called Green Tags,” says Brian T. Mullis, STI’s President. “More broadly, it’s a valuable service provided to the public by hoteliers that allow guests to participate directly...

NATIONAL REPORT—Late December was not a good time for an upscale hotel in southern Florida. A 26-year-old man lost his life in a guestroom. The cause of death: carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. The man’s father nearly died from the silent killer as well. He survived after being put on a ventilator. According to a report in The Miami Herald, authorities concluded that the boiler room, which houses two boilers and two water tanks to heat water for the entire facility, was the source of the deadly fumes. The boiler room is located next to the room where the...

MILWAUKEE—In response to increasing global demand for renewable energy, Johnson Controls Inc. is expanding its business direction in the areas of designing, installing and servicing geothermal, solar, biomass, wind and other renewable sources as energy supply options for customers. “We expect demand from businesses and organizations for onsite renewable energy to escalate as fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas increase in price and concern grows about their economic and environmental impact,” says Bruno Biasiotta, vice president, solutions, Johnson Controls. “The real opportunity for customers involves combining renewable technologies with innovative energy efficiency strategies.” Don Albinger,...

CAPE ELIZABETH, MAINE—Carbonfund.org and The Inn By The Sea have joined forces to launch a new carbon offset program designed specifically to provide guests with a simple way to green meetings and vacations. The announcement was made by Craig Coulter, Partnerships Director at Carbonfund.org. The all new Carbofree Meetings and Carbonfree Vacations programs make it easy for guests to neutralize their travel-generated carbon emissions with support for Carbonfund.org’s domestic tree planting projects, which help reduce greenhouse gases. The new program is straightforward enough, but educating guests as to why they want to neutralize their carbon footprint can be...

CLEVELAND, OHIO— GE Consumer & Industrial’s Lighting division, a leader in the development of energy-efficient lighting products, announced advancements to the light bulb invented by GE’s founder, Thomas Edison, that potentially will elevate the energy efficiency of this 125-year-old technology to levels comparable to compact fluorescent lamps (CFL), delivering significant environmental benefits. Over the next several years, these advancements will lead to the introduction of high-efficiency incandescent lamps that provide the same high light quality, brightness and color as current incandescent lamps while saving energy and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. The new high-efficiency incandescent (HEI) lamp, which...

ASPEN/SNOWMASS, COLO.—Aspen Skiing Co. has selected Green Mountain Coffee Roasters to be the “Official Coffee of Aspen/Snowmass,” as well as its newest resort partner. As part of the partnership, guests of Aspen/Snowmass will enjoy daily complimentary samples of Green Mountain’s Fair Trade Certified Organic French Roast coffee at the base of all four resort mountains—Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk. Aspen Skiing Co. will also serve Green Mountain coffees exclusively at on-mountain restaurants, offices, The Tavern at The Little Nell hotel, and The Snowmass Club. Aspen Skiing Co. and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters have both received accolades...

DANBURY, CONN.—FuelCell Energy, Inc., a leading manufacturer of ultra-clean electric power generation plants for commercial and industrial customers, announced that the federal government’s recent extension of the Income Tax Credit (ITC) for fuel cells will continue to provide additional incentives for its ultra-clean power plant products through the end of 2008. Enacted as part of the U.S. Energy Policy Act of 2005, the ITC established a range of incentives for “green” electricity produced by non-traditional means. The company’s low-emission fuel cell power plants qualify because they run on renewable fuels (such as gas produced by breweries and other...

ORLANDO, FLA.—Alsons, a leading manufacturer of distinctively-styled shower products, announces the launch of patented fluidics spray technology that delivers a reduced, water-saving flow while giving the user a superior showering experience. There are fluidics showerheads available with a 1.85 gallons per minute (gpm) spray, a 1.75 gpm spray and, for a 36 percent water savings over the standard 2.5 gpm, there is a 1.6 gpm spray. Also available is a convenient two-spray unit that allows the user to switch between a water-saving 1.85 gpm and standard 2.5 gpm with the turn of a lever. “The fluidics technology describes...