KOHLER, WISC.—Kohler Co., a leader in kitchen and bath design and technology, has joined the Alliance for Sustainable Built Environments. Founded in 2003, the mission of the Alliance’s international corporate members is to educate the marketplace and top management on the benefits of reducing the overall impact facilities have on the natural environment and on building occupants. Members include Johnson Controls, Milliken & Co., Forbo Flooring, Philips Lighting, JohnsonDiversey, Owens Corning, USG Corporation, and now Kohler. The Alliance invited Kohler to join based on the company’s commitment to water conservation through its product offerings, its recognition of sustainability...

SAN FRANCISCO—Pacific Gas and Electric Company has presented Alliance Star Energy LLC with a ceremonial $1.25 million incentive check to help pay for a fuel cell electric power plant at Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc.’s Westin San Francisco Airport Hotel in Millbrae. PG&E has now provided over $200 million in clean energy incentives to customers in its service territory. “PG&E is proud to help The Westin San Francisco Airport Hotel achieve its greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals and we applaud the hotel for being an environmental leader in the hospitality industry,” says David Rubin, PG&E Director of...

NEW YORK—KnollTextiles introduces the Renew Collection of three environmental upholstery fabrics made of recycled and recyclable polyester, with no added backings or finishes. KnollTextiles has engineered this trio for high durability (between 80K and 100K Wyznbeek double rubs) while keeping it earth-friendly, without adding materials to the face or back of the fabric which can prevent it from being recycled into its component parts. Knoll, as a corporation, takes environmental issues seriously, from a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas, to making sustainability an integral part of its business, and KnollTextiles has long been a leader in environmental textiles....

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Better Living as a sponsor. Holiday Island, Ark.-based Better Living is a provider of Sun Aire Ductless Furnaces and Sun Aire Air Purifiers. The energy-efficient Ductless Furnace can heat an area of up to 500 square feet economically with clean, comfortable radiant heat. The Sun Aire Air Purifier safely eliminates airborne bacteria and viruses, mold spores, and pet/smoke/ammonia odors using a sunlight process. The purifiers are made from brushed stainless steel and include a lifetime/washable 0.5 micron pre-filter. They weigh just 9 lbs. Sun Aire Air...

KENNESAW, GA.—In a significant step to reduce the carpet industry’s environmental footprint, The Mohawk Group introduces Encycle, a patent-pending, PVC-free (polyvinyl chloride) modular carpet backing system. A model of sustainable design, Encycle is the only carpet tile designed with three thermoplastic layers and zero water-based components, enabling complete recyclability back into itself without separation. The innovative new backing system also incorporates 35 percent pre-consumer recycled content by total product weight and utilizes 28 percent less virgin raw materials. “The Mohawk Group’s investment in the development of revolutionary products like Encycle underscores our commitment to sustaining a healthy...

VISTA, CALIF.—Facility managers may now take advantage of a free evaluation sheet to determine if waterless urinal systems will help them save money and water. Developed by Waterless Co., makers of Waterless No-Flush urinals, Vista, Calif., the evaluation sheet asks facility managers a series of simple questions, such as: • How many males populate the facility? • Number of urinals in the facility? • Hours of operation? • Amount of water used per urinal, per flush? • Local water and sewer rates per 1,000 gallons? Most urinals use between one and three gallons of water, depending on...

ARUBA—American Express has reiterated its unvarying support of the Caribbean hospitality industry through an ongoing calendar of programs and initiatives during 2007. “A strategic partnership is, by definition, mutually beneficial,” says Dianelys Rodríguez, vice president of destination business development, American Express Travel Related Services, at a press conference of the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) during Caribbean Marketplace 2007. “We’re here to underscore that notion with action.” Caribbean Marketplace, presented by CHA with support from American Express, is the single most important tourism marketing event of the Caribbean hotel and tourism industry. It marks the start of the...

ARLINGTON, VA.—Pepco Energy Services, a subsidiary of Pepco Holdings Inc. and a supplier of renewable electricity, announced that it has been awarded a contract to supply wind power to the historic Willard InterContinental Hotel in Washington, D.C. The six-month contract calls for Pepco Energy Services to supply the 332-room Willard InterContinental with nearly 2 million kilowatt hours of electricity generated from renewable resources per year. Facilitated by The Loyalton Group, an energy risk management firm in Washington, D.C., the contract stipulates that 10 percent of the energy will come from wind farms. “We at the Willard InterContinental...

SAINT CHARLES, MO.—Pineapple Hospitality introduces its greenSPA amenities—a line of 100 percent biodegradable guest amenities proven to help hoteliers improve all three phases of their Triple Bottom Line—economic, social, environmental. The greenSPA line provides hotels with unique, competitively priced amenities proven to impress guests, preserve the environment and enrich recognition with today’s estimated more than 50 million environmentally conscious travelers. “Our line of all-natural greenSPA amenities—which include liquid hand soaps, lotions, body wash, shampoo and conditioner—along with our convenient dispensing systems—use less product and result in far less waste than all of those little plastic bottles,” says Ray...

MALVERN, PA.—USA Technologies announced that five vending machine models from Vendo and Dixie Narco, two major U.S. manufacturers, are the first rebuilt refrigerated beverage vending machines to qualify for Energy Star. The five models are the first to meet the Energy Star requirements after being refurbished with USA Technologies’ VM2iQ. This technology reduces energy consumption and CO2 emissions. “The Energy Star qualification highlights how quickly and easily older machines can be refurbished and made more efficient to extend their life and deliver greater competitive advantage,” says Larry Eils, executive director, National Automatic Merchandising Assn. “This is important recognition...