PISCATAWAY, N.J.—The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently announced that commercial property owners can potentially enjoy significant tax deductions by making their buildings more energy efficient, and in its Notice, also officially approved Trane’s TRACE 700 software to certify energy savings. Trane’s TRACE 700 software, the first of four programs accepted by the IRS for energy savings certification, enables building owners to translate energy savings into tax deductions. The commercial building deduction, enacted in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, allows taxpayers to deduct the cost of energy efficient property installed in commercial buildings. Buildings that achieve...

MALVERN, PA.—USA Technologies has introduced the EnergyMiser Conversion Program to help vending machine owners and operators nationwide convert their installed vending machines to meet Energy Star requirements. The EnergyMiser Conversion Program is a comprehensive turnkey package of services and technology provided by USA Technologies for bottlers to capitalize on the new Energy Star Refurbishment Program. The announcement comes days after the Environmental Protection Agency announced the Rebuilt Beverage Vending Machine Program under which older and existing machines will be able to qualify for Energy Star eligibility and carry the Energy Star label. “The EPA’s Rebuilt Beverage...

CHICAGO—The International Executive Housekeepers Assn. (IEHA) has honored Stephen Ashkin, president of The Ashkin Group, with the 2006 William D. Joyner Achievement Award. The accolade, established in 1998, recognizes an individual considered by the IEHA to have helped the organization grow and who has contributed research, technical assistance, articles in Executive Housekeeping Today magazine and written books or guidelines. The award was presented to Ashkin at the IEHA banquet during the International Sanitary Supply Assn. (ISSA) 2006 convention in Chicago on October 5, 2006. “I feel privileged and thankful to be selected for this award,” Ashkin says....

BOSTON—A new ZigBee wireless environmental automation system is enabling hotels and other facilities to eliminate energy waste and slash energy costs up to 40 percent. Invented by Riga Development, the new WiSuite Environmental Management System uses Ember’s ZigBee wireless networking technology to let property owners automate and control the energy efficiency of every room, without compromising the comfort of occupants. ZigBee is a global wireless industry standard designed for remote monitoring, control and sensor networks. WiSuite yields huge savings by dramatically reducing wasteful electric and fuel consumption of HVAC systems. Because it’s wireless, WiSuite can be retrofitted...

CHICAGO—At the recent ISSA/Interclean trade show in Chicago, Tornado Industries released its Commitment to Environmental Sustainability, establishing the company’s goals when it comes to cleaning, health, and protecting the environment. Tornado, which recently became a member of the U.S. Green Building Council, is an 80-year-old manufacturer of professional carpet and floor care equipment based in Chicago. According to its statement, the company has manufactured and will continue to manufacture products that, “enhance indoor air quality (IAQ), use less water and chemical, create less noise, and contribute to source reduction.” Mike Schaffer, president of Tornado Industries, says...

DANBURY, CONN.—FuelCell Energy Inc., a manufacturer of ultra-clean and efficient electric power plants for commercial and industrial customers, announced it has been named to the prestigious Deloitte Connecticut Technology Fast 50, a ranking of the 50 fastest-growing technology companies in the state by Deloitte & Touche USA LLP. Rankings are based on the percentage revenue growth over five years from 2001 through 2005. “We are delighted to gain Deloitte’s recognition,” says R. Daniel Brdar, FuelCell Energy president and c.e.o. “Connecticut is a great incubator for a leading edge business like ours and it is an honor to be...

LONDON—Individually, members of the tourism industry are no more able to solve the world’s problems than members of any other business sector. However, the industry has significant potential to address issues and achieve positive outcomes for communities and the environment. This is the message in the October issue of greenhotelier magazine, which examines how the industry has begun to engage with sustainability issues and form different cross-sector partnerships to address them. The article looks at the global issues that relate to the tourism industry and maintains that the partnership model of development is often the best way of...

KENNESAW, GA.—Reinforcing its commitment to providing customers with an expansive collection of sustainable carpeting for contract interiors, The Mohawk Group announces that numerous product platforms have achieved SCS (Scientific Certification Systems) Sustainable Choice Platinum and Gold/Environmentally Preferable Product (EPP) certification. Platinum and Gold are the highest levels of achievement recognized under the new national Sustainable Carpet Assessment Standard, NSF-140-2005. The standard is the industry’s new sustainability benchmark for ensuring environmentally and socially responsible carpeting products. “Providing our customers with high quality sustainable products has always been a driving force in The Mohawk Group’s design and manufacturing processes,”...

LAS VEGAS—Power Efficiency Corp., a developer and manufacturer of advanced energy savings technologies for electric motors, announced it closed initial sales of its Power Genius energy saving technology to three prominent Las Vegas casinos. “We believe these initial sales to three casinos, which are owned by different national casino groups, are the beginning of a broader adoption of our technology by the gaming and hospitality industry,” says Steven Strasser, Power Efficiency’s chairman and c.e.o. “These sales follow previously announced tests at these three facilities. The tests, which were verified by the local utility, confirmed the Power Genius saved...

SYRACUSE, N.Y.—Carrier Corp., a unit of United Technologies Corp., announced that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has approved its E20-II Hourly Analysis Program (HAP) v4.31 for calculating and certifying energy savings. Commercial building owners and leaseholders can now use the software to receive energy efficiency tax deductions under the Energy Policy Act (EPACT) 2005. To date, HAP is one of only four software programs to receive this approval. EPACT 2005 allows commercial building owners and leaseholders to claim a federal tax deduction for installing energy efficient equipment. Under the act, all energy savings claims must also be...