DUNEDIN, FLA.—With energy costs jumping as much as 50 percent or higher in some areas of the United States this past year, there is no better time to evaluate the effectiveness of preventive maintenance (PM) efforts. Without proper PM, energy is wasted and profits literally evaporate into thin air. Mintek Mobile Data Solutions, a provider of asset management tools such as WinTrack PM, offers the following 10 tips to reduce the impact of escalating energy costs: 1. Improperly maintained air handlers can waste up to 32 percent of the energy they consume. Check HVAC controls for proper calibration. Also...

SAINT CHARLES, MO.—The U.S. lodging industry consumes billions of bars of soap and bottles of bathroom amenities every year. Now, thanks to a new partnership between Custom Amenities Inc. of Calgary, Alberta, and Saint Charles, Mo.-based Pineapple Hospitality Inc., hoteliers can provide all the guestroom amenities travelers have come to expect with a product line called Environmentally Sensitive Amenities (ESA). It features dozens of 100 percent biodegradable guest toiletries and other amenities with a variety of product packaging. “We are enthusiastic about ESA and its growth in Canada and we are excited to be working with Pineapple Hospitality...

CHARLOTTE, N.C.—ScentAir, a leading provider of scent branding solutions for retailers and brand marketers, has signed a nationwide agreement with Omni Hotels to incorporate ScentAir’s scent machines and a signature fragrance into each of the luxury hotel brand’s properties. ScentAir, with distribution partner Muzak LLC, signed the agreement. Muzak, a music and audio messaging provider, is distributing ScentAir’s scents and scent machines in conjunction with its music service as a way to complete the sensory branding experience for its clients. Omni Hotels has been crafting its own experience for customers for years. The company chose a fragrance...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Sherwin-Williams has introduced its new ProClassic High Gloss Waterborne Interior Acrylic Enamel for interior jobs where an ultra-high-gloss finish is preferred. Formulated to meet or exceed GS-11 criteria for coatings in LEED-certified buildings, ProClassic Waterborne Enamel combines the performance characteristics of an alkyd with the environmental benefits of a waterborne. With ProClassic High Gloss waterborne, contractors will get an ultra-smooth finish with no brush or roller marks that stands up to repeated washing and daily abuse. Its wet and dry hide means that fewer coats can be applied, saving time and money. Like ProClassic Waterborne...

BENTON HARBOR, MICH.—Whirlpool Corp. announced that it has received the inaugural Energy Star Sustained Excellence 2006 Award 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 seventh Energy Star Award win. Whirlpool was recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. in March. Whirlpool Corporation, an Energy Star partner since 1998, was honored for its leadership in designing, manufacturing and marketing resource efficient home...