KOHLER, WIS.—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently honored Kohler Co. with a 2021 WaterSense Sustained Excellence Award—the seventh such award for the company—for its efforts in 2020 to help consumers and businesses conserve water. Kohler was recognized during the WaterSmart Innovations Conference and Exposition in Las Vegas, along with 33 other utilities, manufacturers, builders, retailers, and other organizations that partner with WaterSense to promote water-efficient products, homes, and programs. This recognition marks the twelfth award Kohler Co. has received from the WaterSense program. Kohler’s various plumbing brands launched nearly 100 WaterSense-labeled products in 2020. From 2007 to 2020, 388...

In 2018, Media Matters, a watchdog group, reported that over a two-week period from late June (2018) to July (2018), ABC, CBS, and NBC, the three major networks in the U.S., aired a combined 127 segments that discussed the heat wave then impacting much of the country. However, only one, CBS This Morning, mentioned two words that appear to get some people very charged up, and those two words are “climate change.” There’s more to it than just the fact that some people get “charged up” when the words climate change are spoken on the air. According to Chris Hayes,...

The world’s environment is affected primarily by real estate, transportation, and manufacturing. Due to the influence that these industries have on each other, it is clear that designing and operating sustainable buildings have a tremendous impact on the environment. Some of the concerns addressed by sustainability practices include inefficient site planning; lack of smart growth; waste of water, electricity, and energy; overconsumption and excessive waste; not using sustainable materials; minimizing transportation; the lack of healthy indoor air quality; increased pollution; depletion of the ozone layer; and climate change. Challenges & Misconceptions The hospitality industry was slow to adopt sustainable operations and design because...

HENDERSON, KY.—The Envi Boutique Hotel, located in Henderson, Kentucky, is proof that an old, tired hotel that has seen its share of flags can not only survive but thrive as a shiny, totally renovated green hotel striving to be greener. According to Kiran Patel, owner of the property, the 54-room hotel was first opened in 1967 as a full-service Holiday Inn. It later was converted to a Best Western and finally two other brands before being renovated into the Envi Boutique Hotel in June of this year. “In 1994 we purchased the property and was with Super 8 for 23.5...

CINCINNATI—Cintas Corp. announced its ambition to achieve Net Zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. The company is also in the midst of a comprehensive, enterprise-wide review of its business model as it relates to environmental, social and governance (ESG) opportunities, improvements, and efficiencies. Cintas has been built on sustainable business practices, and the continuous improvement of its sustainability measures has been key to the company’s operational success over the years. As its business review continues for the next 12 to 18 months, Cintas expects to better define its ESG journey, including identifying strategies to reduce its Scope 1 and 2...

AUSTIN, TEXAS—Banyan Water, a leading provider of data-driven water conservation software for the built environment, released its 2021 Banyan Water Analysis Trends and Emerging Risk (W.A.T.E.R.) Report. Banyan’s report analyzes 2020 data from its portfolio of properties, identifying major enterprise-level water risks jeopardizing large-scale conservation amidst historic droughts. The report also identifies the millions of dollars in hidden costs properties face due to water mismanagement coupled with rising regional water rates. “Severe droughts threatening water reserves are not just an issue. We’re combating a full crisis,” said Gillan Taddune, CEO of Banyan. “Corporations can no longer put water management on the...

One of the most interesting sustainability-focused megaprojects in the works currently is called GreenCity and is planned for the Richmond, Virginia metro region. The eco-district project will include commercial, entertainment and residential developments. Two hotels are planned for GreenCity, with the first scheduled to be developed in the initial development sequence, and the second to follow as the market dictates. A 17,000-seat arena is planned. Also included will be retail space and a 40-acre, publicly accessible park system. Transit connections are currently under study, but when completed will allow for easy regional access via bus and other systems. Some of...

NATIONAL REPORT—Sustainability is the buzzword for diners in the current millennium, reports Forbes, with 65 percent of customers declaring that they are interested in products and services that can help them lead a greener life. Foodies are seeking to support restaurants that follow “slow food” principles, rely on renewable energies, display ethical attitudes towards staff and suppliers, and prepare food in sustainable kitchens. Since the kitchen is the heart and soul of a restaurant’s operations, businesses wishing to run greener kitchens should tackle this goal from a multifaceted perspective. Reducing Water Consumption Saving water involves various measures ranging from keeping pipes and faucets free...

JACKSONVILLE, FLA.—There have been many combinations of fibers that have come together in recent years to form towels that have been more sustainable in nature, but few companies have combined organic cotton and hemp. One such company is Anact. Anact was founded on Kickstarter by Brianna Kilcullen 2019. In that year she helped legalize hemp in Florida while founding her company. Prior to starting Anact, she worked in the apparel industry for prAna, a subsidiary of Columbia Sportswear and Under Armour. “I worked for Under Armour and got to see the impact of the textile industry,” Kilcullen says. “I ended...

NEW YORK—WINT Water Intelligence, a leader in cutting-edge water management and leak prevention solutions for construction, commercial and industrial applications, announced that their award-winning technology is now available and ready to be directly integrated into fire sprinkler systems. The new solution helps owners and facilities managers prevent water damage from the accidental discharge of water from fire suppression sprinkler systems. Sprinkler systems can release up to 24 gallons per minute, potentially unleashing hundreds of gallons of water in just a few minutes if they’re accidentally activated. Like other plumbing systems, they are also vulnerable to equipment, pipe and fitting breakdown...