ROLLING MEADOWS, ILL.—A coalition led by the Plumbing Manufacturers Institute recently helped Texas join California as the second state nationwide to require high-efficiency toilets (HETs) in all new residential and commercial construction. An HET is defined as a water closet that uses no more than 1.28 gallons of water per flush (GPF), or 20 percent less than the 1.6-GPF models mandated by the National Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct). Texas House Bill 2667, which was signed into law by Governor Rick Perry on June 19, also sets maximum showerhead flow rates at 2.5 gallons per minute and urinal flush...

SHEFFIELD, MASS.—Cypress Bath, Bed & Spa, a leading designer and manufacturer of luxury bathrobes, towels, slippers, and sheets for the global hospitality and spa industries, announced that Gaia Napa Valley Hotel & Spa has chosen their environmentally-friendly Green Earth towel for property-wide use. A recently completed six-month pilot program by Gaia demonstrated credible and successful results to prove Cypress’ claim that the Green Earth towel provided energy savings, detergent use reductions and lowered water usage. “Loosely translated as Greek for ‘Mother Earth,’ Gaia is truly a special property, and a property founded on a vision of sustainability,” said Gene Faul,...

DALLAS—LQ Management LLC, one of the largest operators of limited-service hotels in the United States, has long had an interest in running properties that are energy efficient. It has been an Energy Star partner since 1995, first established a compact fluorescent lighting program for its La Quinta Inns and La Quinta Inns & Suites brands in 1999, has a towel and linen reuse program at its more than 700 hotels, has deployed guestroom energy management systems in more than 160 properties, and is currently working with the American Hotel & Lodging Assn. to follow its 11 Minimum Guidelines for...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) recently launched several initiatives to engage members and the traveling public in greening the hospitality industry, including a Green Partner Program, GreenQuest tracking system, and Green Tips for Travelers. The Green Partner program allows AH&LA members the opportunity to donate funds to plant trees via the Nature Conservancy’s Plant A Billion drive. Green Partners, which to date include HD Supply; Hotel Felix; Pineapple Hospitality, Inc.; and Project Planet, sponsor AH&LA events by donating $1 per attendee, which in turn plants that total number of trees. There is an additional $500 program...

FREESTONE, CALIF.—Osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary announces the completion of their new greywater system and constructed wetlands. With water becoming as prized as gold, Osmosis is striving for efficiency, recycling its greywater, while creating a spa-like sanctuary for nearby Northern California wildlife. More than 14 months in the making and considered a landmark project, the new Osmosis constructed wetlands is the first of its kind completed in Sonoma County. Saving nearly 1,000 gallons of water per day, Osmosis’ latest green milestone also paves the way for other local businesses seeking to transform used water into sustenance for thriving gardens. “Greywater is...

VISTA, CALIF.— Waterless No-Flush Urinals reports that seven of their no-water urinal systems are now made using a 30 percent soybean-based resin. This resin is formulated using a variety of renewably sourced raw materials, including vegetable oils, ethanol and other bio-derived compounds. According to Klaus Reichardt, founder and managing partner of Waterless No-Flush Urinals, the technology that was developed in 1999 to process this soybean resin has advanced to the point that it is now suitable for a variety of applications. In addition to urinals, the resin is used in the manufacturing of boats, cars, buses, and building and...

PISCATAWAY, N.J.—Based on the simple premise of “push 1 for 1 and push 2 for 2,” dual flush toilets have become a breakout green product success story. Because most perform as well as or better than their conventional counterparts, while saving up to 25 percent on water, dual flush toilets are truly conservation without sacrifice. Until now, dual flush toilets relied on the push of water to cleanse the bowl in what is known as a washdown flush. Even the most enthusiastic dual flush owners would admit to keeping a brush and towel nearby: the former to thoroughly clean the...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, has added a ClearWater Tech, LLC case study to the Green Lodging News website. The case study details the positive impact of the installation of an ozone laundry system at the Apple Farm Inn and Suites in San Luis Obispo, Calif. The case study documents the savings the ozone system generated in numerous charts and graphs. The payback time on the system was just 7.7 months, with more than $22,000 in annual labor savings. Overall, the ozone laundry system has saved the Apple Farm Inn nearly 40...

NORTH OLMSTED, OHIO—Moen’s Commercial Division announces M•Press, a new line of metering faucets that provide durability and energy cost savings. Moen’s exclusive sealed silicon metering mechanism found in the new M•Press faucets provides consistent water flow with accurate timing and proper shut-off every time, while providing protection against impurities and clogs in the waterway. In addition, the M•Press metering cartridge uses an internal pressure-balancing spool, so varying water pressures will not affect the performance of the faucet—whether it’s on the first floor or the penthouse suite. “When specifying a faucet, there is a lot to consider—maintenance costs, cost of water...

CHARLOTTE, N.C.—When The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte opens in October, it will be the first LEED hotel to open in the greater Charlotte, N.C. area and the first Ritz-Carlton property anywhere to earn the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED designation (the company is also pursuing LEED for its new Lake Tahoe property expected to open later this year). The 146-room hotel has been designed to earn LEED Gold certification once it opens, to be followed by LEED Gold for Existing Buildings certification a year later. The luxury hotel, which is managed by The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co., will minimize its environmental impact...