LAS VEGAS—Organizers of the WaterSmart Innovations Conference and Exposition (WSI), the world’s largest conference dedicated to urban water efficiency, recently announced that the show will remain in Las Vegas at least through 2012. Officials with the Southern Nevada Water Authority, which presents WSI in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection agency’s WaterSense Program and other public- and private-sector organizations, gave the conference the green light to continue for at least three more years. “WaterSmart Innovations provides a platform for professionals from a broad spectrum of disciplines to come together to share their knowledge,” said WSI program chairman Doug Bennett. “There...

PISCATAWAY, N.J.—American Standard Brands, a leading manufacturer of bath and kitchen plumbing products, announced its commitment of $1 million over a two-year period to The Nature Conservancy to increase awareness of how consumers can conserve water every day and to provide support of the Conservancy’s mission of protecting the Earth’s most vital natural resource—our drinking water. “As the world’s largest conservation organization, The Nature Conservancy is committed to changing the way water is used and managed to ensure a sustainable supply for people while ensuring ecological health,” said Brian Richter, director of The Nature Conservancy’s Global Freshwater Program. “We...

BALTIMORE—Baltimore’s Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott—blocks from the Inner Harbor—recently received a Special Accomplishment Award from the United States Green Building Council, Maryland Chapter at the group’s fifth annual awards ceremony. The award is the latest in a series of accolades for the hotel. In November, Maryland Governor O’Malley presented the Fairfield Inn & Suites with a sustainable tourism award as part of his announcement of the state’s Green Travel Program, noting, “Baltimore’s first LEED certified hotel has made green practices an integral part of its operation. It has implemented a variety of procedures that promote sustainability, especially for...

PARK CITY, UTAH—The 56-suite Treasure Mountain Inn, Park City’s only 100 percent wind powered and 100 percent carbon-neutral “eco-tique” hotel, has taken an additional step towards sustainability by adding solar power to its host of green initiatives. The 18-panel system was appropriately launched on the first day of winter, the darkest day of the year, and is now generating green power for the lodging property’s spa and courtyard. Andy Beerman, Treasure Mountain Inn’s co-owner and general manager, said the solar system cost about $35,000. The inn’s owners were unable to obtain tax credits for the installation because the inn is...

SEDONA, ARIZ.—Sedona’s Kings Ransom Inn recently launched Green Suites International’s “EcoRoom Accommodation Program,” converting each of its 53 guestrooms into healthier, more environmental “EcoRooms.” They are the first property in the area to do so. The guestrooms will now feature more than a dozen environmental products. The products include compact fluorescent light bulbs, water-efficient showerheads and sink faucets; LED nightlights (according to a study at Livermore Laboratories, 40 percent of all travelers leave bathroom lights on as nightlights), nontoxic cleaning chemicals; a linen reuse program, and Natura brand liquid soaps, lotions and shampoo products offered in shower and vanity dispensers....

TRAVELERS REST, S.C.—T&S Brass, a leading manufacturer of plumbing and foodservice equipment, announces the launch of the new ChekPoint EC-3106 electronic faucet, offering the ability to switch from a sensor faucet to a manual faucet. Available immediately for deck-mount applications, the EC-3106 converts by simply rotating the top cap of the faucet until it locks into the desired mode. Once engaged in the manual mode, the faucet is turned on and off by rotating the cap on the top of the faucet. In addition to this new feature, the EC-3106 offers all of the same features and reliability as the...

NATIONAL REPORT—With advancements in controls technology and equipment design, washer-extractors (washers) are becoming increasingly more sophisticated and flexible. This is good news for hoteliers looking to save money in a recovering economy. In the race to gain new business, vendors are manufacturing higher G-force machines that spin off more water faster, allowing linens to dry in less time. In some cases, advancements have allowed rinse cycles and dryers to be eliminated entirely. While innovation has allowed vendors to squeeze just about as much water as they can out of the washing process, other advances, especially in software programming, are...

RALEIGH, N.C.—In October, the Raleigh Convention Center joined an elite group of convention centers—those that have earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. In Raleigh’s case, it earned LEED Silver, joining the Phoenix Convention Center, Spokane (Wash.) Convention Center Expansion, and the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Ore., as LEED Silver recipients. The Raleigh facility earned the LEED designation a little more than a year after the center opened in September 2008. The Raleigh Convention Center is owned and managed by the City of Raleigh. According to Laurie Okun, director of...

FRANKLIN PARK, ILL.—Sloan Valve Company is presenting its water-efficiency message as the focus of its newly redesigned website, emphasizing the company’s eco-friendly plumbing products and corporate direction. Sloan announced its completely revamped website, which provides information about its water- and energy-efficient plumbing products, systems and services, in conjunction with the 2009 Greenbuild International Conference and Exhibition last month. Sloan comprehensively covers its plumbing products and systems in both a general “Our Products” category that is subdivided by product groups, such as Manual Flushometers and Faucets, and within specialty categories, such as Water Efficiency and International Products. Separate sections for Technical...

LAS VEGAS—Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas, a hotel located at the new CityCenter on The Strip, has achieved LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). It is the first hotel in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group to receive a LEED rating, and marks the sixth LEED Gold certification for CityCenter, which is one of the world’s largest sustainable developments. “Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is known for demonstrating its leadership in the hotel industry,” said Rajesh Jhingon, general manager of Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas. “We are honored to have the Group’s first LEED Gold certified hotel.” Mandarin Oriental Highlights • The...