NEWPORT NEWS, VA.—Ferguson, the country’s largest wholesale distributor of plumbing supplies, launches “National Green Month,” which will run the entire month of January, nationwide. The program highlights Ferguson’s extensive offering of green products, as well as Ferguson’s showroom consultants’ in-depth product knowledge. “Our objective is to be the premier provider of green solutions,” said Gail Kaufman, Wolseley North America’s director of green business and customer programs. “Through our expansive product offerings, to our industry expertise, our associates are committed to helping customers make small steps to help the environment.” Ferguson sells a broad range of green products across several categories that...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Water Energy Laundry Consulting as a Green Product & Service Directory Partner. Water Energy Laundry Consulting offers the following turn-key laundry solutions for the hospitality industry: full-service consulting, advanced laundry design, construction, start-up, optimization and training. Laundry Consulting is the exclusive provider of Green Laundry Systems from Water Energy. These systems are built around advanced ozone technologies and deliver significant water and energy savings to a laundry. The newly updated Water Energy Laundry Consulting website includes calculators that enable one to calculate the carbon footprint of a laundry...

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.—Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced that its flagship Element hotel—Element Lexington—is the first Starwood hotel to earn Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program and the first hotel in Massachusetts to achieve this prestigious rating. Element Lexington earned LEED Gold certification in recognition of its superior performance in areas including water and energy conservation and improved indoor environmental quality measures. The hotel, which opened its doors in July 2008, expects to recoup its investment in green building in less than five years, due to associated operational savings....

YOUNTVILLE, CALIF.—The Napa Valley community of Yountville, Calif., with a population of a little more than 3,000 people, is now home to one of the greenest lodging establishments in the United States—the 62-room luxury Bardessono hotel, restaurant and spa. Set to open the first week of February, the development should earn Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification later in 2009. If it does reach that goal, it will be only the second hotel in the United States to do so. The Proximity Hotel in Greensboro, N.C., is the other. The owner and developer of the property is...

SHEFFIELD, MASS.—Cypress Hotel & Spa, a leading designer and manufacturer of luxury bathrobes, towels, slippers, and sheets for the hospitality and spa industry for more than 25 years, introduced its exclusive new MicroCotton Green EarthTM towels to the spa market during the 2008 ISPA Conference & Expo. The conference was held earlier this month in Las Vegas. The MicroCotton Green Earth towel is engineered to maximize absorbency, durability and eco-conservation. They are made from super-fine, Extra-Long Staple (ELS) cotton; a variety of cotton known for its sustainable consumption and also recognized worldwide for its superior softness. Green Earth towels are...

LARKSPUR, CALIF.—Advanced Telemetry, LLC, a company committed to resource conservation, has recently introduced EcoView Commercial, a proprietary, next generation climate control and resource management solution for commercial applications. The EcoView system is designed to help business owners control energy and water costs and reduce the environmental impacts of running their businesses. The simple-to-install system empowers users to easily and effectively monitor and manage resource consumption. “As economic pressures grow, energy costs rise, profit margins shrink, and environmental responsibility becomes more vital, we are offering businesses a solution to easily reduce the costly waste of energy and other resources,” said Gus...

SHOREWOOD, ILL.— MJSI, Inc. announced that it will be conducting on-going demonstrations of its water-saving line of HydroWorks toilet improvement products at booth 1028 at the 2008 International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show. The HydroClean toilet fill valve was introduced to the hotel industry less than a year ago and is now in use in eight out of the 10 top hotel companies. It saves water, time and money. Most toilets, even low-flow 1.6 gallon per flush (gpf) toilets, waste a lot of water. Invented by a fourth generation plumber, the HydroClean is the only toilet fill valve that eliminates the...

ADELPHI, MD.—More than three years after earning Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification—it was the first hotel in the United States to do so—Marriott’s University of Maryland University College Inn and Conference Center (UMUC ICC) is continuing its efforts to reduce its impact on the environment. The property, which includes 237 guestrooms and 11 suites, has recently stepped up its recycling efforts and has pledged to pursue Green Seal certification to ensure its continuous commitment to operational improvements. According to the U.S. Green Building Council, which manages the LEED program, UMUC ICC earned LEED certification for its 127-guestroom,...

HILLSBORO, ORE.—Caroma, a leader in dual flush toilets, urinals, and bathroom sinks, announces the newest high efficiency waterless urinal (HEU): H2Zero. The H2Zero urinal utilizes breakthrough technology to use zero water for optimum performance and water conservation. The vitreous china urinal addresses key challenges that have been associated with other waterless urinals, including performance, operation, odor management, durability, and waste build-up, ensuring a consistently superior product. The H2Zero’s unique patented cartridge technology does not use an oil-based seal, as is traditionally used in waterless urinals. Within the cartridge is a Bio Fresh deodorizing block that is activated during use....

KOHLER, WIS.—Kohler Co., a leader in kitchen and bath design and technology, was chosen by the Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense program as the Manufacturing Partner of the Year. “Kohler is honored to be recognized by the EPA for the company’s efforts promoting the WaterSense program, and overall water efficiency,” said Shane Judd, senior product manager for water conservation at Kohler. “Public education, along with new water-efficient products and building design methods, are critical to contain water use. Kohler has responded to this need by developing new products that use less water, but don’t sacrifice performance.” EPA launched the WaterSense Awards program...