CHICAGO—On Thursday, October 16, Mayor Richard M. Daley acknowledged the efforts of 25 Chicago hotels that are currently striving for an environmental designation. The Green Hotels Initiative challenges hotels to obtain Green Seal certification, an environmental lodging standard with requirements in waste minimization, energy efficiency, water conservation, waste water management and green procurement. The program also offers resources, best practices and recognition to the hotels going green. “Whether you are working to install energy efficient equipment in your kitchens and laundry facilities, installing water-saving plumbing fixtures, or planning for a green roof, like the one we have on top of...

ATLANTA—CQ Construction and CQ Capital Partners, both parts of the Clarkston, Ga.-based Charania Group of Companies (CGC), are completing construction of a new Cambria Suites property that is located less than one-half mile from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The 143-room hotel, which includes a restaurant, bar, swimming pool and meeting space, is well on its way to earning a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold rating from the U.S. Green Building Council. According to Rahim Charania, president of CGC, the Choice Hotels International franchised property will open in the first quarter of 2009 and is expected to...

NEW YORK—Thanks to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), hotels throughout the state of New York can receive low cost building energy audits, and incentives on kitchen equipment ranging from reach-in solid door refrigerators to insulated holding cabinets. Incentives run as high as $500 for freezers and ice makers and as low as $30 for pre-rinse spray valves. The services are paid through the System Benefits Charge that many owners and operators in the hospitality industry cover through their electric utility bills. According to Ed Smyth, manager of the Troy, N.Y. office of RLW Analytics,...

PISCATAWAY, N.J.—High Efficiency Toilets (HETs), with their proven performance and water-saving features, are the next important wave in plumbing conservation efforts for North America, according to a new white paper released by American Standard Brands. This document, entitled, “High Efficiency Toilets (HETs): Why ‘Flushing with Confidence’ is Here to Stay”, provides an overview of why HETs were developed, how American Standard perfected its models to achieve powerful flushing performance, and why these low-flow toilets will be vital to the future. Authored by C.J. Lagan, compliance engineering manager for American Standard Brands, this informative piece is available for free download at www.plumberprotects.com....

GREENSBORO, N.C.—Quaintance-Weaver Restaurants and Hotels announced that The Proximity Hotel and Print Works Bistro have been awarded LEED Platinum by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED is the USGBC’s rating system for designing and constructing the world’s greenest, most energy efficient, and high performing buildings. Opened in late 2007, the Proximity is the first hotel and Print Works is the first restaurant to obtain the USGBC’s top level of certification. “When we started the design process four years ago, I would have never believed that we could use 41 percent less energy and 33 percent less water without...

TORONTO—EnviroTower, a clean technology leader providing proven clean cooling tower water treatment solutions, has won the prestigious Deloitte Technology Green 15 Award. The award was created last year to showcase 15 North American companies that are leading the way to create major breakthroughs in the field of green technology. This marks the second consecutive year EnviroTower has been named to the Technology Green 15, solidifying the company as a leader in sustainable technology innovation. In addition to Green 15 honors, John Coburn, a water technology industry veteran and EnviroTower’s CEO, participated in an exclusive CEO panel discussion at...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes the Waterless Company as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. The Waterless Company manufactures Waterless No-Flush™ urinal systems and has been in operation since 1991. Headquartered in Vista, Calif., the company manufactures plumbing products for the institutional, commercial and industrial markets worldwide. Waterless recently introduced a line of soybean urinals. They are made from approximately 30 percent soybean resin, which is a naturally sustainable resource. There is no difference in appearance, function, or maintenance with the soybean systems compared to other waterless urinals. The difference is purely...

KANSAS CITY, MO.—Doug Gamble, managing partner of the Q Hotel + Spa, is on a mission to make his 123-room hotel as sustainable as possible—even to the point of turning off lights in the lobby during the day and hanging clotheslines to help dry washed linens. Gamble’s company has owned the hotel since April 2007. It was originally built in 1986. Renovations began in July 2007 and were completed in March of this year. It formally opened as the Q Hotel + Spa on April 1. “It was a cool little boutique hotel,” says Gamble of the Kansas City, Mo.-based...

PISCATAWAY, N.J.—Expanding its efforts to help plumbers provide value to their customers, American Standard has launched two online tools that promote water conservation. The new Water Savings Calculator and Rebate Locator, found at www.americanstandard-us.com/waterefficiency, also help educate people about the benefits of water and energy conservation. The Water Savings Calculator is an interactive online tool that allows users to estimate how many gallons of water and how many dollars they can save by converting to various water-efficient fixtures and faucets. Designed with several categories of pre-estimated usage, this calculator is adaptable to users ranging from hospitality to healthcare, retail to...

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, COLO.—FoodServiceWarehouse.com launched its Going Green Program, an industry-vetted program aimed at helping commercial kitchens cope with the costs and complexities of going green. Through educational resources, rewards and the industry’s only free certification process, FoodServiceWarehouse.com is dedicated to helping commercial kitchens slash energy costs, conserve water and reduce their environmental impact. To kick-start the program, FoodServiceWarehouse.com will give away a green commercial kitchen worth up to $40,000 to one qualifying kitchen. “Restaurants that invest strategically in energy efficiency can cut utility costs between 10 to 30 percent without sacrificing service, quality, style or comfort—while making significant contributions...