ATLANTA—Georgia Power recently signed an agreement with TOTO USA, Inc. to begin providing the company with green energy. Under the terms of the agreement, TOTO USA, Inc. has agreed to purchase 480,000 kilowatt-hours of green energy. Green energy is environmentally friendly electricity generated from sources like the sun, wind, water, landfill methane and biomass. Customers who participate in the program help reduce the environmental impact of energy production, conserve natural resources, and support domestic energy self-reliance. “The recent green energy purchase by TOTO USA is evidence that more and more of our customers see the value of making renewable sources...

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS—For the second consecutive year, Friedrich Air Conditioning has been awarded an Environmental Excellence Award by San Antonio Water System (SAWS). San Antonio Water System serves more than 1 million people in the seventh largest U.S. city. Friedrich received this award in recognition of its continued efforts to reduce water consumption. In 2007, the company reduced the amount of process water requiring treatment by approximately 50 percent and has optimized the use of its water treatment process. Environmental Excellence Award recipients must demonstrate best management, water conservation, and pollution prevention practices as well as innovative...

OSHKOSH, WISC.—Continental Girbau has unveiled the new M-Series hard-mount line of washer-extractors, available in 25-, 40- and 55-pound capacities. The new M-Series Washers deliver improved energy efficiency and higher G-force extract speeds than many hard-mount washers on the market, according to Joel Jorgensen, vice president of sales and customer services at Continental. “M-Series Washers are built using the same manufacturing platform as our high-performance E-Series Washers,” Jorgensen said. “They share many of the same components including the control systems—resulting in a higher performance hard-mount washer with unrivaled energy efficiency. This will save on-premise laundries gas, water and electricity. Superior programmability...

NORTH OLMSTED, OHIO—Metering faucets prevent faucet run-on and provide safety, ease of operation and unparalleled water and energy savings. Moen Inc. has expanded its line of commercial metering faucets, designed to give today’s commercial consumer an affordable, eco-friendly lavatory option, backed by the quality and reliability that is synonymous with the Moen name. Moen’s commercial metering faucets offer a variety of styles and options, including single mount, four-inch centerset, and eight-inch widespread. All metering faucets feature adjustable timing, all-metal chrome-plated construction and a 0.5 gallon per minute (0.25 gallon per cycle) vandal-resistant aerator. Moen’s commercial metering faucets also...

FALCONER, N.Y.—Zurn’s EcoVantage Pint Urinal System was selected as the “Best New Product” in the “Green Essentials” category at November’s International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show in New York City. Zurn’s EcoVantage Pint Urinal System reduces water consumption by 85 percent per flush. Typical installations easily conserve more than 30,000 gallons per year. The system is easy to retrofit, and the sensor flush valve offers sanitary, hands-free operation. “The Editor’s Choice Awards serve as an opportunity for exhibitors to position their new products in the marketplace as the must-have new product of the year,” said Christian Falkenberg, show manager. “This year’s...

MINNEAPOLIS—Tennant Co. recently introduced ech2o (pronounced “echo”), a new cleaning technology that electrically activates plain tap water, making it behave like a powerful detergent without any added chemicals. The new ech2o offers significant customer advantages including lower costs, ease of use, improved operator safety, plus an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional cleaning methods. Its cleaning effectiveness is proven to be the same or better than general purpose cleaners, without the negative environmental impact and health issues associated with producing, packaging, transporting, using and disposing of traditional cleaning chemicals. The new ech2o begins as water and ends as water. “Our new...

KOHLER, WISC.—At the recent Greenbuild International Conference and Expo, Kohler Co., a global leader in kitchen and bath design and technology, showcased two of the company’s newest water-saving toilets: the gravity-fed Kohler Persuade with Twin Touch technology and the Kohler San Raphael Pressure Lite. The San Raphael is Kohler’s first one-piece, 1.0 gallon-per-flush (gpf) high-efficiency toilet with pressure assist technology. The toilet uses compressed air within the reservoir to propel water to the rim and siphon jet for robust flushing power. The 1.0 gpf could save a household of four between 7,000 and 10,000 gallons of water annually, versus the...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes AquaRecycle as a Green Product & Service Directory sponsor. AquaRecycle manufactures systems that recycle 100 percent of laundry wastewater. That water is then reused within the laundry. AquaRecycle’s proven technology provides customers with 80 percent water and sewer savings and 50 percent energy savings. The company’s innovative technology can qualify a facility for LEED points. Call (866) 272-9253, e-mail sales@aquarecycle.com, or go to www.aquarecycle.com.

SHOREWOOD, ILL.—MJSI, Inc. has released its proprietary HydroClean toilet fill valve for the hotel industry. The HydroClean is the only toilet fill valve that is specifically engineered to save water, detect leaks, clean the tank and eliminate water hammer. Unlike ordinary fill valves, the HydroClean calibrates the proper water flow to the toilet and the tank without compromising flush efficiency. Miscalibration is the most frequent source of water loss in toilets—even in high efficiency toilets. In a collaborative study with a major hotel chain, it was found that installation of the HydroClean toilet fill valve in high efficiency 1.6-gallon toilets...

EDISON, NEW JERSEY—The one-piece, wall-hung Sanistar Macerating Toilet System from SFA Saniflo Inc. allows a business owner to create a new small bathroom or powder room wherever they need one, while saving both space and water. The space savings derives from the Sanistar’S Euro-contemporary design that combines a macerating pump and an electronically activated flushing mechanism into a single package. Measuring only 18 inches wide and 20.5 inches deep and with no external water tank, the self-contained wall-hung unit is ideal for tight spaces where installation space is at a premium. Sanistar saves water by using only 1.1 gallons per...