MIAMI—The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has added the Four Seasons Hotel Miami to the Florida Green Lodging Program. The voluntary state initiative provides the lodging industry with technical assistance, encouraging hotels and motels to adopt cost-saving green practices that reduce waste and conserve natural resources. “Green lodges take the initiative to conserve resources and protect the environment,” says DEP Secretary Colleen M. Castille. “By adopting innovative green practices, Florida’s environmentally sensitive lands are preserved for future generations.” The Four Seasons Hotel Miami reduces water consumption by using technologically advanced showerheads, faucets, spray nozzles and toilets....

FRANKLIN PARK, ILL.—Sloan Valve Company’s Uppercut Dual-Flush Flushometer has been chosen as one of the top 10 green building products for 2006 by Sustainable Industries Journal, published by Celilo Group Media. A panel of green building experts singled out the Uppercut as being one of the most innovative advances in the commercial building industry. Sloan’s Uppercut Dual-Flush Flushometer gives users two flush options: Tilt the handle up for liquid waste, which saves about half a gallon per flush. Or push the handle down for a standard 1.6-gallon flush for solid waste. The distinctive green handle on the new...

LOS ANGELES—Falcon Waterfree Technologies has released a new DVD that demonstrates how water-free urinals work and why they are hygienic, safe and economical. The DVD also provides step-by-step instructions, in English and Spanish, for the installation and maintenance of water-free urinals. The DVD demonstrates the complete process for retrofit and new construction projects. “We’ve included tips from field technicians who have personally installed thousands of water-free urinals and maintained many times more,” says Bill Stimer, director of customer experience for Falcon Waterfree. “Sharing this experience gives every installer a leg up, so they can have a perfect installation...

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, WYOMING—At the home of Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park, laundry personnel at Xanterra Parks & Resorts are working like a geyser in reverse—saving water and energy efficiently. That is a necessity in a park with nine lodging facilities and 11 restaurants. Xanterra Parks & Resorts, which manages the guest accommodations at the park, cleans more than 2.5 million pounds of linen every year at its Gardiner Laundry Services facility. The linens include bed and bath linen and housekeeping cleaning cloths from more than 2,000 guestrooms. It also includes table linen and kitchen cleaning cloths from...

FRANKLIN PARK, ILL.—Sloan Valve Co., which is celebrating 100 years in business in 2006, has announced a special addition to its manual Flushometer product line: the new Royal Classic. This model is a replica of the flush valve that Sloan’s founder, William E. Sloan, introduced in 1906. The Royal Classic, designed with the original Royal’s bell-like top and white, porcelain handle, is available in brushed nickel, polished nickel, polished brass, chrome plate and gold plate finishes. The Royal Classic features the Dual Filtered Fixed By-Pass Diaphragm, which keeps debris from clogging the Flushometer and prevents valve run-on;...

BROOKSVILLE, FLA.—A total of 219 hotels are saving hundreds of millions gallons of water a year thanks to the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (SWFWMD) Water Conservation Hotel and Motel Program (CHAMP). Water CHAMP is a linens and towels reuse program that encourages hotel and motel guests to agree to use their linens and towels for an additional day or two of their stay. “The program has been very successful,” says Dorian Morgan, senior communications coordinator for Brooksville, Fla.-based SWFWMD. “Participating hotels quickly see the financial benefits.” SWFWMD purchases program materials from Project Planet Corp., Dawsonville, Ga., and provides them free...

DAWSONVILLE, GA.—The easiest way to conserve water is to not use it in the first place. That is the message Project Planet Corp. has been pushing for more than 10 years now through its linen and towel re-use program. With approximately 6,000 hotels around the world participating, the venture has been a tremendous success. Project Planet was launched in 1995 by John Stanley, president and owner. The three-employee, Dawsonville, Ga.-based company sells door hangers, table brochures, pillow cards, posters, stickers, training videos and guest response cards. Hotels that participate in the program change bed linens every third...

FRANKLIN PARK, ILL.—Sloan Valve Co. has expanded its Guildmark Collection with a new palate of bold, decorative finishes for select sensor-operated faucets and manual Flushometers. The broadened array of finishes, which come with either satin or polished coatings, includes fresh, contemporary colors such as Verdi (green) and Coco Bronze, in addition to classic favorites such as Nickel and Brass. New choices include Satin Copper, Polished Copper and Black finishes in the Powder Coated collection, as well as Antique Bronze, Coco Bronze and Verdi in the Vintage collection. These finishes fit the décor of restrooms in all types of...

TORONTO—Without negatively impacting the guest experience, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts’ 37 owned and managed properties have implemented a wide range of water-saving initiatives to reduce costs and minimize environmental impact. The programs are part of Fairmont Green Partnership, a plan the Toronto-based company launched 16 years ago. The installation of low-flow showerheads, low-flush toilets and tap aerators are corporate standards throughout Fairmont. Additionally, all resort properties participate in sheet and towel reuse programs to conserve water resources by reducing the frequency of guest linen laundering. Engineering initiatives also have been instrumental in conserving water. “Our programs have...

SAN ANTONIO—WaterSense, a new water efficiency program launched by EPA, will educate American consumers on making smart water choices that save money and maintain high environmental standards without compromising performance. “Efficient products and informed consumers lead to smart water use,” says EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. “EPA’s WaterSense program will provide water solutions that are a win-win for our wallets and our environment. WaterSense just makes sense. WaterSense advances President Bush’s cooperative conservation goals through education, not regulation—spreading the ethic of water efficiency and promoting the tools to make wise water choices.” The WaterSense program aims to...