HENDERSON, KY.—The Envi Boutique Hotel, located in Henderson, Kentucky, is proof that an old, tired hotel that has seen its share of flags can not only survive but thrive as a shiny, totally renovated green hotel striving to be greener. According to Kiran Patel, owner of the property, the 54-room hotel was first opened in 1967 as a full-service Holiday Inn. It later was converted to a Best Western and finally two other brands before being renovated into the Envi Boutique Hotel in June of this year. “In 1994 we purchased the property and was with Super 8 for 23.5...

CINCINNATI—Cintas Corp. announced its ambition to achieve Net Zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. The company is also in the midst of a comprehensive, enterprise-wide review of its business model as it relates to environmental, social and governance (ESG) opportunities, improvements, and efficiencies. Cintas has been built on sustainable business practices, and the continuous improvement of its sustainability measures has been key to the company’s operational success over the years. As its business review continues for the next 12 to 18 months, Cintas expects to better define its ESG journey, including identifying strategies to reduce its Scope 1 and 2...

AUSTIN, TEXAS—Banyan Water, a leading provider of data-driven water conservation software for the built environment, released its 2021 Banyan Water Analysis Trends and Emerging Risk (W.A.T.E.R.) Report. Banyan’s report analyzes 2020 data from its portfolio of properties, identifying major enterprise-level water risks jeopardizing large-scale conservation amidst historic droughts. The report also identifies the millions of dollars in hidden costs properties face due to water mismanagement coupled with rising regional water rates. “Severe droughts threatening water reserves are not just an issue. We’re combating a full crisis,” said Gillan Taddune, CEO of Banyan. “Corporations can no longer put water management on the...

One of the most interesting sustainability-focused megaprojects in the works currently is called GreenCity and is planned for the Richmond, Virginia metro region. The eco-district project will include commercial, entertainment and residential developments. Two hotels are planned for GreenCity, with the first scheduled to be developed in the initial development sequence, and the second to follow as the market dictates. A 17,000-seat arena is planned. Also included will be retail space and a 40-acre, publicly accessible park system. Transit connections are currently under study, but when completed will allow for easy regional access via bus and other systems. Some of...

JACKSONVILLE, FLA.—There have been many combinations of fibers that have come together in recent years to form towels that have been more sustainable in nature, but few companies have combined organic cotton and hemp. One such company is Anact. Anact was founded on Kickstarter by Brianna Kilcullen 2019. In that year she helped legalize hemp in Florida while founding her company. Prior to starting Anact, she worked in the apparel industry for prAna, a subsidiary of Columbia Sportswear and Under Armour. “I worked for Under Armour and got to see the impact of the textile industry,” Kilcullen says. “I ended...

NEW YORK—WINT Water Intelligence, a leader in cutting-edge water management and leak prevention solutions for construction, commercial and industrial applications, announced that their award-winning technology is now available and ready to be directly integrated into fire sprinkler systems. The new solution helps owners and facilities managers prevent water damage from the accidental discharge of water from fire suppression sprinkler systems. Sprinkler systems can release up to 24 gallons per minute, potentially unleashing hundreds of gallons of water in just a few minutes if they’re accidentally activated. Like other plumbing systems, they are also vulnerable to equipment, pipe and fitting breakdown...

KOHLER, WIS.—Kohler Co., a global leader in the innovation and manufacture of plumbing products; tile, cabinetry and lighting; and engines, generators and clean energy solutions, released its annual 2020 Believing in Better Metrics Report outlining progress in reducing the company’s GHG emission intensity, waste to landfill intensity, water use intensity and other key social and environmental commitments. Kohler is committed to providing access to safe water for communities around the globe, delivering innovative solutions to address pressing social issues and strengthening its efforts around diversity, equity, and inclusion. “While Kohler celebrates creativity, diversity, and innovation in all its forms, we know we...

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN—The summer of 2021 is expected to focus on domestic travel. And as people are preparing to explore more areas of their home terrain, there are already reports of increased littering and fears of congestion at popular destinations this summer. To help address this, Scandic has launched a program that rewards travelers who show extra consideration for others and nature this summer. By committing to adhere to Scandic’s list of ten good habits for summer travel, travelers can earn points for future stays at Scandic hotels. The habits have been developed by Scandic’s sustainability department and cover everything from...

GLENVIEW, ILL.—ITW Food Equipment Group has announced the launch of the Hobart SmartConnect app, the first in ITW Food Equipment Group’s SmartConnect365 suite of apps designed to connect end-users to various WiFi-enabled commercial kitchen equipment across ITW Food Equipment Group brands such as Hobart, Baxter, Traulsen, Vulcan, Foster, Bonnet and more. SmartConnect is the smart way to stay connected to the kitchen. Simply download the SmartConnect app and connect to any WiFi-enabled ITW Food Equipment Group devices using your existing WiFi network. The app gives power to the user to monitor kitchen equipment remotely, providing real-time access and analysis to machine data right from the palm of...

NATIONAL REPORT—The concept of sustainability has been around for decades, popularized by the First World Climate Conference in 1979, the inception of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) in 1993, and the publication of Vice President Al Gore’s book about climate change (An Inconvenient Truth) in 2006. While other building types were early to adopt this concept, hospitality seemed slow to embrace green building design. Today, hospitality design is making noticeable changes to catch up. Impact on the Environment The world’s environment is affected primarily by real estate, transportation, and manufacturing. Due to the influence that these industries have on...