LAS VEGAS—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized The Toro Company with a 2018 WaterSense Excellence Award for its creative approach to supporting WaterSense and promoting water efficiency in 2017. Toro received one of 21 WaterSense awards at the WaterSmart Innovations Conference in Las Vegas. Since 2006, Toro and more than 1,900 other WaterSense partners have helped consumers save more than 2.7 trillion gallons of water, or more than the amount used by all U.S. households for nearly 100 days. In addition to water savings, WaterSense-labeled products and homes have helped reduce the amount of energy needed to heat, pump...

LAS VEGAS—The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized Energy Inspectors Corp. with a 2018 WaterSense Partner of the Year award. Energy Inspectors was honored at the WaterSmart Innovations Conference on October 4, 2018 for its role in water efficiency innovation and WaterSense promotion. More than 1,900 utility, manufacturer, retailer, builder, and other WaterSense organizational partners, in 2017 alone, saved an estimated 631 billion gallons of water using WaterSense products. To understand the magnitude of savings, it is said to be possible that 100 percent of the world’s population can fit into a cubic mile. WaterSense has helped consumers and businesses save more than 2.7...

Name: Vicki McMichael Title: Director of Compliance and Sustainability, Parks and Resorts Company: Delaware North Companies Years in Current Position: Two Primary Responsibilities: “There’s not a typical day for me. One of my most important roles is connecting the dots between the properties, interacting with NGOs, being an ambassador for GreenPath and keeping the program strong.” Organization’s most significant sustainability-related accomplishment: “Rolling out a strong stewardship program that supports sustainability and features five key branches that go beyond environmental management.” Organization’s most significant sustainability-related challenge moving forward: “Striving for zero waste and operating at zero waste.” BUFFALO, N.Y.—More than seven years ago, Green Lodging News profiled...

LOS ANGELES—ICERA’s new Malibu II Back-outlet toilet features a powerful, water-efficient and quiet gravity flush. The Malibu also features a chair-height, compact elongated-bowl for maximum comfort. The simple connectivity eliminates potential installation challenges, while the sleek styling compliments a wide variety of bathroom décors. Its back-outlet engineering results in a slim design that is ideal for smaller spaces, and the skirted design neatly hides unsightly pipes and other connectors. The Malibu II is one of the few back-outlet toilets on the market to offer a high-performance, quiet gravity flush with a certified 1000 g MaP score—using only 1.28 gallons of...

SAN FRANCISCO—Starbucks Coffee Co. announced the “Starbucks Greener Stores” framework and a commitment to design, build and operate 10,000 “Greener Stores” globally by 2025. “Starbucks Greener Stores” framework will be built upon comprehensive performance criteria that help ensure the company’s approach to designing, building, and operating its company-owned stores sets a new standard for green retail. Over the next year, Starbucks will develop an accredited program to audit all existing company-operated stores in the United States and Canada against the framework criteria, culminating in 10,000 “Greener Stores” globally by 2025, encompassing existing stores, new builds and renovations. “Starbucks Greener...

ORLANDO, FLA.—More than 8,000 food industry professionals gathered at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando last week for the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show. Among the hundreds of exhibitors were companies introducing products to reduce energy and water consumption and material waste. The following is a quick rundown of those companies and the products they featured: PowerTrak Efficiency Systems, LLC—PowerTrak Efficiency Systems introduced its VX Series Energy Management Thermostat that includes an occupancy sensor that allows for energy saving when rooms are unoccupied. Fully configurable settings allow for temperature setback, temperature recovery, setback optimization, setback limits, and set point...

NATIONAL REPORT—When staying at hotels, travelers tend not to treat the guestroom like their own home. No surprise there. Assuming that is the case, why trust them to report something as simple as a leaking toilet? According to Joseph Benson, Vice President of Business Development at EcoSense Solutions, a warped flapper is the leading cause of a leaking toilet and can alone waste up to 200 gallons of water a day. Over a year’s time, an average leaking toilet will waste 75,000 gallons of water and cost an owner about $600 based on the national average water rate. Benson...

STOCKHOLM—The International Tourism Partnership (ITP) has released its Destination Water Risk Index as part of World Water Week in Stockholm. The Destination Water Risk Index (DWRI) report provides cutting-edge intelligence for the hotel sector and other businesses into the world’s highest risk tourism destinations for water scarcity and pricing premiums. The DWRI is the result of a collaboration between ITP (project lead), Ecolab (sponsor and data provider) and Greenview (data analysis) to overlay existing water risk and hotel industry databases. The Index seeks to help hotel developers, companies, their properties and wider tourism stakeholders to better understand and address their...

ST. AUGUSTINE, FLA.—Premier hotel development and management company, Hollander Hospitality, has completed an $18 million renovation of the former Holiday Inn Downtown Everett and announced the official grand opening of the 232-room Delta Hotels by Marriott Seattle Everett, in Everett, Wash. The former Holiday Inn was the most recent acquisition for Bellingham, Washington-based Hollander Hospitality, a local, privately-owned Northwest company, committed to investing in the region. This is Delta’s first branded hotel in the Pacific Northwest and signals the continued global expansion of the brand since its endorsement into the Marriott signature portfolio. This latest project by Hollander Hospitality is...

MCLEAN, VA.—Home2 Suites by Hilton, part of Hilton’s All Suites portfolio, announced that the brand will open its first hotel using modular construction in early 2019. Developed by Southern Hospitality Services, LLC., and constructed by Akshar Development Inc., brand executives gathered last week at the future site of the Home2 Suites by Hilton San Francisco Airport North for a staging ceremony where pre-fabricated elements of the hotel were put into position. The hotel represents the Bay Area’s first modular build hotel, and the first Home2 Suites by Hilton modular build. Global Head of Home2 Suites by Hilton, Adrian Kurre, joined...