WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Green Building Council announced that it will now recognize energy and water requirements from the Living Building Challenge (the Challenge) green building system within the LEED green building program.“USGBC and the International Living Future Institute, developers of the Living Building Challenge, share a common commitment and goal to transform the way we design, build and operate our buildings,” said Scot Horst, Chief Product Officer, USGBC. “The Challenge plays an important role on the green building performance curve and is a complement to LEED.”Added Horst, “The LEED steering committee approved this approach; in the world of rating...

TRAVELERS REST, S.C.—Commercial foodservice and plumbing product manufacturer T&S Brass and Bronze Works announced that the National Restaurant Assn. has bestowed its coveted Kitchen Innovations Award on the company’s new EnviroPure ozone recirculation option. Designed to eliminate the need to add fresh water during the organic food waste disposal system’s digestive process, the ozone recirculation option relies instead on water that is naturally extracted from food waste as it processes through the system.EnviroPure’s system breaks down food waste in just 24 hours through a combination of mechanical processing and aerobic decomposition. An all-natural, micronutrient additive accelerates the digestive process,...

TAMPA, FLA.—Hasek Communications, the Tampa, Fla.-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes ConservCo as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. ConservCo has been providing hospitality clients with water conservation consulting since 2008. The company performs comprehensive facilities water audits and landscape irrigation audits for hotel and golf resort operators worldwide. ConservCo’s goal in conducting the audit is to help the facility save money by reducing waste and lowering water, energy, and sewer utility expenses.Call (775) 747-3333, e-mail sales@conservco.us, or go to www.conservco.us.

CINCINNATI—P&G Professional, the away-from-home division of Procter & Gamble, announced that the Tide Professional Coldwater Laundry System has been named a 2015 Award Winner by the internationally renowned Edison Awards. This laundry system enables hotel facilities to reduce the energy needed to heat the water in a commercial washer by as much as 75 percent and to reduce the water used in a commercial washer by up to 40 percent. The Tide Professional Coldwater System was recognized as the Silver Edison Green Award winner at the annual Edison Awards gala in New York City.The distinguished Edison Awards, inspired by...

COSTA MESA, CALIF.—St. Thomas Creations unveils an artfully updated new look for its Presley SE one-piece toilet. The new model is distinguished by graceful curves and a sculpted trim detail. It features a stately silhouette and traditional style. Classic forms accented by subtle stepped details are the hallmark of the Presley Collection, an entire suite designed to give a cohesively elegant look to a traditional bath design.The Presley SE one-piece toilet offers an ADA compliant chair-height bowl with elongated dimensions and super-quiet flush mechanism. Featuring EcoQUATTRO flushing technology, the high-efficency Presley SE is EPA WaterSense-compliant, using only 1.28 gallons...

BETHESDA, MD.—As part of its global sustainability strategy to address climate change, Marriott International announced the company’s global energy intensity decreased cumulatively by 2.6 percent over 2013, 13.1 percent compared to a 2007 baseline.Across the majority of the company’s four global regions, energy results continued to decline. In The Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe, energy intensity for managed hotels decreased over 2013 by 3.0 percent, 0.7 percent and 1.3 percent respectively. In the Middle East and Africa, energy intensity increased by 1.2 percent over 2013 as the region stabilized and travel increased.“Our global decrease in energy intensity demonstrates the...

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIF.—ClearWater Tech showcased its EcoTex cold-water ozone laundry system at last week’s Clean Show in Atlanta. ClearWater Tech also introduced NatureWash, a new ozone laundry system for residential and coin operated laundry applications. NatureWash uses the same cold-water technology as EcoTex, reducing energy use by reducing the need for hot water. It also reduces detergent use and wash time.Ozone laundering has proven to be very effective, safe and has an excellent performance record. It is an ideal cold-water alternative, combining the power of ozone and oxygen to reduce energy, water, and labor costs. EcoTex not only...

SACRAMENTO, CALIF.—Due to the severity of California’s drought, the state’s experts have been managing water resources to deal with the effects of the drought and prepare for the next one. As part of the solution, the California Energy Commission approved standards for water appliances which will save more than 10 billion gallons of water in the first year. Over time, the water savings is estimated to reach 105 billion gallons per year—a savings of more than three times the annual amount of water used by San Francisco.“California is serious about water conservation and is committed to consistent and clear...

ST. PAUL, MINN.—Ecolab Inc., a global leader in water, hygiene and energy technologies and services, has launched its Clean and Conserve Education Program to educate students about the importance of water conservation and hygiene. Developed in partnership with the Project WET Foundation, a nonprofit water resources education organization, the interactive curriculum is expected to reach two million people in the United States, Mexico, China and Germany by the end of 2017.As part of the program launch, kick-off events were held in several Ecolab communities throughout the world, including Shanghai, China; Alajuela, Costa Rica; Monterrey and Lerma, Mexico; Manila, Philippines;...

TROY, OHIO—Hobart’s FT1000 Advansys flight-type dish machine has been awarded the 2015 Kitchen Innovations Award, which recognizes foodservice equipment and technologies that improve kitchen operations and benefit restaurant operators. The FT1000 is going to be on display in booth 4031, as well as the Kitchen Innovations Pavilion, at the 2015 National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago, May 16 to 19.“In today’s market, with energy, water and labor costs on the rise, we know that our customers want and need a reliable dish machine that saves them time, energy and money,” said Megan Dyer, Product Line Manager for Hobart Warewash....