MORROW, GA.—TOTO, the largest plumbing manufacturer in the world with $5.1 billion dollars in annual sales, announced that the company is increasing its market reach in the Northeast region of the United States by entering into a distribution agreement with Blackman Plumbing Supply. TOTO’s full line of residential and commercial fittings and fixtures are available at all of Blackman’s 19 branch locations throughout Long Island, New York, and New Jersey and will be on display in all Blackman showrooms.“Blackman Plumbing is proud to deepen our partnership with TOTO, an industry leader known for anticipating and creating the next generation...

WOODRIDGE, ILL.—Gerber Plumbing Fixtures recently unveiled its new Avalanche CT high efficiency toilet (Model # 21-019). The Avalanche CT (which stands for concealed trapway) toilet features a one-piece configuration and a concealed trapway—both features that cater to a desire for easy cleaning and simple, attractive design.Avalanche CT, available in white, is offered as an ErgoHeight (ADA compliant) elongated toilet.  The toilet operates at 1.28 gallons per flush, is WaterSense certified for water efficiency and performance, and uses the industry’s best components (Fluidmaster fill valve, 3” flush valve, dual siphon jet and more). “The contemporary stylized look of this toilet is...

COARSEGOLD, CALIF.—High Sierra Showerheads has introduced its new 1.8 gallon-per-minute (gpm) showerhead fixture, which joins the company’s 1.5 gpm model in its line of water-saving shower devices. The new showerhead is an efficient option for those looking to cut down on water consumption and utility costs, using 25 percent less water than standard 2.5 gpm low-flow units, the company says. To optimize efficiency but still provide a satisfactory water flow, the nozzle uses High Sierra’s patented Full Coverage Spray technology, designed to deliver the water stream in a full and strong spray of large drops.The 1.8 gpm showerhead is...

DEATH VALLEY, CALIF.—In keeping with its “pillars of sustainability,” the AAA Four Diamond Furnace Creek Resort in Death Valley National Park has enacted a series of initiatives designed to minimize the impact of its operations and of its guests. The resort has put in place programs to reduce waste and water usage, generate electricity and offer sustainable choices to its guests.Those efforts are working as the resort reports solid waste has been reduced by 44 percent, water usage has dropped 19 percent and electricity use is down 18 percent since 2010. In that same time period sustainably sourced food...

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIF.—ClearWater Tech, representing EcoTex Ozone Laundry Systems, has been evaluated and approved for energy and water efficiency by the U.S. Department of Energy. The U.S. Department of Energy commissioned a report to evaluate energy efficient technologies within the commercial on-premise laundry (OPL) market. After consideration of several alternative technologies, they chose to do their research on ozone for the report.The study proved the validity of EcoTex Technology as a quick return-on-investment, energy and water savings, and customer satisfaction.“Although this report does not begin to reflect our more typical eight month ROI from EcoTex,” says ClearWater Tech’s...

PARSIPPANY, N.J.—Wyndham Worldwide, one of the world’s largest hospitality companies, continued to demonstrate its leadership in sustainability best practices in 2013, reducing its operationally controlled asset water usage globally by 16 percent per square foot and its carbon emissions by 13 percent per square foot from the 2010 baseline. In the company’s fourth year of formal sustainability reporting, its 2013 Sustainability Responsibility Report details its strong commitment to socially and environmentally responsible business practices. Wyndham Worldwide is one of the first hospitality companies to use the progressive G4 Sustainability Reporting Structure to report its economic, environmental and social performance.“Our...

ORLANDO, FLA.—It is hard to miss the lush, green tropical lemongrass and other plant life that adorn the green roofs that are sprouting on buildings throughout Central Florida and beyond. What you might not see at first glance, however, is the innovative soil media that keeps the grasses and plants firmly rooted and thriving. Developed by the University of Central Florida’s Stormwater Management Academy, the patented Bold & Gold soil media also provides significant filtration and reduction of stormwater runoff and is now deployed on more than 50,000 square feet of green roofs throughout Florida.For its part, the Bold...

KA‘ANAPALI, MAUI, HAWAII—Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa is celebrating its LEED Silver EBOM (Existing Building Operations and Maintenance) certification, awarded as a result of a long term commitment to environmental sustainability. This certification is the first of any building in the state of Hawaii. The property recently completed renovations throughout the resort, including the pool area, Drums of the Pacific Luau, and dining outlets. Throughout the renovation process members of the Hyatt Regency Maui operations team worked closely with property owner Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. and with third-party consultants Green Building Hawaii to make the necessary environmentally...

NATIONAL REPORT—You need not take more than a quick glance at the U.S. Drought Monitor to see that something is awry in California. Much of the state is in dark red—exceptional drought. Other parts of the state are in either extreme or severe drought. Sources of water for the Golden State are shrinking—both above ground and below ground. According to University of Colorado geoscientist Brad Udall, drought, combined with overuse have produced some of the Colorado River’s lowest flows in more than 1,000 years. As many as 40 million people in the Southwest rely on the Colorado for drinking...

VISTA, CALIF.—What is interesting about the California drought currently impacting the area is not necessarily the severity of it. Instead, it is how the state seems to be handling it in stride, with relatively minor impact on communities. While some industry sectors are definitely being impacted—and we may not have seen the worst—compared to the last “major” drought in California (1976-1977), there have been considerable changes for the better. One of the big differences is that, compared to the current drought, the 1977 drought involved two very dry years—1976 and 1977—with 1977 being the then-driest year on record. The current...