TRAVELERS REST, S.C.—T&S Brass announces its new Pre-Rinse Swivel Product #018200-40. The only product of its kind, the pre-rinse swivel fits between the spray handle and the hose of a pre-rinse spray unit (PRSU) and is available both as a separate component for retrofit installations, or factory installed on select T&S pre-rinse units and spray assemblies. The T&S pre-rinse swivel fits and functions on all T&S and Equip pre-rinse units, and on those of many other manufacturers’ models.“We asked ourselves how we could improve the pre-rinse spray unit, a product invented by T&S almost seventy years ago that is...

KANSAS CITY, MO.—Marriott International announced that the Courtyard Kansas City at Briarcliff in Missouri is the company’s first hotel to earn LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) green building program status through the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) prototype precertification program.The only LEED certified Marriott property in Missouri, the Courtyard Kansas City at Briarcliff was constructed on top of a mine, land previously undevelopable, and 10 percent of building materials used contain recycled content. Like all Marriott LEED Certified hotels, this hotel features a number of elements that focus on energy conservation, water efficiency and recycling. Some of...

DUSSELDORF, GERMANY—GROHE, a leading bathroom fittings manufacturer, recently teamed up with the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group to organize a shared workshop at their headquarters in Dusseldorf. For the first time partners from the fields of hospitality, hotel technology, architecture and design met to examine how water is used holistically in the hotel industry.The workshop looked at the challenges of water sustainability, current and future innovative technology solutions and, above all, ways to enrich the guest experience while minimizing the water footprint of the products and services offered. Discussions focused on three main areas: design for sustainability in new builds,...

TRAVELERS REST, S.C.—T&S Brass and Bronze Works, manufacturer of commercial plumbing and foodservice products for a worldwide market, announced that six of its high-efficiency pre-rinse spray valves have been selected for WaterSense labeling by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The agency recently announced eight recommended spray valves, six of which are manufactured by T&S Brass. Those models include the EB-0107-J, EB-0107-C, B-0108-C, B-0107-J, B-0107-C, and equip 5SV-C.“After successfully completing third-party performance testing and certification earlier this year, the T&S design engineering team takes great pride in receiving the coveted WaterSense recognition for these high-efficiency pre-rinse spray valves,” said T&S...

BOGOTA, COLOMBIA—Five years in the planning, the Biohotel Organic Suites is just one month from opening in Bogota, Colombia in the district of Usaquen, known as the culinary and cultural hub of the city. The seven-story, 72-room property is “my retirement plan,” says Samuel Huertas, majority owner. Huertas is aiming for LEED Gold certification for the hotel that includes the Green Piece restaurant and meeting space to accommodate up to 150 people.True to its name, the Biohotel Organic Suites is green throughout. The exterior of the building features windows made from recycled glass and vertical “gardens” that help to...

SACRAMENTO, CALIF.—With California facing its worst water shortage crisis in modern history, Save Our Water—a partnership between the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) and the California Department of Water Resources (DWR)—has launched a ‘Californians Don’t Waste’ Public Service Announcement (PSA) campaign to bring awareness to simple ways citizens can save water every day.The public service campaign efforts kicked off this week with the release of several short videos focused on the simple, yet critical, message: “We Are Californians and We Don't Waste.”“Our California economy, environment and daily lifestyle depend on water to flourish,” said Mark Cowin, Director of...

MORROW, GA.—TOTO, the largest plumbing manufacturer in the world with $5.1 billion dollars in annual sales, announced that it has entered into a strategic alliance with WinWholesale, Inc., to distribute the company’s high-performance, planet-friendly products across 37 states in the United States. WinWholesale is one of America’s largest distributors of construction and industrial materials. Starting today, select Win branded and Noland Co. locations will have available TOTO’s full line of residential and commercial fixtures and fittings in more than 285 local supply houses and 131 kitchen and bath showrooms.The new agreement between TOTO and WinWholesale builds on their successful...

NEW YORK—On World Water Day, March 22, WHOLE WORLD Water, a social enterprise that unites the hospitality and tourism industry to collectively address one of the world’s most pressing issues, access to clean and safe water, launched a global call to action: Give the #WholeWorldWater.One of the most prominent creative elements is a custom animation of the Yahoo logo to represent the ebb and flow of water, which ran on March 22.The Give the #WholeWorldWater campaign will focus on galvanizing consumers to get involved in simple yet powerful ways. To raise awareness of this new social enterprise and the...

FRANKLIN PARK, ILL.—Sloan introduces the Senso electronic hand washing faucet, which delivers a unique, illuminated rainfall pattern of water and provides intuitive controls for a highly tactile and visual experience.The faucet is intended for high-end commercial environments such as hotels, restaurants and corporate restrooms. A welcome light invites restroom visitors to begin washing. Visitors may set the water hotter or colder by adjusting the faucet’s feather-light touch sensors, which are lit with red or blue LEDs to indicate temperature. Senso’s distinctive rainfall water flow is also illuminated and shuts off automatically when hands move out of the sensor range.Choose...

CHICAGO—Green Seal, an independent nonprofit providing sustainability certification for products and services, launched a new sustainability standard for restaurants and food services in conjunction with The Green Chicago Restaurant Coalition and The Rosenthal Group.The standard, GS-55, covers retail restaurants and institutional food service operations through rigorous criteria that minimize environmental impact in several categories. These include food sourcing through use of foods produced in a sustainable manner; waste management, including food waste, compostable waste, recycling and water quality management; energy use; water consumption and the use of other environmentally-preferable products and services.GS-55 is the result of a pilot program...