INWOOD, N.Y.—Your laundry staff is a busy bunch. Sorting loads, transferring them from washer to dryer and finally, finishing, folding and getting them shelved. Still, most days they find time to unknowingly dump a bucket of money in the trash. True, the bucket reference may be a bit dramatic, but chances are there is an activity going on in your laundry that is costing the operation money—human error. Managers employ a variety of tactics to help prevent human error. They focus on bringing in quality employees and spend ample time training them. But short of constant supervision, which, let’s face it,...

TAMPA, FLA.—Hasek Communications, the Tampa, Fla.-based publisher of Green Lodging News, has added an Electrolux Professional Laundry Equipment Case Study to its website. The case study details the Hilton Concord’s recent installation of new Electrolux Professional washers and dryers. Roseville, Calif-based A2Z Laundry Systems spearheaded the installation of the equipment at the 329-room hotel. Lead consultant on the Hilton Concord’s overall sustainability efforts is Charles Smith, CEO of Hotel Sustainability Solutions Inc. (HSSI).As HSSI began the task of evaluating options, key factors considered were the efficiency of the equipment, availability of rebates or incentives, distributor/manufacturer service and support, and...

MANKATO, MINN.—All that’s left is the waiting for the official plaque from the U.S. Green Building Council. When it arrives the Courtyard Mankato Minnesota will become the first hotel in the Gopher State to receive LEED certification. Considering all of the property’s green features, the honor will be well deserved. The 93-room property, about a year old, is owned by Mercury Investments L.P. Preston Lougheed is the general manager.“As far as we know we are the first Marriott in the United States to have solar panels,” Lougheed says. “It was a big investment.” The 40 kW, 192 panel system...

SAN JOSE, CALIF.—In celebration of the Fairmont San Jose hotel’s newly renovated on-premise laundry, the hotel’s leadership hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony earlier this year, complete with a special cake—a model of one of the new Milnor washer-extractors. Attending the ribbon cutting were the Fairmont’s General Manager, Kelley Cosgrove, Executive Laundry Manager, Jason Lustbader, and Chief Engineer, Larry Wick, along with the hotel’s laundry staff and representatives from the commercial laundry experts, Western State Design (WSD). To cap off the celebration, the hotel’s pastry chef surprised guests with a cake for the ceremony, which was a detailed replica of one...

SACRAMENTO, CALIF.—Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced that the Hilton Concord of Concord, Calif., has won a 2013 Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA) for its outstanding commitment to sustainability and the environment. Hilton Concord was the recipient for the GEELA Environmental and Economic Partnerships award and is the first Hilton brand hotel to ever win this award.GEELA is California’s highest and most prestigious environmental honor. This program recognizes individuals, organizations, and businesses that have demonstrated exceptional leadership and made notable contributions in conserving precious resources, protecting and enhancing the environment, and building public-private partnerships.“Hilton Concord is a true...

MORROW, GA.—TOTO announced that it has shipped its high-performance bathroom fixtures to assist more than 2,000 families in Moore, Shawnee and El Reno, Okla., with their long-term rebuilding process.“Our hearts go out to the victims of May’s devastating tornados,” said Bill Strang, president of Operations for the Americas, TOTO USA. “We wanted to aid our friends and neighbors in Oklahoma with their long-term recovery process, so we are sending three 40-foot container trucks laden with our beautiful designs that offer superior performance—toilets, faucets, showers, and accessories—to help families in these communities rebuild their homes.”TOTO is assisted in this humanitarian...

MANCHESTER, N.H.—Xeros, the innovator of an ultra-low water cleaning system, announced it has joined a leading alliance committed to improving supply chain sustainability in the apparel and footwear industries. Xeros, the company formed to commercialize polymer bead technology developed at the University of Leeds, is now a member of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC), which also includes household names such as Adidas, Burberry, Coca Cola and Levi Strauss.   The coalition is an industry-wide group of more than 100 leading apparel and footwear brands, retailers, manufacturers, government organizations, nonprofit entities and academic institutions, committed to improving supply chain sustainability.In its...

NORTH OLMSTED, OHIO—For the second year in a row, a Moen Commercial product has been awarded a Production Innovation Award (PIA) by Architectural Products’ magazine—this year, the M•Dura Heavy-Duty Manual Flush Valve won in the restroom and plumbing category. The awards are judged by a group of 50 independent industry professionals to honor innovation in the development and refinement of buildings-related products. The M•Dura flush valves were selected for their heavy-duty construction and proprietary design. These products feature Moen’s Accuset piston technology that requires virtually no maintenance or replacement parts for the life of the flush valve. Accuset is a self-cleaning...

LONG BEACH PENINSULA, WASH.—Adrift Hotel is taking more big steps in sustainability with its current $48,000 project to add solar hot water panels and rainwater catchment for laundry. The recent announcement was made jointly by Brady and Tiffany Turner, owners of the 80-room hotel, located at the south end of the boardwalk and nearby Discovery Trail on Washington’s Long Beach Peninsula.The project, with construction taking place from October through December 2013, is being funded utilizing Seattle-based Community Sourced Capital—providers of new financial tools to help local businesses access capital namely via community-sourced small business loans.“Choosing to inhabit the far...

MENOMONEE FALLS, WIS.—Bradley Corp., a leading manufacturer of commercial plumbing fixtures and washroom accessories, announced nationwide availability for the company’s latest commercial hand-washing innovation—the Advocate AV-Series Lavatory System. This “all-in-one” sink, faucet and dual-sided hand dryer solution delivers the first U.S. made, completely touchless hand-washing experience for a more sustainable, clean and efficient lavatory environment.“After years of research and valuable customer feedback, Bradley is proud to deliver such an innovative, logical and effective solution as the Advocate Lavatory System to the market,” said Jason Renner, senior product manager, Bradley Corp. “As our customers embrace the core design and completely...