WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized the first WaterSense specification for a commercial kitchen product. EPA estimates that approximately 51 billion gallons of water is used every year to rinse dishes by close to 1 million food service establishments in the country. Pre-rinse spray valves—which remove excess food waste from dishes prior to dishwashing—are now eligible to earn the WaterSense label and help food service establishments save water, energy, and money.If every U.S. commercial food service establishment installed and used a WaterSense labeled pre-rinse spray valve, the country could save more than 10 billion gallons of...

MANCHESTER, N.H.—Xeros, the innovator of an ultra low water cleaning system, announced that it has officially opened its North American headquarters in Manchester, N.H. The company also named three industry veterans to lead its North American sales and operations and to support its current customers. The appointees include Jonathan Benjamin as President North America; David Kaupp, Vice President of Marketing; and Jim Basler as Director of Operations.Through the use of polymer bead technology, the patented Xeros System for commercial laundry uses 70 percent less water, up to 50 percent less energy, and approximately 50 percent less detergent, to deliver...

FORT WORTH, TEXAS—Niagara Conservation, a leading manufacturer of water and energy-saving products, introduces the Stealth UHET Dual Flush. Equipped with two flush options—0.5 gallons per flush (GPF) half and 0.95 GPF full—this ultra-high-efficiency toilet (UHET) meets EPA WaterSense criteria and uses an average of 0.65 GPF. This makes it possible to save more than 15,600 gallons of water annually compared to the older 3.5 GPF toilets.Engineered with patented Stealth water-saving technology, the Stealth UHET Dual Flush is an easy, effective way to reduce water usage and utility costs. With two easy-to-use buttons, the Stealth UHET Dual Flush offers users...

BOWLING GREEN, OHIO—As a preferred vendor of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., Systems Associates Inc. has been selected by Starwood Vacation Ownership Inc. (SVO) to implement its SynergyMMS maintenance management solution at all villa resort properties. This initiative was recently rolled out in Hawaii at The Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas on the island of Maui and The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas on Kauai. Sixteen resorts—with a total of 7,000 villas—will be equipped with SynergyMMS by November. The remaining six mixed-use resorts—consisting of 500 villas—in the SVO portfolio are company-owned and already have SynergyMMS as part of...

NORTH OLMSTED, OHIO—Moen Commercial’s line of M•Press metering faucets has been selected as one of the best new products of 2013. M•Press has taken the Bronze award in the Plumbing and Water Management category in Consulting-Specifying Engineer’s 2013 Product of the Year program, which highlights new products in the HVAC, fire/life safety, electrical and plumbing systems engineering markets. “We are excited that the readers of Consulting-Specifying Engineer have recognized the M•Press metering faucet collection as the best in its field,” said Kevin Campbell, vice president and general manager, MoenCommercial. “Our M•Press metering faucets feature cast brass construction and are factory...

WOODRIDGE, ILL.—Gerber Plumbing Fixtures has added several high performing, high efficiency toilet (HET) options to its Allerton Collection, all offering 1.28 gallons per flush. The new product options include round front, elongated and elongated ErgoHeight configurations. Each variation is available in 10-inch and 12-inch rough-ins.Each new Allerton toilet is WaterSense certified and provides significant water savings over older, more traditional products in the marketplace. In many instances, these toilets can save a homeowner or commercial building manager more than 20 percent in water usage.The Allerton HET features one of the top performing flushing platforms in the industry (also found...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The green team at Kimpton’s Hotel Monaco Washington, D.C. has had a lot to smile about lately. The hotel was presented with the Technology Innovation, Medium Property award earlier this summer by the American Hotel & Lodging Association. That honor followed last year’s Mayor’s Sustainability Award. More importantly, in the last two years the hotel has completed a long list of projects—$2.4 million worth—that have resulted in a drop of 48 percent in utility costs, 24 percent reduction in energy use, 31 percent reduction in energy rates, and 32 percent drop in water consumption.Getting to its current operating...

BURLINGTON, ONT.—Wolseley Canada and TOTO announced a new partnership, making Wolseley the first company in Canada to carry TOTO’s full product line from coast to coast. All TOTO fixtures and fittings, including faucets, accessories, showers, flush valves, lavatories, toilets, baths and urinals, are available at Wolseley’s 144 plumbing branches and showrooms across Canada.This new agreement between Wolseley and TOTO is an expansion of their relationship that has existed successfully in Western Canada for over 10 years.“Wolseley is thrilled to expand the relationship with TOTO to all of Canada,” says Paul Kennedy, Wolseley Canada vice-president, Plumbing. “We are proud to...

LOS ANGELES—L’Heure Bleue, the eco-chic resort of Nosy Be, in Madagascar, has been created as a model for sustainable tourism: Everything is designed from the outset, in a spirit of respect for the environment and sustainable development, in harmony with local people. L’Heure Bleue was recently awarded Green Globe certification.“L’Heure Bleue wants to demonstrate that another type of tourism is achievable, based on ethical values and respect,” said Yves Benouaich, general manager. “We would like to prove that responsible tourism brings together pleasure and well-being, without impacting on the quality of services and benefits. We are committed to fight...

NEW YORK CITY—Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Carter Strickland, CEO of NYC & Company George Fertitta, and CEO of the Hotel Association of New York City Joseph E. Spinnato announced that eleven of the city’s premier hotels have joined the New York City Hotel Water Conservation Challenge. As part of the challenge, each hotel will reduce their annual water consumption by 5 percent and thereby save a total of approximately 13 million gallons of water each year. Commercial buildings in New York City, and hotels in particular, represent a significant opportunity for water and financial savings because they...