WOODRIDGE, ILL.—In its continued commitment to provide educational offerings for customers and partners, Globe Union and its family of companies, including Danze, Inc. and Gerber Plumbing Fixtures LLC, is sponsoring a free online education seminar for designers, architects and other industry professionals to earn valuable continuing education credits.The course focuses on water. No building (residential, commercial, hospitality or other) can be considered sustainable if it wastes water. Wasting water depends almost entirely on the efficiency of on-site plumbing fixtures such as toilets, showers, faucets and urinals. Although early attempts at “efficient” fixtures often led to weak showers and toilets...

LONDON—A report launched July 9 by Tourism Concern reveals the stark inequities of water access and consumption between tourist resorts and local people in developing countries. “Water Equity in Tourism: a Human Right, a Global Responsibility,” demands concerted action by governments and the tourism sector to protect community water rights over tourist luxury.Featuring research from Bali, The Gambia, Zanzibar, and Goa and Kerala, south India, the report finds that the unsustainable appropriation, depletion and pollution of water by poorly regulated tourism are threatening the environment, while undermining living standards, livelihoods and development opportunities of impoverished local communities.These communities often...

MENOMONEE FALLS, WIS.—Alto-Shaam recently added a new, smaller Combitherm oven capable of holding four full-sized hotel pans and eight half-sized hotel pans in a compact footprint. The new 4.10ESi CT Express Combitherm oven equals all the performance benefits associated with Alto-Shaam’s larger Combitherm ovens.The new “bistro size” oven measures just more than 20 inches wide, 36 inches deep and slightly more than 30 inches high. Its EcoSmart design uses less electricity and water than other compact models.The CT Express Combitherm is available in an array of colors and has a controller with basic LED inputs, ExpressTouch controller with 200...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—A new online calculator from American Rivers lets individuals discover the benefits of installing green roofs on their businesses. Green roofs are gaining popularity as cities look for cost-effective ways to protect and restore clean water. A green roof is one that is covered with plants and shrubs. By absorbing rainwater and providing insulation for the building, a green roof prevents storm runoff from polluting local streams and reduces heating and cooling costs. The “Get More Green” calculator allows visitors to enter an address via Google Maps, and determine the square footage of a building’s roof. Visitors then get a...

TRAVELERS REST, S.C.—T&S Brass, a leading manufacturer of plumbing and foodservice equipment, recently launched a new online tool to allow facilities to calculate the amount of water they can save through the use of aerators in hand sinks. With both standard and metric conversions, the new tool allows users to see how much they can save in the way of water, energy and sewage costs, based on entering some simple information, such as number of employees working in the kitchen per day, average shift length and total number of facilities. While not specifically designed to calculate restroom water...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Green Lodging News has just added a new case study to its website. The case study focuses on the 403-room, LEED-certified Atlanta Airport Gateway Marriott and its use of high-efficiency plumbing fixtures from American Standard. Among the American Standard products featured in the Marriott guestrooms are Cadet 3 FloWise water closets, Town Square faucets and spouts, Cambridge Americast bathtubs, and Studio undermount lavatories. Other high efficiency fixtures installed on the property include the Afwall 1.28 GPF water closet and AllbrookFloWise .5 GPF urinal.“The American Standard fixtures that we used played a part in attaining a 30 percent water...

VISTA, CALIF.—While the data is well-established that no-water urinal systems can reduce maintenance costs and water consumption along with related energy costs to deliver water, facility managers thinking about installing non-water urinals should first consider a few things, according to Klaus Reichardt, CEO and founder of Waterless Co., Inc. “While I would like to recommend for every facility, some due diligence is necessary to ensure they are successfully installed, especially in an existing building,” Reichardt says. For instance, most new buildings have approved ABS or PVC drain pipes or something similar, which work well with waterless urinals. However, some older buildings...

NEW CASTLE, DEL.—Speakman Company introduces the Rainier Collection. Rainier is just one of the many new collections introduced by Speakman during the recent launch of their Shower and Bath line. The Rainier Collection adds a unique square design to complete a bold look in the bathroom. The full bathroom collection consists of the Rainier showerhead, faucets, valve trims and bathroom accessories to present modern exclusivity in any bathroom. All of these coordinated products bring the newest design collection to the Speakman family. The inspiration behind the Rainier Collection comes from its showerhead design which was launched in 2011. For...

INDIANAPOLIS—CityWay, a transformative new 14-acre neighborhood in the heart of downtown Indianapolis, is incorporating a number of sustainable initiatives into the new community, including plentiful green space, energy and water efficiency, a recycling program, enhanced indoor environmental quality, carpooling and electric vehicle support. It is also pursuing LEED certification for the new Alexander Hotel, a Dolce Hotel, affirming CityWay’s support for environmentally-conscious design, construction and living for downtown.“Sustainable living and working are central to the vision for CityWay,” said Scott Travis, senior development director of Buckingham Companies. “From the construction phase through its completion, CityWay will remain on the...

NEW YORK—GROHE introduces its New Tempesta shower heads and hand showers, allowing users to personalize their daily bath experience through four distinct spray pattern options. GROHE’s New Tempesta, currently available in Cosmopolitan, Timeless and Authentic design motifs to complement a variety of bathroom faucet selections, blends three styles with high-performance function. The line also offers a range of four unique, adjustable spray patterns, including: • Rain—A soft, delicate pattern mimicking soothing rain droplets for full and even coverage;• Rain 0²—An air-infused, rich spray. Soft, individual drops are enhanced with air so they become bigger while water consumption decreases;• Massage—A...