NATIONAL REPORT—The faucets go by a number of different names—hands free, electronic, touchless, sensor—but they are all geared toward improving hygiene, simplifying cleaning and maintenance, and conserving water and energy. Ideal for public restroom facilities where there is a continuous flow of different people, hands free faucets are also finding a home in commercial kitchens where employees are required to wash their hands. Several industry experts said there may come a day soon when hands free faucets are accepted in hotel guestroom bathrooms—as an “amenity upgrade,” one vendor said. Hands free faucets have been available for the mainstream public restroom...

NEW CASTLE, DEL.—Speakman Company introduces the Anystream Assana Showerhead. The Anystream Assana features a spa design aesthetic coupled with a traditional rain showerhead sensibility. The showerhead is available in both polished chrome and brushed nickel as well as a WaterSense certified 2.0 GPM flow rates. The Assana showerheads feature Anystream 360 spray technology. Developed by Speakman’s engineering team, Anystream 360 spray technology allows Speakman Anystream showerheads to achieve a 360 degree rotation to the spray adjusting mechanism (handle or faceplate). This adjustability allows the user to make small incremental adjustments to the spray of the showerhead and transition effortlessly through...

NATIONAL REPORT—After two years of declining revenues and profits, U.S. hotels turned the corner in 2010. According to the 2011 edition of Trends in the Hotel Industry published by PKF Hospitality Research (PKR-HR), the average hotel in the nation achieved a 4.8 percent increase in total revenue during 2010. While 70 percent of the properties in the Trends sample enjoyed an increase in total revenue in 2010, only 60 percent were able to convert that into more money on the bottom line. Previous analysis conducted by PKF-HR has found that hotel managers struggle to control costs during the initial stages...

VISTA, CALIF.—Waterless Co. Inc. has launched a new website, allowing visitors to enjoy a more attractive site as well as find the information they are looking for far more quickly. According to comments from users beta testing the updated site, the new site is now more “smart-looking,” “better organized,” and “easier to navigate.” According to Niki Bradley, marketing manager for Waterless Co., the first thing visitors see on the site’s home page is a map of the world. “Our waterless urinals are now installed all over the world so it just seemed appropriate,” Bradley says. Next to the map are four large...

LIVONIA, MICH.—The San-O3-tyzer by Hamilton Engineering and Aquawing Ozone Systems is a new system that uses a blend of heat and ozone in every wash cycle. Adding ozone to the wash allows for less chemicals and the use of lower temperature wash water, which will substantially lower utility bills and reduce the carbon footprint of a laundry operation. Additionally, there are San-O3-tyzer models designed to fit in the space of and function as a folding table. San-O3-tyzer systems come in more than 20 standard sizes that can accommodate up to 4,000 pounds of hourly wash capacity. Every San-O3-tyzer is factory...

PISCATAWAY, N.J.—American Standard introduces the DECORUM FloWise urinal. It features a sleek, modern, compact design. The high-efficiency urinal (HEU) features FloWise water-saving technology that uses only 0.5 gallons per flush (gpf), using 50 percent less water than a standard urinal. This stylish unit meets the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) WaterSense program requirements for high performance and water efficiency. “The DECORUM urinal elevates a very utilitarian product to something you would expect to see in a renowned modern art museum,” says Tony D’Amato, senior product manager of commercial products for American Standard. The powerful and efficient washdown action of the DECORUM...

CHICAGO—With four years to go until 2015—the target year for reaching its energy, water, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste reduction goals—Hyatt Hotels & Resorts is making significant progress. According to Brigitta Witt, vice president corporate responsibility for the company, energy, water and waste have been reduced by 10 percent since 2006 at approximately 200 full-service, Hyatt-managed hotels around the world. There have also been substantial cuts in Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions since 2009, the year Hyatt began tracking emissions. “We have been tracking energy and water since 1994,” Witt says. “We saw there was a...

DES PLAINES, ILL.—Chicago Faucets, a leading manufacturer of commercial faucets, announces the launch of its new Self Sustaining Power System (SSPS), a new energy-efficient turbine power option, to its line of high-performance electronic faucets. The SSPS uses turbine technology to create and store power every time water is used. A 6-pole magnet and dual-inductor rotor turbine create energy from water flow. The energy created by the turbine is stored in a rechargeable storage device that mounts under the sink and can be attached to the wall. The system comes with a back-up battery and voltage regulator for smart power selection;...

SAN RAMON, CALIF.—Even though it is based in California and funded by California rate payers through Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), the Food Service Technology Center (FSTC) offers a wealth of information for any commercial food service operation. In fact, it is FSTC’s goal to provide helpful information at no cost. First opened in 1987, FSTC tests commercial kitchen appliances for energy efficiency. Manufacturers, hotel and restaurant companies all work with FSTC to test product performance. FSTC is the primary information resource for the EPA’s Energy Star program for commercial food service and it has contributed significantly to the...

MORROW, GA.—TOTO, a leader in sustainable manufacturing and green business practices, has been recognized by the Brookings Institution as the leader in clean jobs creation in the Water Efficient Products sector for the greater Atlanta area. According to Brookings’ recent report entitled, “Sizing the Clean Economy: A National and Regional Green Jobs Assessment,” the “green” or “clean” or low-carbon economy is defined as “that sector of the economy that produces goods and services with an environmental benefit.” The coming Clean Economy, Brookings maintains, will define America’s low carbon future and provide employment opportunities for workers at all levels of...