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Water Conservation

Profits go down the drain, literally, when water is not conserved. Fortunately, there are many measures that can be taken to reduce consumption--both inside and outside of the hotel building. Green Lodging News highlights the latest news and best practices. Contact Glenn Hasek, editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at: greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.

Water Conservation

Home Water Conservation
Profits go down the drain, literally, when water is not conserved. Fortunately, there are many measures that can be taken to reduce consumption--both inside and outside of the hotel building. Green Lodging News highlights the latest news and best practices. Contact Glenn Hasek, editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at: greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.

Motel 6 Becomes Nation’s First LEED Certified Economy Lodging Property

DALLAS—Motel 6’s newest property in Northlake, Texas, is the first economy hotel in the nation to attain LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the first hotel for parent company Accor to gain the distinction. “With the brand’s ‘Phoenix’ prototype, we are setting the pace for the future of Motel 6, which, in line with our values, must be as energy-efficient as possible,” said Olivier Poirot, CEO of Accor North America, Motel 6 and Studio 6. “LEED’s high environmental standards lend a great deal of credence to our efforts, and we...

Acorn Now Featuring Waterless Urinal Made from Stainless Steel

LOS ANGELES—Acorn Engineering Co., a manufacturer of water-saving plumbing fixtures and systems, is now featuring a stainless steel waterless urinal made from 80 percent recycled content in its lineup. It operates without the need for chemical cartridges. Acorn Engineering’s hand-welded and sustainable waterless urinal is built to outlast other fixtures and reduce impact on water resources, landfills, and a building’s budget. The waterless urinal has furthered Acorn Engineering’s commitment to the environment by utilizing a well-known technology that does not require messy and expensive liquid replacement cartridges. Landfill waste is minimal, and the unit can be cleaned regularly without voiding...

Zurn Introduces HydroVantage Hydro Generator Flush Valve

ERIE, PA.—Zurn Engineered Water Solutions, a manufacturer of commercial plumbing products, has introduced the HydroVantage sustainable hydro generator flush valve. The HydroVantage flush valve is designed to create energy during each flush cycle. As water passes through the valve, the turbine spins, creating electrical energy which is then stored in a rechargeable cell. This stored energy then powers the electrical needs of the flush valve for subsequent flushes. It eliminates the need for external electrical power or battery replacement for more than 10 years under normal operating conditions. The HydroVantage flush valve provides optimal energy efficiency, low maintenance and ease...

TOTO’s Small Package Shipments Now Carbon Neutral

MORROW, GA.—TOTO USA, a leader in premium high-efficiency plumbing products and green manufacturing practices, announced that it has further expanded its sustainable logistics initiatives by adding UPS’s new carbon neutral shipping program to its energy-efficient supply chain. Globally, TOTO is the first major company to do so. Adding UPS’s carbon neutral shipping program to its sustainability practices enables TOTO to offset the carbon dioxide emissions generated by the transport of its small package shipments within the United States. A deciding factor in TOTO’s decision to adopt UPS’s new initiative is the fact that UPS’s carbon neutral shipping program is verified...

Starwood Hotels and Resorts Calls for Cuts in Energy, Water Use

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.—Expanding on its company-wide commitment to conservation and sustainable operations, Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc. plans to significantly reduce energy and water consumption at every one of its 1,000 hotels within the decade. Starwood is targeting a 30 percent reduction in energy use per available room by 2020; the company will also work toward a 20 percent decrease in water consumption per available room by 2020. The initiative will apply to all of Starwood’s owned, managed, and franchised hotels around the world. “We don’t see these goals as an obligation, but an opportunity,” said Frits van Paasschen,...

Fuel Cell Systems Inch Their Way into the Lodging Industry

NATIONAL REPORT—Fuel cell power systems, installed at properties such as the Hilton New York, Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina, and Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino, have worked reliably for years now but have failed to catch on in a big way throughout the lodging industry. Cost and availability of funding have certainly been reasons and the recent recession certainly has not helped. A lack of a serious marketing push by suppliers has contributed to the technology’s slow acceptance and systems have also not been available for smaller hotels. Some recent developments, however, could make fuel cells a more...

WaterSmart Conference and Expo Announces Keynote Speakers

LAS VEGAS—Best-selling author Steven Solomon and “natural capitalism” advocate Hunter Lovins will be keynote speakers at the third WaterSmart Innovations Conference and Exposition, slated for October 6 to 8, 2010 at the South Point Hotel and Conference Center in Las Vegas. Registration for the urban water efficiency conference is now underway. Lovins, president and founder of Natural Capitalism Solutions and co-founder of the Rocky Mountain Institute and California Conservation Society, will keynote the conference’s opening session Wednesday, October 6. Through NCS, Lovins educates senior public- and private-sector decision-makers about strategies to enable companies, communities, and countries to become more sustainable....

Yosemite Lodge Unveils Two Prototype Eco-friendly Guestrooms

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, CALIF.—Yosemite Lodge at the Falls, a popular year-round lodging destination in the heart of Yosemite Village, unveiled today two prototype guest rooms on the cutting edge of environmentally-friendly interior architecture and design. The two rooms at The Lodge are the first of their kind in Yosemite National Park. Reflective of Delaware North Companies’ award-winning GreenPath environmental stewardship platform, the two eco-friendly guestrooms were designed with an eye toward an eventual rollout throughout the Lodge’s 245 rooms. Every design selection, from insulation and paint to textiles and light fixtures, was evaluated based on its proximity, sustainability, recycled...

Green Lodging News Welcomes Blu-Drop as Directory Partner

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Blu-Drop as a Green Product & Service Directory Partner. Blu-Drop makes it easy to upgrade from a standard toilet to a dual-flush toilet without having to purchase a new toilet. The company’s easy-to-install WF-11C system is less than one-tenth the cost of a new toilet and can double the efficiency of an existing toilet. With the WF-11C system one need only replace the existing flapper and handle with the patented dual-flapper and dual-action handle. There is no need to remove the toilet tank. The WF-11C will fit nearly...

Marriott to Invest $500,000 to Help Conserve Water in China

SHANGHAI—Marriott International will invest $500,000 in seed money over the next two years to support a vital water conservation program that helps protect the largest source of fresh water on the planet, located in the mountains of Southwest China. The program will focus its work in Sichuan Province, the area hit hard by the 2008 earthquake. Concurrently, Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels throughout China have committed to reducing their water and energy use by 25 percent by 2017. The program, called the “Nobility of Nature,” is designed to assist rural communities in Sichuan Province with sustainable businesses, such as mushroom farming...