PISCATAWAY, N.J.—American Standard announced that its high efficiency urinals and flush-valve options meet or exceed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) WaterSense program requirements for high performance and water efficiency, making it the first major plumbing manufacturer to meet these rigorous requirements. The EPA’s WaterSense program requires commercial urinals to use no more than 0.5 gallons per flush (gpf)—50 percent lower than the current federal standard of 1.0 gpf—while also meeting such performance standards as flush effectiveness and post-flush seal restoration. The American Standard line of high efficiency urinals, which features FloWise water-saving technology, exceeds these requirements, operating between 0.5 gpf...

SHEFFIELD, MASS.—Monarch Bath, Bed & Spa, a leading global provider of luxury bathrobes and linens to the hospitality industry, released the full results of an independent research project that was conducted in order to test and evaluate the properties of their MONARCH ECO towels, a recently introduced line of eco-friendly bath linens that are designed to conserve water and reduce energy costs in the laundry operation. The extensive tests were performed in conjunction with Destination Hotels & Resorts (DH&R) at The Inverness Hotel and Conference Center in Englewood, Colo., a 302-room, 4-Diamond resort with an in-house laundry that processes more...

MADISON, WIS.—The Ozone Company, located in Madison, Wis., recently unveiled its new Ecowash Premier Ozone Laundry System. Like other ozone laundry systems, Ecowash allows one to reduce energy, water, chemical and labor costs at any laundry facility. It features a proprietary logic control board developed by The Ozone Company that allows it to independently supply ozone to four separate washing machines at the same time. Other ozone laundry systems can at most control only two washers, resulting in lower capital expenses for Ozone Company customers utilizing the Ecowash system. In addition, the Ozone Company’s Ecowash system only produces ozone when...

MILWAUKEE, WIS.—A practical, real-world guide designed to expand water conservation efforts inside and outside of today’s facilities was released. The IFMA Foundation and the Alliance for Sustainable Built Environments (ASBE) produced the white paper titled, “A Comprehensive Guide to Water Conservation: The Bottom Line Impacts, Challenges and Rewards.” The guide is available free of charge and provides an overview of  key areas in water conservation, covering: domestic water use including restrooms, hot water consumption and water reclamation; process water use including cooling towers and laundry facilities; rainwater harvesting with a description of harvesting techniques and applications for water reuse;...

NEW CASTLE, DEL.—Speakman Co. introduces the next generation of its Speakman shower products, Anystream Massage. The Anystream Massage product family was designed to provide luxurious, full-body sprays from ergonomically designed fixtures. By simply rotating the showerhead faceplate, users can transition effortlessly through gentle rain, full-flood and therapeutic, pulsating massage sprays.Like many of its predecessors the Anystream Massage products use precision-engineered Speakman components and materials that resist sediment buildup and are self-cleaning. The five adjustable stream nozzles and 12 center pulsating massage jets combine to produce 50 invigorating full-body sprays under any water pressure. Each Speakman showerhead is equipped with...

NORTH OLMSTED, OHIO—Moen Incorporated’s Commercial Division introduces a new way to prevent vandalism and save water in the shower with its Vandal-Resistant Eco-Performance wall-mounted showerhead. The new model is certified to meet WaterSense criteria, offering a significant water savings without sacrificing performance. It features a flow rate of 1.5 gallons per minute—a 40 percent water savings from the industry standard of 2.5 gallons per minute. In addition to its water-saving features, the new Vandal-Resistant Eco-Performance showerhead offers protection against damage. Made from solid cast brass, the heavy-duty showerhead cannot be adjusted by users and is angled so objects cannot be...

HILLSBORO, ORE.—Caroma, a leader in high efficiency dual flush toilets for commercial and residential use, was recently recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) WaterSense program for helping to promote water efficiency. Caroma earned an Excellence Award for its number of WaterSense labeled products in the marketplace—all 47 of its floor-mount, dual-flush toilet models. The EPA announced the winners at the WaterSmart Innovations Conference in Las Vegas during its second annual WaterSense awards banquet, co-hosted with the Alliance for Water Efficiency on October 6, 2010. Caroma was the first to develop dual flush systems in 1982; with dual flush...

CHICAGO—Culligan, a leading global innovator of advanced filtration and water softening solutions for more than 70 years, unveiled its comprehensive line of reverse osmosis (RO) products as part of its Culligan Matrix Solutions water treatment systems, which provide greater flexibility, speed to market and cost savings to commercial and industrial companies. Culligan’s complete RO product line offers customers a range of options based on their unique water quantity and quality requirements, from 0.2 gallons per minute (gpm) to more than 300 gpm. For hospitality and lodging customers that require more modifications or customization, Culligan can design a system that...

CARLSBAD, CALIF.—The La Costa Resort and Spa, a 400-acre property located near the beach in Carlsbad, Calif., has reduced its kitchen food waste volume by a factor of almost five times thanks to two industrial compost machines that rely on heat and agitation. According to Sam Bumgarner, purchasing director for the property, the machines, which each handle 250 pounds of food waste per day, are located in two different kitchens and compost 182,000 pounds of food scraps annually. Each day, approximately 40 pounds of compost is produced and given to the groundskeeping team to use around the property. "It sends...

LAS VEGAS—Beginning today, October 6, water-efficiency professionals from around the world will convene at the third WaterSmart Innovations Conference and Exposition (WSI 2010), at the South Point Hotel and Conference Center in Las Vegas. With more than 130 professional sessions and an expo hall featuring nearly 100 exhibit booths, WSI 2010 is the largest conference of its kind in the world, drawing about 1,000 attendees from across the United States and internationally. The conference will conclude Friday, October 8. “WSI provides a venue for professionals in a wide range of disciplines to come together in one place, at one time,...