LOS ANGELES—Falcon Waterfree Technologies, a leading global manufacturer of waterfree urinals, earned ‘2010 Money-Saving Product’ recognition by Buildings Magazine for the new Falcon F7000 splash-free waterfree urinal. The Falcon urinal was selected from a field of hundreds of products for its cost savings based on utility bills and ease of maintenance. Like all Falcon urinals, the new F7000 waterfree urinal is engineered to provide simple operation for new construction and restroom upgrades. The low purchase price and life cycle cost provides better payback than other urinal technology options. Besides saving up to 40,000 gallons or more of water and sewer...

NATIONAL REPORT—Going blue is not only about cheering for the University of Michigan. Going Blue is also about becoming more water efficient, and is as important a component of the greening of the lodging industry as any other. The hotel industry has made great strides in managing water consumption—changing faucet aerators and showerheads, and replacing older toilets—but there are still more opportunities for additional savings.  A water audit can help to find them. Why Pay Such Attention to Reducing Water Use? Water may still be cheap, but that does not mean it is plentiful. In many parts of the country water...

LONDON—Whitbread PLC, the United Kingdom’s largest hotel and restaurant group, announced that as part of this year’s capital investment program it will be spending more than $10.6 million on a sustainability program to boost the environmental performance of its hotels, restaurants and coffee shops. The move forms an important part of Whitbread’s ‘Good Together’ sustainability strategy and will help the business deliver against its targets of a 26 percent reduction in energy consumption and a 20 percent reduction in water use by 2020. The investment drive will focus on Whitbread’s existing estate and will see the introduction of a package...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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....