Eco Green Hotel News

Robbinsville, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/03/2011 -- It's that time again – Requests for Proposals (RFPs) are already hitting the street. From coast to coast and around the world, hotel staff are sharpening their pencils and filling out select paperwork from a mountain of NBTA forms with the hope of winning business.

RFP season is a familiar ritual for veteran hoteliers. Each summer it's the same old song and dance, answering the same old standard questions about room count, location, ratings, taxes, amenities, ADA compliance, etc.

But we at EcoGreenHotel are pleased to see the requests for proposals require even more sustainable information from the past year. Hotels must now outline their environmental initiatives, green certifications. That's right… your "Green Hotel Checklist" has just become critical ammunition in your NBTA bidding war arsenal!

Knowing the energy and water usage per guest, POR, and PAR is very important as it will be asked more frequently than ever as companies come out with CSR (corporate social responsibility) statements and policies. NBTA's 2012 RFP's will also include green questions such as:

• Top environmental programs employed (such as linen reuse, reusable key cards, energy efficiency efforts)

• Environmental certifications your green hotel has earned, with a preference given to certifications that require on-site audits

• Details about hotel's recycling program

• Use of environmentally responsible cleaners

• Water conservation efforts, such as linen reuse and/or water saving fixtures

Obviously, hotels that can demonstrate strong environmental programs stand to rank higher in the competition than those that can't. In fact, it's very clear that not having a sustainability plan in effect might cost your hotel big business next year.

If you want to boost your hotel property's green profile – and your chances of winning large national accounts in 2012 – contact EcoGreenHotel right now. Our team of seasoned green hospitality specialists can quickly, efficiently and affordably set the wheels in motion to get your environmental program rolling today. Even if you're on a tight budget, you still need to answer the RFP usage questions. A useful energy-usage measuring tool is ENERGY STAR's benchmarking platform. Our team can quickly get you prepared to answer those tedious RFP questions.

Don't put your green initiative off another minute. The planet – and your hotel's bottom line – depends upon it.

About EcoGreenHotel
EcoGreenHotel (Robbinsville, NJ), is a privately held company specializing solely in the hospitality industry by providing solutions for a broad spectrum of sustainability issues from energy efficiency to online marketing and green hotel products on http://www.EcoGreenHotelStore.com. The company provides information, tools, checklists, current news and trends to the hospitality industry through its website, http://www.EcoGreenHotel.com. EcoGreenHotel also provides customized consulting services tailored to the needs of the hospitality industry in the areas of energy efficiency and certifications, including LEED, Green Seal and Energy Star. For further information, email info@EcoGreenHotel.com or call 888-229-0213.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Robbinsville, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/25/2011 -- Energy technology has proven to be a solid investment reducing energy usage significantly

With all the different models, options and features offered by countless energy management systems, an energy efficiency project installing 65,000 wireless nodes at the Wynn Hotel & Casino warrants a closer look. Almost every lighting and climate control device in the 2,716 rooms were replaced by Evolve Guest Control.

SIMPLICTY SELLS
You'd think the Las Vegas, Nevadabased hotel would select a major energy management and automation brand for such a large scale energy efficiency project. Instead, the green hotel decided to focus on simplicity as their competitive advantage.

Evolve Guest Control's LCD Director Series is designed so that hotel guests can understand and control the moment they walk into their room. There's no learning curve; it is easy and self-explanatory. It allows guests easy wireless reign by the push of a button on a tabletop or wall-mounted LCD keypad. The system offers intelligent control of various amenities including:
• Lighting levels
• Room temperature
• Energy efficiency mode when unoccupied
• Motorized window treatments
• 'Do Not Disturb' or 'Service' communication to housekeeping
• Various pre-programmed scenes (ex. NIGHTLIGHT)
• Seven language settings

ENERGY SAVINGS
Of course the major incentive of installing any energy efficiency system is hotel energy savings! Hotels can expect 25-40% savings on guest room energy costs with an approximate ROI (return on investment) of two years. The Westin Georgetown deployed an Evolve system and saw a reduction in guest room energy usage by up to 40% while receiving consistently positive guest feedback.

Evolve has installed it's systems in hotels ranging from 28 rooms to as large as the Wynn's 2,700 rooms. Best of all, it qualifies for federal and state energy efficiency rebates.
In addition, the energy management devices are built on expandable platforms allowing future addition and integration with existing and new products and technology. A centralized management system, would allow the property to save energy for entire floors that are not in-use or individual rooms for maximum hotel energy efficiency management.

About EcoGreenHotel
EcoGreenHotel (Robbinsville, NJ), is a privately held company specializing solely in the hospitality industry by providing solutions for a broad spectrum of sustainability issues from energy efficiency to online marketing and green hotel products on http://www.EcoGreenHotelStore.com. The company provides information, tools, checklists, current news and trends to the hospitality industry through its website, http://www.EcoGreenHotel.com. EcoGreenHotel also provides customized consulting services tailored to the needs of the hospitality industry in the areas of energy efficiency and certifications, including LEED, Green Seal and Energy Star. For further information, email info@EcoGreenHotel.com or call 888-229-0213.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Quick tips (or a reminder) of essential practices

Robbinsville, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/16/2011 -- For most Internet marketing gurus, the use of Internet marketing and social networking sites has been a secret weapon. As a hotel operator or owner, you will agree that it is always necessary to develop your and increase business. With the internet and all the new technologies connecting green hotels directly to customers, creating an internet marketing strategy and utilizing social network platforms is essential to reaching your target market. Social networking is a great tool to improve the performance of your hotel's green marketing strategy.

I have compiled four essential tips to help you succeed in marketing online through social networking:

Communication: This is a very important key to success in whatever marketing strategy you choose to use. Give customers the ability to provide feedback, commets, ratings and suggestions. This will open up the communication lines and allow your green hotel to determine how operations and services can be improved.

Content Quality: The content is very necessary in Internet marketing. Always make sure that quality content will be engaging to your customers.

People Help:This is where you can spread the word about your hotel's green initiatives and good stewardship. In addition, your social media manager should make note of opportunities where the hotel can help customers. A small gesture can go a long way.

Sharing what is going on behind the scenes and getting involved in local or community efforts will build trust.

Spread The Right Links: This is where most people go wrong in internet marketing. Be strategic on what links you share on the social networking platforms. Constantly sharing the hotel's booking page link is not a good idea. Remember, it needs to be engaging. Think outside the box.

About EcoGreenHotel
EcoGreenHotel LLC (Robbinsville, NJ), is a privately held company dedicated to helping lodging facilities address a broad spectrum of sustainability issues. The company provides information, tools, checklists, current news and trends to the hospitality industry through its website, http://www.EcoGreenHotel.com. The company also runs an online marketplace for green products and services at http://www.EcoGreenHotelStore.com. In addition to the online offerings, EcoGreenHotel provides customized consulting services tailored to the needs of the hospitality industry in the areas of energy efficiency and certifications, including LEED, Green Seal and Energy Star. For those properties that have reached certified levels of sustainability, EcoGreenHotel assists with marketing services to position the properties within the growing "green" space and enhance revenue. For further information, email info@EcoGreenHotel.com or call 888-229-0213

About Author
Susan Patel, VP of Technologies & Communications received her B.S. in Economics from Rutgers College at New Brunswick and has over six years of financial and investment analyst experience. Driven by her passion for sustainability and economic development since childhood and through philanthropic adventures internationally, Susan now leads business development and operations at EcoGreenHotel and is the Site Director and Managing Editor of EcoGreenHotel online publications.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Robbinsville, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/28/2011 -- Over the past several years I have walked through a hundred hotels as part of our E2A Program (Energy Efficiency Analysis) always looking for opportunities that the EGH Team can present solutions for. In nearly90% of hotels we have evaluated, we have seen managements efforts to rid the property of incandescent and halogen lighting to reduce energy usage. One challenge faced during this process is finding the right dimmable down lights.

Where dimming is not necessary, such as guest rooms, the use of compact fluorescent lighting (CFLs) is a proven cost effective solution. Even in the back of the house we are seeing more and more properties changing over to 28W T8 or 25W Super T8 Fluorescents in place of older 40W T12 technologies. There are still, however, a few areas within hotels that neither CFL's nor more efficient fluorescent technologies deliver the aesthetics or dimming capability needed for areas such as lobbies, restaurants and public spaces.

In a great number of branded and non-branded hotels the use of PAR 30 and PAR 38 fixtures in lobby and public spaces are still utilizing 65w or 75W incandescent bulbs and in most cases burn 24 hours a day. This opportunity allows for an energy reduction solution that can provide amazing return on investment (ROI's). LED bulbs and fixtures have been the great hope for these applications, but the upfront cost and smooth dimming capabilities has kept many green hotels standing on the sidelines.

Over the past couple of years the EGH team has sampled, tested and tracked pricing of several LED lighting providers. After careful evaluation we have recently replaced 134 65W incandescent PAR 30 bulbs and cans with the CREE CR6 at the Hilton Garden Inn-Nashville/Smyrna TN as part of a comprehensive energy efficiency project.

The ease of installation, upgraded aesthetics and dimming capabilities of the 10.5W LED fixture cannot be understated. It is designed to last 50,000 hours and has a 5-year warranty. Given the lights are on 24 hours a day, 50,000 hours is approximately six years which means the warranty covers most of its useful life. "Dimming does extend the life," explained Cody Metcalf, President of WinderLumen LED."For instance, 50% dimming doubles life and the rated life of LED products means that the light is still at 70% of its original lumen output. LED's don't burn out - they fade away."

Let's look at the energy savings based on a similar install…
* Based on $60 per fixture (Price continues to decrease)
* Based on nine cents per kWh
* In-house installation
* Rebate programs and energy investment loan program (EILP) not considered in simple payback

As detailed in the analysis above if your property has incandescent bulbs in place that burn more than ten hours a day you may want to evaluate your opportunity for hotel energy savings. Rebate and incentive programs to subsidies the cost and low interest financing are available in some areas.

Beyond the energy savings, the ease of installation and the dimming ability of the CREE CR-6 met and exceeded our expectations. The aesthetic enhancement that came along with the energy saving install was wonderful.

EcoGreenHotel prides itself on a vendor neutral approach to guarantee an unbiased solution for clients. With that being said I would like to share the final LED lighting candidates for this particular install. Each technology listed below fell into the budget and should be considered if you are planning the adoption of LED for your green hotel.

The Finalist
1ST10.5W Cree CR-6 provided by WinderLumen LED you can visit www.WinderLumenLED.com

Runner Ups
2nd12W LEDnovation Par 30 provided by Taft-Durst, Inc you can visit www.tdileds.com

3rd9W Evergreen LED Par 30 provided by www.ledlightsupply.com
(Two more lighting providers that assisted us with our analysis)
Kana Hotel Group contracted EcoGreenHotel to perform an E2A (Energy Efficiency Analysis) for their Hilton Garden Inn Nashville/Smyrna, TN and make recommendations for energy efficiency improvements. EcoGreenHotel's recommendations included energy conservation measures such as: Inncom Energy Management Systems for HVAC control and monitoring common areas and in-room PTACs, LED lighting upgrades, lighting controls, US Energy Solutions' Boiler Management and NuTek Ozone laundry systems. EcoGreenHotel technical analysis required to submit for financing calculated the hotel will reduce its energy consumption by 30% and create immediate positive cash flow.

About Author
Scott Parisi, President at EcoGreenHotel, is a veteran hospitality professional and a passion for the environment. He has supported the creation and implementation of branded energy and sustainability programs proven successful in both franchise and independent hotels. Scott served as General Manager of the United States first LEED Certified and "Environmentally Friendly" Hotel; the Sheraton Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA. Scott advanced from General Manager to specializing in multi property management including experience with major hotel chains, such as Intercontinental, Starwood, Hilton and Choice Hotels.

About EcoGreenHotel
EcoGreenHotel LLC (Robbinsville, NJ), is a privately held company dedicated to helping lodging facilities address a broad spectrum of sustainability issues. The company provides information, tools, checklists, current news and trends to the hospitality industry through its website, http://www.EcoGreenHotel.com. The company also runs an online marketplace for green products and services at www.EcoGreenHotelStore.com. In addition to the online offerings, EcoGreenHotel provides customized consulting services tailored to the needs of the hospitality industry in the areas of energy efficiency and certifications, including LEED, Green Seal and Energy Star. For those properties that have reached certified levels of sustainability, EcoGreenHotel assists with marketing services to position the properties within the growing "green" space and enhance revenue. For further information, email info@EcoGreenHotel.com or call 888-229-0213

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Robbinsville, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/12/2011 -- "As an investment and management company, we are always looking for ways to reduce our operating costs throughout our portfolio of hotels to increase the ROI for our investors, " said Michael Gibson, Founder and CEO of M.Gibson Hotels Group. "EcoGreenHotel's E2A (Energy Efficiency Analysis) introduced us to several energy conservation measures and, with their vendor neutral approach, together we built a comprehensive energy strategy we felt comfortable investing precious capital towards. Since installation Scott and his team continue to measure results and provide us with detailed reporting that allow us to show our investors true savings and a return on their investment."

EcoGreenHotel led the project implementation and scheduled the installation without upsetting the day-to-day operations of the hotel. "We evaluated, recommended and managed the installation of energy efficiency measures that are already delivering strong returns for the Hilton Garden Inn Knoxville West. EcoGreenHotel specializes in the select service market and have partnered with the best providers of technologies geared at this sector of hotels," notes Scott Parisi, President of EcoGreenHotel.

The difficult part of any energy conservation project is to balance the investment costs and potential cost savings with out exceeding a limited budget. EcoGreenHotel's recommendations for this project all provided reasonable payback periods while delivering above average cost savings. Two of the most effective solutions implemented were the Guest Room Energy Management System and an Ozone Laundry system.

The Energy Patrol Energy Management system allows hotel management to gain precise control of the PTAC units in guest rooms through the use of motion sensors tied to the in-room thermostats. "More and more hoteliers are viewing sustainability projects as some of the most financially attractive investments that they can make. Our Energy Patrol System reduced HVAC waste by up to 45% per occupied room. Our system will have a great impact on the bottom line, while providing a return on investment of approximately two years," said Kevin Hall, President US Energy Solutions.

The benefits of ozone as a powerful cleaning agent have been studied for over 100 years. Only recently have limited service hotels been able to take full advantage of its tremendous cleaning power in laundry operations. The Hilton Garden Inn Knoxville West installed a small-scale system to work with its two 75-lb washers. The results have been very positive allowing a reduction in the use of laundry chemicals and terrific energy savings. Ozone acts as a powerful oxidizer and increases the saponification effects of the wash chemicals that allow for lower washing temperatures between 95°F to 115°F instead of the traditional 140°F to 160°F, with no sacrifice in cleaning power.

Looking beyond the most common energy conservation measures, EcoGreenHotel recommended two innovative solutions for the indoor swimming pool:

The first is a liquid pool blanket. The Heatsavr system automatically applies a biodegradable liquid that floats on the surface of the water to greatly reduce heat loss by slowing the evaporation rate. The invisible liquid blanket is very effective in reducing the steam loss per hour. The Hilton Garden Inn's pool is experiencing energy bill reductions between 15% and 30%. For every dollar spent on Heatsavr, hotel owners will see three dollars in savings.

Finally, EcoGreenHotel recommended a green technology solution that does not reduce energy use; however it did provide excellent cost savings. Converting the standard chlorine swimming pool to a saltwater pool was relatively inexpensive and took less than an hour for installation with a simple cut in to the pool equipment lines. The pay back was tremendous, allowing for pool chemical cost to be reduced from $150.00 a month for dry chlorine tablets and crystals to less than $10.00 a month for 25-lb bags of salt.

Overall the energy conservation measures have resulted in a 25% reduction in energy and natural gas usage as compared to last year. All of the energy conservation measures are projected to be paid for with the savings within 24 months. As energy prices rise over the next five years the Hilton Garden Inn Knoxville West will be well ahead of its competition.

About M. Gibson Hotels Group
M. Gibson Hotels Group is an investment, development and management company with over 36 years in the hotel and restaurant industry, building expertise through multi-unit management and conceptual development of hotels and freestanding theme restaurants. They are a franchisee with InterContinental Hotel Group, Hilton Hotels Corporation, and Marriott International Inc. and offer hotel construction, development, interior design, project management, accounting, sales and marketing services through a team of dedicated professionals

About EcoGreenHotel
EcoGreenHotel LLC (Robbinsville, NJ), is a privately held company dedicated to helping lodging facilities address a broad spectrum of sustainability issues. The company provides information, tools, checklists, current news and trends to the hospitality industry through its website, http://www.EcoGreenHotel.com. The company also runs an online marketplace for green products and services at http://www.EcoGreenHotelStore.com. In addition to the online offerings, EcoGreenHotel provides customized consulting services tailored to the needs of the hospitality industry in the areas of energy efficiency and certifications, including LEED, Green Seal and Energy Star. For those properties that have reached certified levels of sustainability, EcoGreenHotel assists with marketing services to position the properties within the growing "green" space and enhance revenue. For further information, email info@EcoGreenHotel.com or call 888-229-0213.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Robbinsville, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/10/2010 -- EcoGreenHotel, a sustainability and energy services company, has been selected as an accredited sustainability partner to the National Purchasing Network (NPN), a hotel purchasing consortium, to provide guidance on green products, energy solutions and sustainability services and advice to NPN's customer base across the hospitality spectrum that includes hotels, resorts, golf courses, restaurants and nightclubs.

The partnership combines EcoGreenHotel'sexperience in sustainability strategy development, energy efficiency and green product solutions and NPN's customer base to implement sustainability initiatives that measure, assess and reduce environmental impacts, energy usage, waste and operating costs.

"It will allow us to offer a full range of sustainability services and green products to our members, and we're very excited about the new opportunities that will make possible," stated Terri Martinez, Director of National Accounts for National Purchasing Network. "We're delighted to formalize the relationship with EcoGreenHotel, a company with an established track-record and a commitment to delivering sustainable solutions."

The alliance also shows that an organization's sustainability initiatives, including energy-efficiency continues to matter at the highest levels of the management chain. Facility operators and owners want effective green initiatives so they can address, measure and implement sustainability strategies, which ultimately results in long-term cost savings.

"We are absolutely thrilled. These kind of partnershipsmark significant benefits for everyone involved," saidScott Parisi, President of EcoGreenHotel. "In today's dynamic world, our clients demand and deserve a streamlined purchasing system that not only saves time and money,but also mitigates their impact on the environment.This partnership meets that need."

NPN leverages its more than $25 million in purchasing power to offer its members money-saving access to products and services from industry leaders like SYSCO, Edward Don, Guest Supply, Entegra, Coke, Steritech, FedEx, Staples, Sealy, Bacardi-Martini, Serta, Amana, Stay On Line (Lodge Net), PSAV, Royal Cup,Dannon, Waring Commercial and Ricoh Business Systems, among others.

"EcoGreenHotel's team have a great understanding of what leading edge technology, energy solutions, and green products are out there and available for our customers to 'go green' and improve their environmental impact" said Martinez.

Now serving as the "EcoExperts" for the NPN, EcoGreenHotel will provide NPN's customers with the latest green hospitality industry news, environmentally friendly products andinsight, service provider announcements, custom energy efficiency programs, and assistance with green lodging certificationthrough an easy-access web portal at http://www.natpurchasing.com/green-services.asp.

"We're honored to partner with the NPN and serve as a resource for companies interested environmental and energy efficiency management," commented Parisi. "We've had the pleasure of providing sustainability services, energy solutions and green products to green hotels nationwide, and we look forward to continuing this work as an official partner of the National Purchasing Network."

Stop by EcoGreenHotel's booth for more details at the 2010 NPN Expo held November 30th to December 2nd. Located at the Holiday Inn Harrisburg West, 5401 Carlisle Pike, Mechanicsburg PA.

About National Purchasing Network
National Purchasing Network provides integrated procurement solutions to the hospitality industry. NPN currently provides purchasing solutions for 90+ hotels, resorts, golf courses, restaurants and night clubs. Based outside Harrisburg, PA,NPN's expertise includes FF&E, OS&E and F&B with a focus on day-to-day operations and solutions management for its client properties. For further information, visit http://www.NatPurchasing.com, email info@natpurchasing.com or call 717-591-1610.

About EcoGreenHotel
EcoGreenHotel LLC (Robbinsville, NJ), is a privately held company dedicated to helping lodging facilities address a broad spectrum of sustainability issues. The company provides information, tools, checklists, current news and trends to the hospitality industry through its website, http://www.EcoGreenHotel.com. The company also runs an online marketplace for green products and services at http://www.EcoGreenHotelStore.com. In addition to the online offerings, EcoGreenHotel provides customized consulting services tailored to the needs of the hospitality industry in the areas of energy efficiency and certifications, including LEED, Green Seal and Energy Star. For those properties that have reached certified levels of sustainability, EcoGreenHotel assists with marketing services to position the properties within the growing "green" space and enhance revenue. For further information, email info@EcoGreenHotel.com or call 88

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Robbinsville, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/09/2010 -- What would you do if you could reduce your monthly fuel cost by 70% for the hotel shuttle van? In our August newsletter EcoGreenHotel detailed the progress toward creating a nationwide infrastructure for electric vehicles to be driven on a large scale. The September newsletter detailed how hotels can increase their revenue by being part of a regional approach to electric vehicle introduction. This month we are going to detail how an electric vehicle can dramatically reduce a green hotel's shuttle fleet operation costs.

First lets look at the incentives and rebates that a green hotel will receive when purchasing an Electric Vehicle.

FEDERAL REBATES & INCENTIVES

For Cars and Vans
$2,500 to $7,500 tax credit, depending on size of battery (4 kWh to 16 kWh), for electric-drive vehicles sold after December 31, 2008. The incentive applies to at least 200,000 units per auto manufacturer before it phases out. Essentially, the first 200,000 vehicles of a make and model sold receive a rebate.

Charge Stations
Tax credit equaling 50% of the cost to install an EV charge station (as well as other alternative fuel stations), with a maximum $2,000 credit for each station installed. Applies to qualified equipment installed before the end of 2010.

Note,green hotels are not required to install a charging station for operation of an EV shuttle van. Any 110v or 220v outlet will charge the vehicle. Charging stations are an option that can be used to attract eco-conscience travelers.

In addition there are numerous state and local incentives that can be employed throughout the country to bring additional money to the project. http://www.pluginamerica.org/why-plug-vehicles/state-federal-incentives

For example, Tennessee is offering an additional $2500 rebate for the first 1000 EV sold to in-state businesses. California Offers rebates of up to $5,000 per light-duty vehicle will be available for individuals and business owners who purchase or lease new eligible zero-emission or plug-in vehicles until the funding runs out.

Now for the fun part, get out your calculators and lets do some simple math using the E36 7-passenger Mini-van offered by Electric Mobile Cars with their estimated range of 220 miles. (That is not an error; the all-electric EMC mini-van is rated at 220 miles at 65mph).A full battery charge for this vehicle will cost $6.50 (45 minutes at $0.10 kWh using a 220v outlet). Lets assume the shuttle is driven 15,000 miles in 2011.

Electric Vehicle - 15,000 miles / 220 miles per fill-up = 68.1 fill-ups/year x $6.50
Annual fuel cost = $443

Gasoline Vehicle - Depending on make and model a typical mini-van will get 20 mpg
Annual fuel cost = $2062 (15,000 miles, 20mpg at $2.75/gallon gasoline).

Electric Vehicle savings = $1619. Add in reductions for maintenance (no oil changes for the all-electric motor) $40.00 x 5 = $200. Total yearly fuel and maintenance savings = $1819.

Unfortunately this is not a perfect world and there is the replacement battery cost we need to factor in. The EMC has a 70,000-mile warranty on the battery and a projected useful life of 5 to 7 years depending on driving conditions and climate. Assume $4500.00 in year six.

Pulling all the numbers together lets use a hotel in Knoxville, Tennessee purchasing a new EV in 2011 for a shuttle vehicle as an example:

Cost of EMC EV 7-Passenger Mini-Van $ 37,300
Federal Rebate - 7,500
State Rebate - 2,500
Purchase Price (does not include sales tax and other miscellaneous charges) $ 27,300

Annual fuel and maintenance cost $443
Annual fuel and maintenance savings $1,819
Five Year Projected Savings $9,095

Obviously these numbers are rough estimates, however they do indicate there are potentially substantial costs savings to be achieved for your hotel. EcoGreenHotel encourages you to explore your options when it comes to your shuttle fleet. If you have any questions in regard to electric vehicles or charging stations, please contact info@ecogreenhotel.com

Reference:
Mini-van MPG - http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/byclass/Minivan2010.shtml

About EcoGreenHotel
EcoGreenHotel LLC (Robbinsville, NJ), is a privately held company dedicated to helping lodging facilities address a broad spectrum of sustainability issues. The company provides information, tools, checklists, current news and trends to the hospitality industry through its website, www.EcoGreenHotel.com. The company also runs an online marketplace for green products and services at http://www.EcoGreenHotelStore.com. In addition to the online offerings, EcoGreenHotel provides customized consulting services tailored to the needs of the hospitality industry in the areas of energy efficiency and certifications, including LEED, Green Seal and Energy Star. For those properties that have reached certified levels of sustainability, EcoGreenHotel assists with marketing services to position the properties within the growing "green" space and enhance revenue. For further information, email info@EcoGreenHotel.com or call 888-229-0213.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Robbinsville, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/01/2010 -- As the saying goes, one person's trash is another person's treasure. But it can be dfficult to figure out "how" for a hotel business. With standard hotel operations being wasteful, there are numerous opportunities for hotels to not only reduce their own waste and associated hauling costs, but also help contribute to their communities whether it be local or international.

Writer Paige Greenfield from O, The Oprah Magazine, has compiled a list of organizations that can help us help others. Although the list was intended for Oprah readers, we found that some of the suggested places to send reusable stuff could very easily apply to most businesses including green hotels. In addition, these waste management solutions can be incorporated into an eco-friendly hotel's social responsibility programthat could involve both guests and the local community.

Here is a quick list of where your hotel can send it's stuff:

Cell Phones
Send your company's old or busted phone to Cell Phone for Soldiers,who then sell the phone and purchase calling cards for troops stationed abroad so they can phone home for free.

Computer Equipment
The National Cristina Foundation will help match the computer equipment with an organization in nearby that needs it. Many are non-profits that are in need of computers, fax machine, printers, monitors and any other parts.

Furniture
Find a local furniture bank that will pick up and distribute the hotel's furnishings to families in need at FurnitureBank.org. Most accept beds, dressers, nightstands, tables, chairs, sofas and lamps.

Batteries
Don't toss them into the garbage, instead order a waste RecyclePak kit from EcoGreenHotel Store ($55; EcoGreenHotelStore.com). Fill the kit, which holds 15 pounds, wth any type of battery, including rechargeables found in cell phones and laptops. Drop the prepaid box at any U.S. post office or FedEx location and the company guarantees the batteries will be recycled according to EPA regulations.

Paint, Tools, and Other Building Supplies
Contact a Habitat for Humanity ReStore near you. Each ReStore is different, therefore find a listing at www.habitat.org/cd/env/restore.aspx for information on what they take.

About EcoGreenHotel
EcoGreenHotel LLC is a privately held company dedicated to helping lodging facilities addressesabroad spectrum of sustainability issues. The company provides information, tools, checklists, current news and trends to the hospitality industry through its website, www.EcoGreenHotel.com. In 2009, the company launched an online marketplace for green products and services at www.EcoGreenHotelStore.com. In addition to the online offerings, EcoGreenHotel provides customized consulting services tailored to the needs of the hospitality industry in the areas of energy efficiency and certifications, including LEED, Green Seal and Energy Star. For those properties that have reached certified levels of sustainability, EcoGreenHotel assists with marketing services to position the properties within the growing "green" space and enhance revenue. For further information, emailinfo@EcoGreenHotel.com or call 888.229.0213.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Robbinsville, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/24/2010 -- Experienced Hospitality Veteran Expected to Help Foster Significant "Green" Hotel Growth

Energy-efficiency and sustainability services firm, EcoGreenHotel LLC, recently named Chris Lewis the Director of Energy Solutions. In this role, Lewiswill be responsible for managing all strategic hotel energy projects and advancing innovative green solutions to help clients reduce their environmental impact and operational costs.

"Chris brings a wealth of valuable experience in the hospitality industry including multi-project management and therefore strengthening our Energy Solutions Division," said Scott Parisi, President of EcoGreenHotel LLC. "He's a great fit for EcoGreenHotel because of his in-depth understanding of hotel operations, property improvement and direct experience with implementing sustainable solutions."

Lewis joins at an opportune time as the hospitality industry starts to rebound and interest in EcoGreenHotel's E2A, Energy Efficiency Analysis,program proves to be a valuable investment for hotel owners and operators. "We are grateful to work with several leading management companies, whom we've been able to directly lower operational costs by implementing property-specific sustainable strategies," remarks Parisi.

Through a collaborative process with facility managers, engineers, technology specialists, financial experts and legal counsel, the energy solutionsteam assists facility owners and property management to conduct energy analysis, develop project scope, arrange financing and incentives, and improvetheir properties. Their mission is to develop and implement actionable plans that save energy, lessen impact on the environment and improve cash flow for their clients in the hospitality industry.

"We are currently managing energy efficiency analysis and projects in twelve states totaling over one million dollars in implemented technologies; it was time to add an individual with Chris's experience to our team," Parisi adds.

Lewis has more than 17 years of experience in the hospitality industry both in the U.S. and abroad with both Full and Select Service hotels.His responsibilities include facility management, food and beverage, renovation, construction, new openings andmulti-property management. Prior to joining EcoGreenHotel,Lewis served as Development and Construction Manager for OTO Development, a hospitality development company. His expertise includes mechanical systems, equipment specs, purchasing habits and standard operating procedures. Lewis was also responsible for "green initiatives" deployed at several properties that successfully qualified to achieve Florida Green Lodging, EcoRooms and EcoSuites, California Green Lodging and Irvine Build Green certifications.

EcoGreenHotel's Energy Solutions Division offersEnergy Star benchmarking, energy efficiency analysis, renewable energy consulting, energy performance project management, and certification to name a few. The division is able to assist hotels from start to finish, which includes identifying federal, state and local utility rebates, incentives, grants and loans. By leveraging available programs, they assist properties to locate and inject capital towards energy conservation measures that create positive cash flow.

About EcoGreenHotel
EcoGreenHotel LLC (Robbinsville, NJ),is a privately held company dedicated to helping lodging facilities address a broad spectrum of sustainability issues. The company provides information, tools, checklists, current news and trends to the hospitality industry through its website, www.EcoGreenHotel.com. The company also runs an online marketplace for green products and services at www.EcoGreenHotelStore.com. In addition to the online offerings, EcoGreenHotel provides customized consulting services tailored to the needs of the hospitality industry in the areas of energy efficiency and certifications, including LEED, Green Seal and Energy Star.

For those properties that have reached certified levels of sustainability, EcoGreenHotel assists with marketing services to position the properties within the growing "green" space and enhance revenue. For further information, email info@EcoGreenHotel.com or call 888-229-0213.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Robbinsville, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/23/2010 -- The 411 on Top Green Hotel Certifications

The race continues as hotels strive to one-up their competition. In January we had published an investigative article on green hotel certifications exploring various anglesof "why certify" and details of major certification programs. As the number of green certification programs continues to grow, we want to revisit some of the prominent certifications that continue to lead the hospitality lodging industry on the green trend.

Compared to the beginning of the year, hoteliers have more options than ever when it comes to selecting which green lodging certification program to participate and obtain. From established worldwide green certification programs to the recent state versions, analyzing the options could be overwhelming. The key factor in selecting the appropriate program is to ensure it provides absolute value through quantifiable results (ie. energy usage, cost reduction, guest satisfaction, etc). We recommend our clients to start with a hotel energy benchmarking and tracking system.

Are you in? Standing on the sidelines can cost you money in the long run. While obtaining a green certification is not mandatory, it could mean you are missing out on some great benefits, which include:

1. Reduced operating costs
2. Improve the bottom line
3. Demonstrate leadership in sustainability
4. Enhanced reputation, brand and market value
5. Federal and state tax benefits
6. Reduction of green house emissions
7. Attract eco-conscious travelers
8. Healthier environment for employees and guests
9. Attraction and retraction of talent

There are a variety of green certifications that can denote that a hotel is implementing specific green practices, however each program has a different focus, different priorities and different standards -- no two are alike. In a recent article published by Hotel & Leisure Advisors, four aspects have been identified to distinguish the focus of green certification programs: "These broad categories consist of certifications for overall building structures, the building fixtures themselves, building operations, and overall management practices."

Keeping these categories in mind, the following are top green lodging certification programs (in alphabetical order):

Audubon Green Leaf™ Eco-Rating Program: (http://www.greenleaf.auduboninternational.org) This program works with hotels to ensure that they are using green practices in their upkeep and everyday running of the establishment.A tiered certification program where environmental measures are evaluated according to: water quality, water conservation, waste minimization, resource conservation, and energy efficiency.

Rating: One to Five 'Green Leafs'

Recognized/Chosen by: The State of New York as statewide hospitality 'greening' goal.

EcoRooms® & EcoSuites™: (http://www.ecorooms.com) Certified properties must meet eight strict eco-criteria for membership and certification. The criteria includes: use of Green Seal certified cleaning and paper products, towel and linen reuse program, recyclable waste program, energy efficient lighting, high efficiency plumbing, and 100% smoke-free properties.

Rating: Must meet all eight program requirements

Recognized/Chosen by: American Hotel and Lodging Association (AH&LA) and the American Automobile Association (AAA).

EPA's Energy Star label: (http://www.energystar.gov) The Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star program enables buildings to qualify through meeting strict energy performance standards. Energy Star labeled properties use less energy, have reduced operating expenses, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. To be certified, the property mustattain a minimum score of 75, the top 25%, based on EPA's National Energy Performance Rating System. As of November 2010, there are 426Energy Star labeled U.S. hotels.

Rating: Must obtain a score of 75 or higher

Green Globe Certification: (http://www.greenglobecertification.com) This is a certification label for sustainability in both management and operations. Certification criteria cover several areas, including sustainable management and social economic, cultural heritage, and environmental aspects of sustainability.The program's criteria are also updated annually to ensure international compliance.

Rating: Must achieve threshold of at least 35% of the total 1,000 points

Green Key®: (http://.greenkeyglobal.com) The Eco-Rating program is specifically designed for hotel operations to rank, certify and inspect green initiatives.Based upon a comprehensive environmental self-assessment, hotels are ranked and providedwith guidance on how to "unlock" opportunities. The program assesses the five main operational areas of a property and covers nine sustainable practices. An on-site inspection may be conducted to confirm green hotel rating.

Rating: One to Five Green Keys

Recognized/Chosen by: Carlson Hotels, Hyatt Hotels, Motel 6,MGM Resorts International, Sofitel, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and Accor in the U.S/North America region.

Green Seal certification: (http://www.greenseal.org) This tiered certification is presented to those lodging properties that achieve various levels of compliance with GS-33, Green Seal Environmental Leadership Standard for Lodging Properties. Properties must demonstrate science-based evaluation of sustainable practices in following areas: waste minimization, energy efficiency, conservation and management, management of fresh water resources, wastewater management, hazardous substances, and environmentally conscious purchasing.

Rating: Bronze, Silver or Gold Levels

Recognized/Chosen by: The city of Los Angeles through its Green Business Initiative, as well as Chicago through its Green Hotels Initiative.

USGBC LEED® certification: (http://www.usbgc.org/leed) The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings' performance. Promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.

Rating: Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum Levels

About EcoGreenHotel
EcoGreenHotel LLC is a privately held company dedicated to helping lodging facilities addressesa broad spectrum of sustainability issues. The company provides information, tools, checklists, current news and trends to the hospitality industry through its website, http://www.EcoGreenHotel.com. The company also runs an online marketplace for green products and services at http://www.EcoGreenHotelStore.com. In addition to the online offerings, EcoGreenHotel provides customized consulting services tailored to the needs of the hospitality industry in the areas of energy efficiency and certifications, including LEED, Green Seal and Energy Star. For those properties that have reached certified levels of sustainability, EcoGreenHotel assists with marketing services to position the properties within the growing "green" space and enhance revenue. For further information, email info@EcoGreenHotel.com or call 888-229-0213.About Author

Susan Patel, VP of Technologies &Communications. Leads business development and operations and is the Site Director and Managing Editor of EcoGreenHotel online publications.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Robbinsville, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/17/2010 -- Ten years ago a business traveler looking for green lodging options would have to search long and hard for accommodations that offered in-room recycling, linen re-use programs, energy efficient light blubs, and water saving fixtures. Five years ago "certified green" hotels were tiny blips on the traveling public's radar.

Nearing the close of 2010, the business traveler has over 2000 "third-party certified" hotels in North America, dozens of USGBC LEED hotels and conference centers, corporate brands offering sustainability programs and LEED certified prototypes, numerous certifying organizations, Travelocity and Expedia "green lodging" search engines, and 35 State and Local Green Lodging programs to aid them in their quest for a sustainable overnight stay.

However there is no hospitality industry standard definition of a green hotel. Some will argue that simply implementing guest room recycling, using green cleaning products, and linen re-use programs are enough. Others say a self-certified audit program from an outside party such as following state lodging guideline qualifies. Even more say only a third party audited and certified hotel is the only way to guarantee compliance to strict standards.

Most sustainable industry professional's definition of green hotel include green policies and procedures in place that at a minimum take into account energy, water, waste streams, indoor air quality, and green cleaning. Furthermore and most importantly, the hotels are audited and certified on a consistent basis from an independent third party organization. A third party certification provides accountability and assurance that the various standards are followed and to avoid "green washing".

GreenKey's Certification program has made tremendous gains throughout North America over the last five years. Currently they have over 1500 certified green hotels in the US and Canada and expect that number to increase with recently signed agreements with Hyatt, Carlson, Motel 6 and MGM Resorts.

According to Zach Cohen, GreenKey Global VP of Sales & Marketing, "the GreenKey Program has been well received because it allows for flexibility in the certification process by using a earn/deduction point scoring system rather than a pass/fail method. We expect to see another 1000 to 1500 properties earn their certification in 2011." Additional programs such as EcoRooms/EcoSuites, LEED, GreenSeal and EnergyStar for hotelsare available to hotel operators. All of which have their strengths and offer marketing advantages.

The green hotel movement is only going to gain momentum as more states and municipalities create green lodging initiatives and corporate brands adopt certification programs as standard practice. It will be exciting to see how the next ten years un-fold.

Third Party Certifications 2005-2010

About EcoGreenHotel
EcoGreenHotel LLC is a privately held company dedicated to helping lodging facilities addressesabroad spectrum of sustainability issues. The company provides information, tools, checklists, current news and trends to the hospitality industry through its website, www.EcoGreenHotel.com. In 2009, the company launched an online marketplace for green products and services at www.EcoGreenHotelStore.com. In addition to the online offerings, EcoGreenHotel provides customized consulting services tailored to the needs of the hospitality industry in the areas of energy efficiency and certifications, including LEED, Green Seal and Energy Star. For those properties that have reached certified levels of sustainability, EcoGreenHotel assists with marketing services to position the properties within the growing "green" space and enhance revenue. For further information, emailinfo@EcoGreenHotel.com or call 888.229.0213.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Robbinsville, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/25/2010 -- The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI) introduced the resin coding system in 1988 driven by growing communities and state-level mandates to decrease the volume of waste subject to tipping fees at landfills.

The SPI code was developed to meet recyclers' needs and provide manufacturers a nationwide uniform system. Since municipal recycling programs mainly target packaging, such as containers, the SPI coding system offers a means of identifying the resin content of bottles and containers commonly found in the waste stream. Recycling firms have varying standards for the plastics they accept. Some firms may require that the plastics be sorted by type and separated from other recyclables; some may specify that mixed plastics are acceptable if they are separated from other recyclables; while others may accept all material mixed together. Not all types of plastics are generally recycled, and recycling facilities may not be available in some areas.

Polyethylene Terephthalate
Descriptions: Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET, PETE). PET is clear, tough, and has good gas and moisture barrier properties. Commonly used in soft drink bottles and many injection molded consumer product containers. Other applications include strapping and both food and non-food containers. Cleaned, recycled PET flakes and pellets are in great demand for spinning fiber for carpet yarns, producing fiberfill and geo-textiles. Nickname: Polyester.

Properties: Clarity, strength, toughness, barrier to gas and moisture, resistance to heat.

Packaging Applications: Plastic soft drink, water, sports drink, beer, mouthwash, catsup and salad dressing bottles. Peanut butter, pickle, jelly and jam jars. Ovenable film and ovenable prepared food trays.

Recycled Products: Fiber, tote bags, clothing, film and sheet, food and beverage containers, carpet, strapping, fleece wear, luggage and bottles.

High Density Polyethylene
Descriptions: HDPE is used to make bottles for milk, juice, water and laundry products. Unpigmented bottles are translucent, have good barrier properties and stiffness, and are well suited to packaging products with a short shelf life such as milk. Because HDPE has good chemical resistance, it is used for packaging many household and industrial chemicals such as detergents and bleach. Pigmented HDPE bottles have better stress crack resistance than unpigmented HDPE bottles.

Properties: Stiffness, strength, toughness, resistance to chemicals and moisture, permeability to gas, ease of processing, and ease of forming.

Packaging Applications: Milk, water, juice, cosmetic, shampoo, dish and laundry detergent bottles; yogurt and margarine tubs; cereal box liners; grocery, trash and retail bags.

Recycled Products: Liquid laundry detergent, shampoo, conditioner and motor oil bottles; pipe, buckets, crates, flower pots, garden edging, film and sheet, recycling bins, benches, dog houses, plastic lumber, floor tiles, picnic tables, fencing.

Vinyl (Polyvinyl Chloride or PVC)
Descriptions: In addition to its stable physical properties, PVC has excellent chemical resistance, good weatherability, flow characteristics and stable electrical properties. The diverse slate of vinyl products can be broadly divided into rigid and flexible materials. Bottles and packaging sheet are major rigid markets, but it is also widely used in the construction market for such applications as pipes and fittings, siding, carpet backing and windows. Flexible vinyl is used in wire and cable insulation, film and sheet, floor coverings synthetic leather products, coatings, blood bags, medical tubing and many other applications.

Properties: Versatility, clarity, ease of blending, strength, toughness, resistance to grease, oil and chemicals.

Packaging Applications: Clear food and non-food packaging, medical tubing, wire and cable insulation, film and sheet, construction products such as pipes, fittings, siding, floor tiles, carpet backing and window frames.

Recycled Products: Packaging, loose-leaf binders, decking, paneling, gutters, mud flaps, film and sheet, floor tiles and mats, resilient flooring, cassette trays, electrical boxes, cables, traffic cones, garden hose, mobile home skirting.

Low Density Polyethylene
Descriptions: Used predominately in film applications due to its toughness, flexibility and relative transparency, making it popular for use in applications where heat sealing is necessary. LDPE is also used to manufacture some flexible lids and bottles and it is used in wire and cable applications.

Properties: Ease of processing, strength, toughness, flexibility, ease of sealing, barrier to moisture.

Packaging Applications: Dry cleaning, bread and frozen food bags, squeezable bottles, e.g. honey, mustard.

Recycled Products: Shipping envelopes, garbage can liners, floor tile, furniture, film and sheet, compost bins, paneling, trash cans, landscape timber, lumber.

Polypropylene
Descriptions: Polypropylene has good chemical resistance, is strong, and has a high melting point making it good for hot-fill liquids. PP is found in flexible and rigid packaging to fibers and large molded parts for automotive and consumer products.

Properties: Strength, toughness, resistance to heat, chemicals, grease and oil, versatile, barrier to moisture.

Packaging Applications: Catsup bottles, yogurt containers and margarine tubs, medicine bottles.

Recycled Products: Automobile battery cases, signal lights, battery cables, brooms, brushes, ice scrapers, oil funnels, bicycle racks, rakes, bins, pallets, sheeting, trays.

Polystyrene
Descriptions: Polystyrene is a versatile plastic that can be rigid or foamed. General purpose polystyrene is clear, hard and brittle. It has a relatively low melting point. Typical applications include protective packaging, containers, lids, cups, bottles and trays.

Properties: Versatility, insulation, clarity, easily formed

Packaging Applications: Compact disc jackets, food service applications, grocery store meat trays, egg cartons, aspirin bottles, cups, plates, cutlery.

Recycled Products: Thermometers, light switch plates, thermal insulation, egg cartons, vents, desk trays, rulers, license plate frames, foam packing, foam plates, cups, utensils.

Other.
Descriptions: Other Use of this code indicates that the package in question is made with a resin other than the six listed above, or is made of more than one resin listed above, and used in a multi-layer combination.

Properties: Dependent on resin or combination of resins.

Packaging Applications: Three and five gallon reusable water bottles, some citrus juice and catsup bottles.

Recycled Products: Bottles, plastic lumber applications.

About EcoGreenHotel
EcoGreenHotel LLC is a privately held company dedicated to helping lodging facilities addressesabroad spectrum of sustainability issues. The company provides information, tools, checklists, current news and trends to the hospitality industry through its website, http://www.EcoGreenHotel.com. In 2009, the company launched an online marketplace for green products and services at http://www.EcoGreenHotelStore.com. In addition to the online offerings, EcoGreenHotel provides customized consulting services tailored to the needs of the hospitality industry in the areas of energy efficiency and certifications, including LEED, Green Seal and Energy Star. For those properties that have reached certified levels of sustainability, EcoGreenHotel assists with marketing services to position the properties within the growing "green" space and enhance revenue. For further information, emailinfo@EcoGreenHotel.com or call 888.229.0213.

For more information, please visit: http://www.ecogreenhotel.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Robbinsville, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/21/2010 -- Whatever the driving force, energy efficiency will be an integral part of staying successful in this competitive business environment. The phrase, "going 'green' to make 'green'" holds true. Global Business Network (GBN) in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and with the help of twenty major U.S. company senior executives have identified a set of strategies that will help businesses act now to prepare for future energy-related risks.

Plan for the Future
Scenario planning is a strategic planning tool that has been in existence for a while. Industry leaders have implemented this strategy to identify and develop plans for coping with some of the major risks the future might hold. The aim is to highlight the risks and uncertainties of the future that one should be starting to deal with now.

For example, Shell used scenario development as a basis for formulating strategies to cope with the possibility of OPEC reducing oil supply and raising prices, an eventuality no other oil company foresaw. When this happened in 1973, within two years Shell went from the world's eight largest oil company to the second largest.

The executive group participating in GBN's workshops created the following four plausible "roads" ahead, each posing a specific challenge:

• The Same Road - where the world continues much in the same direction it appears to be going now in regard to energy and environmental concerns around climate change
• The Long Road - where the world undergoes a significant shift in the economic, geopolitical and energy centers of gravity
• The Broken Road - where the world continues much in the same way as today, but is then hit by a severe event that overturns established systems and rules
• The Fast Road - where reasoned decisions and investments about energy efficiency and climate risk are made early enough to make a difference

Take Action Now
All twenty-business leaders were asked to explore the impacts of these four "road" scenarios in regards to energy strategy and management in their companies. "Our group of business executives looked to the scenarios and considered the strategies that would enable a company to successfully travel along whichever future actually emerges," write Erik Smith and Peter Schwartz, authors of GBN's 'Energy Strategy for the Road Ahead' article.

The group concluded all businesses should take the following five robust steps to prepare and ensure energy success regardless of the future:

1. Master the fundamentals of energy efficiency.
Build the culture through leadership and with the help of experts. Set goals, measure and track energy performance, establish accountability and other systems across the business.

2. Take both a longer and broader view of investments and strategic decisions about energy.
Make major strategic decisions (e.g. technology choices, facility location for new builds) with energy cost, use and supply in mind. See the entire Energy Value Chain, including upstream inputs from suppliers (into internal operations) and downstream outputs to customers (from internal operations).

3. Search out business transformation opportunities in the way the business manages, procures and uses energy.
Frame energy as a lever for positive growth and change within the business, not simply a cost. Be innovative and aggressive in pursuing and publicizing new product and service offerings based on new energy technologies and supplies.

4. Prepare contingent strategies for emergent future scenarios.
Rehearse specific aspects of the "road ahead", including substantial and sustained swings in energy price and supply, severe weather events and penalties or incentives around energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. Actively manage exposure to risks and ready plans. Monitor for signs of which "road ahead" is emerging.

5. Take personal action.
Both corporate leaders and employees can take numerous green actions today whether at work our outside.

Content and information retrieved from the following source (credited to):
Smith, Erik & Schwartz, Peter. (2007). Energy Strategy for the Road Ahead (Global Business Network, a member of the Monitor Group). Retrieved from http://gbn.com/articles/pdfs/GBN_EPA_Energy%20Strategy%20Scenarios.pdf.

About EcoGreenHotel
EcoGreenHotel LLC is a privately held company dedicated to helping lodging facilities addresses abroad spectrum of sustainability issues. The company provides information, tools, checklists, current news and trends to the hospitality industry through its website, http://www.EcoGreenHotel.com. In 2009, the company launched an online marketplace for green products and services at www.EcoGreenHotelStore.com. In addition to the online offerings, EcoGreenHotel provides customized consulting services tailored to the needs of the hospitality industry in the areas of energy efficiency and certifications, including LEED, Green Seal and Energy Star. For those properties that have reached certified levels of sustainability, EcoGreenHotel assists with marketing services to position the properties within the growing "green" space and enhance revenue. For further information, emailinfo@EcoGreenHotel.com or call 888.229.0213

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Robbinsville, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/13/2010 -- Daylighting is defined as the practice of placing windows or other openings and reflective surfaces so that during the day natural light provides energy efficient lighting inside. So why would a hotel owner want to take on the challenge of using daylight to light their hotel?

The short answer: to create beautiful spaces, save energy and operating costs and reduce our impact on our planet

In one word: money

Good daylighting design could save from 15 to 75 percent of the energy used forelectric lighting in a hotel building. Of course, energy savings depend on various factors such as occupancy patterns, control strategy, design, energy usage, and the amount of daylight.

It's natural. Using natural light from the sun costs nothing to the environment and pays big dividends to hotel guests and employees. As a great energy efficient lighting solution for hotels, daylighting consumes less energy and thereby reduces fossil fuel use and carbon dioxide emissions associated with global warming and climate change.

It works. Research has discovered that people thrive in naturally lit environments. Studies have shown that daylighting has a direct impact on well-being, productivity and overall sense of satisfaction - shoppers linger longer and buy more; students do better on tests; workers are more productive and absent less often.

It's smart.Aside from making a green hotel statement about the owners, operators and staff (socially and sustainably responsible) daylighting can also:

Reduce lighting and operating costs
Reduce cooling costs (in almost all climates all year round)
Be accomplished without significantincrease in construction costs in new construction

Because seeing is believing,project centers known as "living labs" have been created to examine the actual effectiveness of daylighting. These include the State of Wisconsin Administration Building in Milwaukee and the Hoffman Corp headquarters in Appleton, Wisconsin. "We use the term 'cool-daylighting' to emphasize that daylighting isn't just big windows," says Abby Vogen, project director at Energy Center of Wisconsin. "It is the orientation of the building, glazing, energy-efficient light fixtures, mechanical systems, and how all these components are impacted by natural lighting."

Results of the experiment conducted by the Energy Center of Wisconsin at the Energy Resource Station in Iowa to see if cooling energy could be saved using daylighting design were considerable. Comparison of two rooms (one standard and the other high-performance) yielded 32 percent savings on annual lighting costs and total overall annual energy savings of 22 percent.

Even retail stores like Wal-mart are beginning to see the environmental and monetary benefits of daylighting for both employees and consumers. In an experiment, stores that included skylights over certain departments found that overall sales per square foot were higher in those departments lit by natural (energy-efficient) light.

For existing green hotels, a high-performance daylighting system may initially require a significant investment. However, if the project team uses an integrated, strategic design approach, the greenhotels overall long-term savings will make up for any initial dollars spent on daylighting.

Rising energy costs, environmental impact, and green design has compelled green hotels across the country to find economical alternatives and adapt new ideas, or in this case, reconsider old ideas made new again.

About EcoGreenHotel
EcoGreenHotel LLC is a privately held company dedicated to helping lodging facilities addressesabroad spectrum of sustainability issues. The company provides information, tools, checklists, current news and trends to the hospitality industry through its website, http://www.EcoGreenHotel.com. In 2009, the company launched an online marketplace for green products and services at http://www.EcoGreenHotelStore.com. In addition to the online offerings, EcoGreenHotel provides customized consulting services tailored to the needs of the hospitality industry in the areas of energy efficiency and certifications, including LEED, Green Seal and Energy Star. For those properties that have reached certified levels of sustainability, EcoGreenHotel assists with marketing services to position the properties within the growing "green" space and enhance revenue. For further information, emailinfo@EcoGreenHotel.com or call 888.229.0213

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Robbinsville, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/23/2010 -- Residence Inn by Marriott Gainesville I-75 – a 118-suites new hotel located three miles from University of Florida – is an exceptional new build on a restored EPA "brownfield" site. Having opened its doors just over one year ago after extensive restoration of the land that was once polluted but has been restored to pristine condition, the property has met EcoRooms & EcoSuites certification standards.

The Residence Inn has become the first-ever Marriott branded hotel property and the first hotel in the state of Florida to be EcoRooms & EcoSuites Certified. Both AH&LA and AAA distinguish the certification as a go-to resource for both hoteliers and consumers looking to verify how important the environment is to the green hotel.

To add to the list, it has also achieved Florida's Green Lodging certification.

"Hotels are huge consumers of energy," says General Manager Chris Lewis. "It is not only the right thing to do. It is the smart thing to do. Utility companies are increasing unit cost every year, in many cases by as much as 30 to 40 percent from the previous year. It is an important part of our business to use only what we need and continue to look for ways to use less."

The property was designed from the top down with the environment in mind. Cool Roofing Council certified its roofing materials. Its framing structure was made from 90% post consumer recycled steel. Demolition and construction wastes were recycled. The property is xeriscaped to save water, featuring all native plants, minimal turf areas and a water-saving irrigation system. The developers even bonded a 100+-year-old live oak tree to ensure its survival.

The road to green
Besides green design, the green hotel incorporated various green initiatives in its operating procedures, including:

Using Green Seal certified or equivalent cleaning and paper products in guestrooms

Bathrooms feature amenity dispensers or small, practical amenity sizes with guests encouraged to take the remainder of their bathroom amenities home or donate them to homeless shelters

Linen and towel reuse program

Easily identified recycling receptacles

Energy-efficient lighting using CFL and LED technology
High efficiency plumbing with low-flush toilets, water-efficient aerators and low-flow showerheads
100% smoke-free

The green hotel has also benchmarked itself with industry leaders utilizing the Energy Star Portfolio Manager, with the help of EcoGreenHotel. It's a critical step for the hotel to monitor the utility usage data and measure the results of their energy efficiency and conservation strategies.

Beyond hospitality
Social responsibility is a major component of the hotel's sustainability initiative. "The team has really embraced the cause," says Lewis.

As part of their contribution to the welfare of others, the Residence Inn is a proud supporter and contributor of Habitat for Humanity and Children's Miracle Network (CMN). The Hotel raised $7,000 for CMN during their Grand opening, another $5,861 on their anniversary celebration and contributed over $16,000 in numerous ways throughout the past year. Not to mention, you'll find the hotel's committed employees answering phones in CMN's upcoming radiothon. That is strong dedication and definitely inspiration for all!

"We began implementing our initiatives within the past two years and have really received a lot of positive comments from our staff members and guests, as well as financial results," says Lewis. "We believe that going green is a winning business strategy that also has the added benefit of being the right thing to do for society and our planet."

If you are ever in the Gainesville area, step in to see what the Residence Inn's green team is up to next.

About EcoGreenHotel
EcoGreenHotel LLC is a privately held company dedicated to helping lodging facilities address a broad spectrum of sustainability issues. The company provides information, tools, checklists, current news and trends to the hospitality industry through its website, www.EcoGreenHotel.com. In 2009, the company launched an online marketplace for green products and services at http://www.EcoGreenHotelStore.com. In addition to the online offerings, EcoGreenHotel provides customized consulting services tailored to the needs of the hospitality industry in the areas of energy efficiency and certifications, including LEED, Green Seal and Energy Star. For those properties that have reached certified levels of sustainability, EcoGreenHotel assists with marketing services to position the properties within the growing "green" space and enhance revenue. For further information, email info@EcoGreenHotel.com or call 888.229.0213

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Robbinsville, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/10/2010 -- If there's one document on the face of the earth that has frustrated and baffled people the most, it is probably the U.S. tax code. Trying to understand that mountain of legal-eseis enough to give even the most competent tax accountant a splitting headache.

But here's some tax incentive news that is bound to make green hotel owners and designers smile: owners of existing commercial buildings that improve their energy efficiency by at least 50% can earn a tax deduction of up to $1.80 per square foot! And so can designers of newly constructed high efficiency commercial buildings.

And a partial deduction of $0.60 per square foot is available for those investing in lighting, HVAC, or building envelope upgrades that reduce consumption by less than 50%.

That means energy efficient green hotels that have reduced their energy consumption can earn a big break on their taxes – money that can definitely be used to help offset the cost of the upgrades.

One cool feature of this tax break is that it is retroactive. Upgrades and construction done at your green hotel between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2008 may qualify you for the deduction.

Now, you do have to jump through quite a few hoops to qualify for the deductions, but the rewards are worth it. For starters, you have to use software tools approved by the Department of Energy. You also have to establish benchmarks, set energy efficiency goals, and implement the upgrades.

Here is a standard guideline to help you get started:

Get some perspective. Find out what hotels nationwide are implementing and what makes sense specifically for your hotel property. If you do not have a dedicated individual to focus on the strategy consider hiring a sustainability consultant.

Score your property. Find out how you stand up to hotels across the country and your competition. Learn about the Energy Star rating system and how you can get your property Energy Star score. Once you have benchmarked your property you can determine next steps as your sustainability strategy and goals including finding the right software tools.

Take action. Analyze your property to create and Implement your sustainability business strategy. With strained economic times, make sure you are investing in the right technologies at the right price. Take advantage of professional service providers to help take the guesswork out of how to "green" your hotel and find available tax incentives for your hotel.

Make sure to engage sustainability service providers that understand the hospitality business – this is very important because hotel operations are different from other industries and energy conservation measures may not always apply to a hotel.

We know this sound complicated. It does not have to be – you do not have to do it alone. Get some help from EcoGreenHotel, the experts in securing tax incentives, rebates and grants for energy efficiency projects at green hotels from coast to coast. The EcoGreenHotel team of professionals has successfully guided hotel properties just like yours through the tax deduction process. We know how to get it done right the first time.

About EcoGreenHotel
EcoGreenHotel LLC is a privately-held company dedicated to helping lodging facilities address abroad spectrum of sustainability issues. The company provides information, tools, checklists, current news and trends to the hospitality industry through its website, www.EcoGreenHotel.com. In 2009, the company launched an online marketplace for green products and services at www.EcoGreenHotelStore.com. In addition to the online offerings, EcoGreenHotel provides customized consulting services tailored to the needs of the hospitality industry in the areas of energy efficiency and certifications, including LEED, Green Seal and Energy Star.

For those properties that have reached certified levels of sustainability, EcoGreenHotel assists with marketing services to position the properties within the growing "green" space and enhance revenue. For further information, emailinfo@EcoGreenHotel.com or call 888.229.0213

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

How energy efficiency positively impacts the 3BL

Robbinsville, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/13/2010 -- It used to be that the only thing a business really had to worry about was profit and loss – the economic bottom line.

But as businesses have become more concerned with how their operations impact the environment and society in general, many of them, including green hotels, have broadened their view of what it means to be a success. These days, the true measure of a hotel's overall health now includes an evaluation of not only its economic profitability, but also its affect on people and the planet.

Profitability, People and the Planet – that's what the triple bottom line, or 3BL, is all about.

So, how does your green hotel measure up when it comes to 3BL? Perhaps you're doing your best to run an eco-friendly establishment, but your staff and guests aren't getting as much out of it as they could. Or maybe you want to implement energy efficiency upgrades but you're worried about how to pay for it.Or maybeyour facility wants to become a certified green hotel, but nobody knows which certification to pursue, much less how to begin the process.

At EcoGreenHotel, we help aspiring green hotels become "3BL Businesses" every day. One way we accomplish that is through helping green hotels increase their energy efficiency.

Here's how it breaks down:

• People: An energy efficient green hotel is a healthier environment for staff, guests and those in the neighborhood. The physical environment is cleaner and less toxic. Indoor air quality is greatly improved. The neighborhood benefits because the hotel purchases locally whenever possible, and the hotel gives back to the community. Staff and guests feel good about working and staying in an energy efficient green hotel.
• Planet: An energy efficient green hotel requires less energy to provide the same level of quality service. It conserves precious water and electricity, and reduces its contributions to local landfills and incinerators through it's reduce, recycle and reuse programs. It sources sustainable furnishings whenever possible, and it cleans with environmentally-friendly products.
• Profitability: An energy efficient green hotel saves money by cutting its energy costs. It increases revenue by attracting environmentally-concerned leisure and business travelers – a segment that is growing by leaps and bounds with each passing year.

Sustainability isn't just about saving the planet. It's about opportunity - reinventing business models to better compete in the global economy or building shareholder value in ways that help to solve some of the world's most profound social, economic and environmental challenges.

But where will sustainability take us? To many, it may just revolutionize the economy as we know it – we seem to think so too. If we figure out how to get more out of the resource we have, or how to turn our waste into someone else's feedstock, which is what sustainability is all about, ultimately we will win.

Although going green has become mainstream, most companies today are still struggling with ways to achieve both the goal of sustainability and growing their business in a way that minimizes their global environmental impact.Those that crack the code will win the competitive advantage.

"Sustainability is not a fad and it's not a short term hype," says Scott Parisi, President of EcoGreenHotel. "It's in the interests of the hotels to continue to innovate through technology and transparency. The new generation of consumers are very aware of their environment's situation. They are going to demand that we manage our operations sustainable. If you don't start building that infrastructure today, then you know where you'll end up."

About EcoGreenHotel
EcoGreenHotel LLC is a privately-held company dedicated to helping lodging facilities address abroad spectrum of sustainability issues. The company provides information, tools, checklists, current news and trends to the hospitality industry through its website, http://www.EcoGreenHotel.com. In 2009, the company launched an online marketplace for green products and services at www.EcoGreenHotelStore.com. In addition to the online offerings, EcoGreenHotel provides customized consulting services tailored to the needs of the hospitality industry in the areas of energy efficiency and certifications, including LEED, Green Seal and Energy Star. For those properties that have reached certified levels of sustainability, EcoGreenHotel assists with marketing services to position the properties within the growing "green" space and enhance revenue. For further information, emailinfo@EcoGreenHotel.com or call 888.229.0213

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Philly Green Hotels Set for Big Savings

Robbinsville, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/06/2010 -- Deregulation of electricity and natural gas markets in Pennsylvania is giving residential and commercial consumers (including green hotels) the opportunity to choose their utility providers – and save big money on their energy costs as a result.

Green hotels in Philadelphia are beefing up their energy efficiency strategies in order to maximize the savings they can achieve thanks to deregulation. That's a smart move, because estimates are that hotels lacking an energy efficiency strategy that also bypass this chance to pick their utility provider will end up paying as much as 36% more for energy than they have to.

In response, people like Francine Cohen of PhilaGreen Hospitality Association are promoting sustainability in hotels, restaurants and facilities in the City of Brotherly Love. The association held a seminar on July 13th presenting practical ways for Philadelphia's green hotels to save on their water and electric bills. One seminar speaker from Villanova University discussed practical ways green hotels can lower the new storm water fees.

EcoGreenHotel, an Energy Star Partner, has also taken action to assist the Philadelphia hotel industry by educating hotel professionals on their choices of electric and gas service suppliers and implementing energy efficient strategies throughout the property. [Read "How to Save Money on Your Electric and Natural Gas Bills"]

Another shining star in Philadelphia green lodging is Marvin Dixon, director of engineering at the fabulous Four Seasons. Anyone who thinks that sustainability can't be opulent should go talk to Marvin. He and the property's green team are reducing energy cost at their luxury property by maintaining a rooftop garden, using micro turbines to create their own energy, and operating a heat recovery system that warms water for laundry and the swimming pool, among other things.

Another grand green hotel with a Philadelphia address is the Palomar, a boutique Kimpton property in the Center City area. Energy efficient lighting, low flow fixtures and a long list of additional earth-friendly features make the Palomar one of the city's most sustainable lodging choices for eco-savvy travelers.

With all the changes on the horizon for Philly, we wish all the fine folks therea satisfyingly sustainable summer– and big savings on those energy bills!

About EcoGreenHotel
EcoGreenHotel LLC is a privately-held company dedicated to helping lodging facilities address abroad spectrum of sustainability issues. The company provides information, tools, checklists, current news and trends to the hospitality industry through its website, www.EcoGreenHotel.com. In 2009, the company launched an online marketplace for green products and services at www.EcoGreenHotelStore.com. In addition to the online offerings, EcoGreenHotel provides customized consulting services tailored to the needs of the hospitality industry in the areas of energy efficiency and certifications, including LEED, Green Seal and Energy Star. For those properties that have reached certified levels of sustainability, EcoGreenHotel assists with marketing services to position the properties within the growing "green" space and enhance revenue. For further information, emailinfo@EcoGreenHotel.com or call 888.229.0213

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

For a limited time only, Pineapple Hospitality is offering discounts of 50% or more on all Save Your World hotel guest amenities.

Saint Charles, MO -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/28/2010 -- For the past four years, Save Your World, in conjunction with Conservation International, has been incredibly successful in raising funds to save more than 200,000 acres of Guyana rainforest — some of the most pristine on Earth — through the sale of its "Earth Friendly" hotel amenity products. During this time, Pineapple Hospitality, the premier distributor of "Green" Hotel Products and Marketing Programs for the Hospitality Industry, has been a lead distributor of the Save Your World amenities and a key contributor to the conservation efforts.

Due to this success, Save Your World has decided to discontinue the manufacture and selling of personal care and hotel amenity products, and to provide its full attention to the development of the Save Your World Foundation, the only non-profit devoted entirely to supporting on-the-ground conservation agreements in developing countries.

As Save Your World exits the amenities market, it provides an unprecedented opportunity. Pineapple Hospitality has purchased more than $100,000 worth of Save Your World inventory and now is offering it to customers at incredible savings.

Discounts start at 50 percent or more on all Save Your World soaps, shampoos, conditioners and body lotions. Supplies are limited. The EcoGreenHotelStore.com (a Pineapple Partner) will be the only place to buy this product in quantities of less than 25 cases. Orders of 25+ cases can be placed directly through Pineapple Hospitality (www.PineappleHospitality.net). Additional volume discounts may be available.

The Save Your World Hotel Amenity line of products was created to provide your property with an all-natural, organic alternative to personal care products for eco-conscious guests. The comprehensive line of green amenity products come in Oasis Fruit, Pure Mist and popular Rainforest scents, allowing guests to indulge in products friendly to both the body and Earth. Product packaging is available in 1-ounce PET bottles, 0.5-ounce paper bottles and gallon-size containers.

"At Pineapple Hospitality, we believe in our products' triple bottom line: They are good for your guests, the environment and your budget," says Ray Burger, President of Pineapple Hospitality. "We don't normally run these kind of close-out sales, but we wanted to be able to supply our current customers with these popular Save Your World products at a greatly reduced price, as well as give other hotels a chance to try something new and see how a green amenities program fits their operation."

Key benefits of Save Your World products include:

- Paraben-free and pH balanced;
- No sodium lauryl sulfate or 1,4-dioxane;
- Made with organic Yerba Mate and Aloe Vera;
- Biodegradable and cruelty free; and
- Made in the U.S.A.

"I believe the Save Your World products line has a powerful message. It goes beyond 'green' purchasing by truly making a difference in the world — for both people and the planet," says Susan Patel, VP of Technologies and Communications, EcoGreenHotel. "Not only do hotels benefit from cost savings, it's also an incredible branding and marketing tool. This product easily communicates the hotel's commitment to the environment, endangered species, rain forests and local communities. Best of all, guests can't miss it! I'm sure they'll be inspired and feel involved in saving their world!"

"Save Your World has worked closely with our distributor, Pineapple Hospitality, to offer these great prices to close out our wonderful line of GREEN hotel amenity products," says Kim Eidson, VP of Marketing for Save Your World. "With the support of our friends at Pineapple and others in the hospitality industry, we currently are working to fund five major projects encompassing rainforest preservation around the world and would like to thank everyone for their support."

The continuing focus of the Save Your World Foundation is on serving a select portfolio of world-class projects, including:

- Tetepare, Solomon Islands, the Last Wild Island — Support for local customary landowners, protection of the largest uninhabited island in the South Pacific.

- Predator Compensation Fund, Kenya — Vital insurance for Maasai herdsmen, the most-effective lion conservation in Africa, protecting more than 1 million acres of communal grazing lands.

- Upper Essequibo Conservation Concession, Guyana — Path-breaking conservation lease agreement, protection for 200,000 acres of pristine rainforest.

- Phoenix Islands Protected Area, Kiribati — The largest marine reserve on Earth, a practical national alternative to destructive fishing.

- Uaxactun, Guatemala — Community rainforest protection in the heart of the Maya Biosphere Reserve, the largest block of broadleaf forest north of the Amazon.

More information on the Save Your World Foundation can be found at http://store.saveyourworld.com/Save-Your-World-Foundation-Mission-s/1809.htm

About Pineapple Hospitality
Headquartered in Saint Charles, Missouri, Pineapple Hospitality™ brings fresh ideas to hospitality guests' doors and owner/operators' bottom lines — including FreshStay® (http://www.freshstay.com), EcoRooms & EcoSuites (http://www.EcoRooms.com) Environmentally Sensitive Amenities™, EO®, Neutrogena®, Earth Perfect and greenSPA™ amenities, AVIVA and WAVE dispensers, Energy Efficient Lighting and Controls, Custom Linen & Towel Re-Use Programs, Green Key Cards, Green Earth Key Cards, Energy Management Systems and Controls, High Performance showerheads, the Nature's Mist™ deodorization system, Zero Odor, and dozens of other products and programs. For more information, please visit http://www.pineapplehospitality.net, or call us at 636-922-2285.

About EcoGreenHotel
EcoGreenHotel LLC is a privately held company, dedicated to help lodging facilities addresses the broad spectrum of sustainability issues. The company provides information, tools, checklists, current news and trends to the hospitality through its website, www.EcoGreenHotel.com. In 2009, the company launched an online marketplace for green products and services at http://www.EcoGreenHotelStore.com. In addition to the online offerings, EcoGreenHotel provides customized consulting services in the areas of energy efficiency and certifications (LEED, Green Seal and Energy Star), tailored to the needs of the hospitality industry. For those properties that have reached certified levels of sustainability, EcoGreenHotel assists with marketing services to position the properties within the growing "green" space and enhance revenue. For further information email info@EcoGreenHotel.com or call 888.229.0213.

http://www.ecogreenhotel.com/store/catalog/shampoo-and-conditioner/oasis-fr

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Robbinsville, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/25/2010 -- If you read any hospitality industry news, you've undoubtedly seen stories of green hotels that are saving big money by becoming more energy efficient. You might wonder how they do it.

Indeed, hoteliers across the country are always asking us the same question: What's the quickest, most affordable and meaningful way for our aspiring green hotel to begin reducing its negative impact on the environment while also saving money in the long run?

Our answer – Conduct an energy efficiency analysis!

An energy efficiency analysis, also known as the E2A program, is an examination and analysis of a building's energy flow by an expert, for the purpose of identifying ways to monitor and conserve energy without negatively impacting overall productivity. In the case of green hotels, an energy audit would allow the property to figure out, quickly and precisely, how to reduce it's consumption without having an adverse effect on the guest experience or on the green hotel staff's work environment.

Here's how it works: our EcoGreenHotel team of qualified energy efficiency professionals uses a variety of specialized tools to determine exactly how much energy is being used at the property. We take things like weather, occupancy, and other factors into account to arrive at an accurate benchmark, or measurement standard, that your green hotel can use to begin tracking – and lowering – its energy consumption over time and results in savings.

We use the most trusted measurement tools and hospitality-specific resources in the industry – chiefly those developed by ENERGY STAR – to calculate the benchmark, so you can be sure it's a valid representation of your property's actual usage.

Our team then recommends concrete ways to reduce consumption at your green hotel – ways you may never even have thought of. For example, after one energy efficiency analysis, we recommended that the hotel install wireless energy management guest room controls that interface with the hotel's software to give management direct control over energy use in unoccupied rooms. The savings for a 100-room hotel?A whopping 30% of the total energy used for guest rooms!The system paid for itself in no time. Of course, the key is to find the right technology, provider and price for it to make sense.

Whether it's implementing new policies (linen re-use, for example), upgrading electrical and HVAC systems, exploring alternate energy or looking for ways to maximize your energy purchasing power, we'll turn you on to all the hundreds of ways you can get more bang for your energy buck.

And speaking of bucks, we'll help you identify and apply for all the rebates, incentives, grants and other funding available to help green hotels like yours go even greener, and we'll do it faster and more affordably than you ever dreamed was possible.

Are you ready for an energy efficiency analysis at your green hotel? Contact an EcoGreenHotel energy efficiency professionalat info@ecogreenhotel.comtoday and let's get started!

Why? Read our Triple Bottom Line & Eco-Efficiency article for more information.

About EcoGreenHotel
EcoGreenHotel LLC is a privately held company, dedicated to help lodging facilities addresses the broad spectrum of sustainability issues. The company provides information, tools, checklists, current news and trends to the hospitality through its website, www.EcoGreenHotel.com. In 2009, the company launched an online marketplace for green products and services at http://www.EcoGreenHotelStore.com. In addition to the online offerings, EcoGreenHotel provides customized consulting services in the areas of energy efficiency and certifications (LEED, Green Seal and Energy Star), tailored to the needs of the hospitality industry. For those properties that have reached certified levels of sustainability, EcoGreenHotel assists with marketing services to position the properties within the growing "green" space and enhance revenue. For further information emailinfo@EcoGreenHotel.com or call 888.229.0213.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Company Develops New Energy Efficiency Program for the Hospitality Industry

Robbinsville, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/15/2010 -- EcoGreenHotel President, Scott Parisi, announced the launch of his company's new Energy Efficiency Analysis program, or E2A, designed to help green hotels assess their exact energy usage and develop cost-effective ways to reduce it.

"As other industries look to reduce their negative impacts on the environment, hotels have struggled to do the same without it having an adverse effect on the guest experience and the bottom line. Energy efficiency programs that have been good for other industries have not necessarily been applicable to hospitality for those reasons," Parisi said. "Our goal was to develop a hospitality-specific program for evaluating and increasing the energy efficiency of hotels without sacrificing guest satisfaction or the hotel's financial wellbeing, and we've achieved that with E2A."

The energy efficiency process begins with EcoGreenHotel analyzing a year's worth of each property's utility bills using ENERGY STARS benchmarking system. An EcoGreenHotel E2A professional conducts an on-site visit to evaluate the property's operations and efficiency. EcoGreenHotel then creates a customized, cost-effective energy efficiency strategy taking industry-specific factors, property specifics and region into account.

Once the analysis is complete, each hotel receives a comprehensive report, a cost-benefit breakdown for each of the recommended Energy Conservation Measures (ECM's), a five-year cash flow analysis for each of the ECM's, and a list of federal, state, local and utility-sponsored rebates, grants, incentives and loans that will help pay for them.

"Our mission is to encourage greater energy efficiency throughout the hospitality industry, and our new partnership with EPA's ENERGY STAR Program will greatly enhance that effort," Parisi said.

"Another thing that sets EcoGreenHotel's E2A program apart is that it's completely vendor neutral," Parisi said. "Our recommendations for products, services and technology are based solely upon our clients' best interests, and nothing more. We guarantee that each E2A program will result in an actionable plan that will save our clients money, lessen the impact on the environment and improve cash flow."

To learn more about EcoGreenHotel's E2A program, visit Energy Efficiency Analysis for Green Hotels

About EcoGreenHotel
EcoGreenHotel LLC is a privately held company, dedicated to help lodging facilities address the broad spectrum of sustainability issues. The company provides information, tools, checklists, current news and trends to the hospitality through its website, http://www.EcoGreenHotel.com. In 2009, the company launched an online marketplace for green products and services at http://www.EcoGreenHotelStore.com. In addition to the online offerings, EcoGreenHotel provides customized consulting services in the areas of energy efficiency and certifications (LEED, Green Seal and Energy Star), tailored to the needs of the hospitality industry. For those properties that have reached certified levels of sustainability, EcoGreenHotel assists with marketing services to position the properties within the growing "green" space and enhance revenue. For further information emailinfo@EcoGreenHotel.com or call 888.229.0213.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Robbinsville, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/14/2010 -- EcoGreenHotel today announced a fundamental commitment to protect the environment by becoming an ENERGY STAR partner. Through its voluntary partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR Program, will work to improve energy efficiency and fight global warming. EcoGreenHotel believes that a strategic, corporate energy management program will help us enhance our financial health and aid in preserving the environment for future generations.

"The EcoGreenHotel team is excited to partner with the EPA and the DOE through their highly-regarded ENERGY STAR program, which is recognized worldwide for its excellence," said Scott Parisi, President of EcoGreenHotel. "ENERGY STAR is among the most trusted and demanding certifying bodies there is, so earning partnership status with them means a great deal to us and the industry we serve."

In partnership with ENERGY STAR, EcoGreenHotel will:

• Measure and track the energy performance of our client's facilities where possible by using tools such as those offered through ENERGY STAR;
• Develop and implement a plan consistent with the ENERGY STAR Energy Management Guidelines to achieve energy savings;
• Help spread the word about the importance of energy efficiency to our staff and community;
• Support the ENERGY STAR Challenge, a national call-to-action to help improve the energy efficiency of America's commercial and industrial buildings by 10 percent or more;
• Highlight our client's achievements with recognition offered through ENERGY STAR.

"Environmental responsibility is everyone's responsibility - and today I'm pleased EcoGreenHotel is taking this motto to heart," said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. "By making smart energy choices, EcoGreenHotel is helping improve our nation's energy and environmental outlook."

ENERGY STAR was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Today, the ENERGY STAR label can be found on more than 50 different kinds of products, new homes and commercial and industrial buildings. Products and buildings that have earned the ENERGY STAR designation prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the government. In 2007, Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved about $16 billion on their energy bills while reducing the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 27 million vehicles.

For more information about EcoGreenHotel, visit http://www.EcoGreenHotel.com or call 1-888-229-0213 for program details. Visit http://www.energystar.gov for more information about ENERGY STAR.

About EcoGreenHotel
EcoGreenHotel LLC is a privately held company, dedicated to help lodging facilities address the broad spectrum of sustainability issues. The company provides information, tools, checklists, current news and trends to the hospitality through its website, http://www.EcoGreenHotel.com. In 2009, the company launched an online marketplace for green products and services at http://www.EcoGreenHotelStore.com. In addition to the online offerings, EcoGreenHotel provides customized consulting services in the areas of energy efficiency and certifications (LEED, Green Seal and Energy Star), tailored to the needs of the hospitality industry. For those properties that have reached certified levels of sustainability, EcoGreenHotel assists with marketing services to position the properties within the growing "green" space and enhance revenue. For further information email info@EcoGreenHotel.com or call 888.229.0213.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Robbinsville, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/04/2010 -- In the current economic climate, owners, franchises, property managers and facility engineers are more pressed than ever to reduce operating costs and defer capital expenditures — all while taking on green initiatives and optimizing building quality and performance. EcoGreenHotel recognizes that Steril-Aire germicidal ultraviolet C (UVC) devices installed in HVAC systems provide an innovative and effective, yet often overlooked, tool for helping to meet these challenges.

HOW WILL UVC HELP MY BUILDING?
By controlling surface and airborne microorganisms, Steril-Aire UVC can be beneficial for hospitality public spaces, casinos, guest rooms, administrative and back-of-the-house areas.

Energy savings: Studies show that even a thin (0.024-inch/0.61-mm) layer of biofilm buildup on a coil increases energy consumption by at least 21.5 percent. By cleaning coils continuously, UVC eliminates biofilm much more effectively than conventional cleaning methods — saving energy by maintaining equipment at factory-designed efficiency.

Maintenance and operational savings: Manual coil cleaning can be a major HVAC maintenance expense and may be very difficult to perform on small, tough-to-access packaged or unitary systems. In the hospitality industry, for green hotels, dirty coils can lead to unoccupied rooms and non-revenue generating guest and conference rooms. Steril-Aire UVC solves these problems by greatly reducing or eliminating the need for chemical cleaning or pressure washing of any size coil. It also eliminates the associated downtime, inconvenience and potential discomfort of guest and staff, as well as worker exposure to cleaning chemicals.

IAQ control: UVC improves air quality by preventing the spread of infectious diseases, and also by reducing allergy and asthma symptoms commonly triggered by biofilm, a complex matrix of mold, bacteria, viruses and debris. Biofilm is a common source of odors, frequently contributing to guest complaints and HVAC operational issues. UVC creates a safer, more comfortable indoor environment and eliminates the mildew and musty odors from the air conditioning system. Improved indoor air quality has also been documented to improve worker performance and decrease absenteeism.

Equipment service life: The surface cleaning effect of UVC helps restore older HVAC systems to efficient operation, prolonging the life of aging air handlers.

Water conservation: Reclaiming UVC-cleaned condensate for cooling tower makeup, irrigation or gray water flushing can reduce water and waste-water costs.

LEED contribution: Because of these varied benefits, UVC may contribute to earning LEED credits in one or more areas.

HOW DOES UVC WORK?

The C-wavelength is the most germicidal in the UV spectrum. It targets the DNA of microorganisms, destroying cells or making replication impossible. Directed at a cooling coil and drain pan in the HVAC system, UVC energy destroys surface biofilm, a gluey matrix that grows in the presence of moisture. Biofilm is widely prevalent in HVAC systems and leads to a host of indoor air quality and operational issues that are sometimes mistakenly attributed solely to mold.

Steril-Aire UVC also destroys airborne viruses and bacteria that circulate throughout the system. UVC will successfully deliver contaminant destruction rates above 99%, when properly installed and applied in combination with air-exchange rates.

IS ALL UVC CREATED EQUAL?

Comparing performance is critical because all UVC is not created equal. Devices marketed for commercial HVAC applications fall into two categories: those with new-generation high-output lamps introduced in the 1990s, and those using conventional older-style UVC lamps that were not engineered for HVAC use. The germicidal output of these devices varies widely, especially under cold, moving air HVAC operating conditions.

For optimum performance, use a high-output device manufactured to deliver an output of 9 microwatts per linear inch of glass measured from a distance of 1 meter, tested at an air velocity of 400 feet per minute and at a temperature of 50° F.

The recommended location for installation is horizontally across the full width of the face of the coil, on the supply side of the system downstream from the cooling coil and above the drain pan. Steril-Aire UVC can be easily installed in new and retrofit units from large air handlers to fan coils and unitary systems.

Since UVC industry standards are still evolving, check independent testing. The best independent information to consult is a series of test reports commissioned by the Environmental Protection Agency in conjunction with the National Homeland Security Research Center through its Technology and Testing Evaluation Program.

The reports compare nine UVC devices tested by research group RTI International. The testing provides a useful benchmark for comparing performance of various UVC devices. Research highlights can be accessed at http://www.epa.gov/NHSRC/news/news100406a.html, or click here for a summary of the results.

In summary, Steril-Aire germicidal UVC can provide a very effective tool to meet the needs in the hospitality industry for green and sustainable products that save energy, enhance IAQ and infection control, reduce HVAC coil maintenance and toxic chemical use and conserve water.

Robert Scheir, Ph.D. is President and Chairman of Steril-Aire, Inc. For more information, e-mail sales@steril-aire.com, call 800-278-3745, or visit www.steril-aire.com.

About EcoGreenHotel
EcoGreenHotel is a company dedicated to helping lodging facilities address energy and environmental solutions. Sustainability services are strategically designed to help hotels identify incentives, rebates, and grants to allocate toward energy efficient solutions to decrease energy costs and achieve the Triple Bottom Line. EcoGreenHotel also offers Energy Star Benchmarking and Energy Efficiency Analysis. For further information visit http://www.EcoGreenHotel.com or call 888.229.0213.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm