ATLANTA � MAY 14, 2003 � Last month, Onity made available to hoteliers
its White Paper on �Black Mold and Moisture Control.� Within weeks, the
hospitality industry�s leading provider of black mold solutions, energy-management
systems and electronic security solutions, depleted its stock of more than
5,000 copies.
Greg Plank, former president of Suburban Lodges of America and current president of Atlanta-based Worldwide Travel Marketing Inc., said there�s a costly common misconception that mold and mildew damage really only is an issue for homes and commercial buildings in California, Texas, Louisiana and Florida. That is not the case, he said. �While certain states and hot-spot destinations are particularly susceptible, repeated incidents have proven that all properties are open to mold and mildew damage and related guest/employee health issues � from the West Coast to the East Coast,� Plank said. �Frankly, any property with a bathroom, vinyl-covered walls, any moisture accumulation and no dual temperature/humidity guestroom control system is vulnerable, if not already a victim of mold and mildew.� Hotels are not prepared, experts say According to James W. Kimbrough, Doctor of Mycology in the Plant Department of the University of Florida, many hotels are not built to prevent mold and mildew. The biggest issue in hotels and resorts today is that the paint over interior drywall traps moisture, creating a perfect growth environment for mold, he said. Vinyl-covered walls, required by most brand standards, are even worse. The cellulose backing of the drywall, along with the mucilage (organic) glues of wallpaper, are favorite nutrients of fungus. When the AC is on, the vinyl wall covering gets cold and blocks condensation on its underside � allowing moisture to accumulate and mold spores to germinate with their food supply right on site. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Molds can be found almost anywhere. They can grow on virtually any organic substance, as long as moisture and oxygen are present. There are molds that can grow on wood, paper, carpet, foods, and insulation. When excessive moisture accumulates in buildings or on building materials, mold growth often will occur, particularly if the moisture problem remains undiscovered or unaddressed. Enter the �no-growth� zone Onity�s SensorStat® DDC (Direct Digital Control) thermostats offer a patented option to maintain room temperature and humidity outside the mold-spore growth range. This saves properties tens of thousands of dollars every year in asset protection � while reducing related energy costs. A truly smart guestroom EMS, the SensorStat® DDC stands alone in its ability to provide energy savings and relative humidity sensing and control, Gomez said. The SensorStat® DDC is designed to utilize the existing room air conditioner to its maximum potential for the removal of moisture from the air, while providing significant energy savings when rooms are unoccupied. �Scientists at the University of Florida, Gainesville, have defined the psychometric zone most favorable to the growth of mold and mildew as being above 72 degrees Fahrenheit and above 60 percent relative humidity,� Gomez said. �The psychometric control algorithm of the SensorStat® DDC is designed to maintain a room environment that is outside the mold and mildew growth zone. While mold and mold spores cannot be entirely eliminated from indoor environments, their growth can certainly be halted through proactive, preprogrammed moisture control systems.� He said just like the temperature controls on Onity�s EMS solutions, the humidity-control modules are transparent to the guest. �We have worked hard to design dual temperature/humidity smart guestroom control systems that save hotel owners and operators significant monies, headaches and risk � with zero trade-offs on the guest service end because our setback overrides are based on state-of-the-art occupancy sensors and proven algorithms,� Gomez said. To order White Paper Now in its second printing, Onity�s �White Paper On Black Mold and Moisture Control,� is available to hoteliers free of charge. For a copy, send your request to [email protected]. All orders will be filled. For more information on Onity�s EMS solutions, their features and proven ROI, please contact: Larry Gomez, at +1-561-775-9889, Ext. 217, [email protected]; Laura R. Acuña, at +1-770-582-8103, [email protected]; or visit www.onity.biz. About Onity
�Turning on clients to the promises of progress, and unlocking the potential of partnering the very best minds and technologies. |
Onity
(formerly TESA Entry Systems Inc.), the leading global provider of electronic
locking systems, offers innovative technological solutions and services
for the Hospitality, Corporate, Education, Government and Marine markets.
The company�s ever-expanding family of electronic solutions today includes
electronic locks, related smartcard technology, in-room safes, closed-circuit
television (CCTV) security surveillance and SensorStat energy management
systems. Onity has R&D and manufacturing operations in Spain, Mexico
and the U.S., as well as an extensive sales and service network that spans
more than 115 countries around the globe. With innovative solutions specially
designed to meet clients� changing needs, Onity continues to provide real
progress � technological advancements in facility management and maintenance
for unparalleled convenience and time and cost savings.