WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed two rules to help protect Americans from exposure to the harmful chemical formaldehyde, consistent with a Federal law unanimously passed by Congress in 2010. These rules ensure that composite wood products produced domestically or imported into the United States meet the formaldehyde emission standards established by Congress. Formaldehyde is used in adhesives to make a wide range of building materials and products. Exposure to formaldehyde can cause adverse public health effects including eye, nose and throat irritation, other respiratory symptoms and, in certain cases, cancer.“The proposed regulations announced today reflect...

BUFFALO, N.Y.—The 120-suite TownePlace Suites by Marriott in Buffalo, N.Y., is scheduled to open Tuesday, June 11. The TownePlace Suites Buffalo Airport will operate as a Marriott franchise managed by Buffalo Lodging Associates of Buffalo, N.Y. The hotel will be LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified for its contributions in making the environment a healthier place by reducing waste and conserving energy and water. It is the latest TownePlace Suites to receive this certification.Located directly across from the Buffalo-Niagara International Airport and 15 minutes from downtown, the Courtyard Buffalo Airport offers guests convenient access to the Walden...

PORTLAND, ORE.—The Green Building Initiative (GBI) announced the release of the most significant upgrade to the Green Globes for New Construction (NC) program since it first became available in the United States in 2006. Green Globes is a web-based program for green building guidance and certification that includes an on-site assessment by a certified third party. The program is a user-friendly and affordable alternative to LEED used to advance the overall environmental performance and sustainability of commercial buildings.Green Globes NC is now based on an ANSI standard: ANSI/GBI 01-2010: Green Building Assessment Protocol for Commercial Buildings. The standard was...

VANCOUVER, B.C.—GSky Plant Systems, Inc., a provider of living green wall systems, recently installed a 106-square-foot Versa Green Wall in a new dual-brand hotel, the Hampton Inn & Suites and Homewood Suites by Hilton Denver Downtown-Convention Center. The property, which includes 302 rooms and 4,355 square feet of meeting space, will split a lobby between the two brands. This shared lobby is where the living green wall has been installed.“The green wall adds a unique urban touch to our new property,” said Tom Sprankle, general manager of the Hampton Inn and Suites and Homewood Suites by Hilton Denver Downtown-Convention...

SANTA BARBARA—Mighty Bright, designer and manufacturer of LED lighting products, will unveil three new LED task and floor lights designed for corporate workplaces, hospitality environments, and residential interiors markets at NeoCon 2013, June 10 to 12, 2013, at The Merchandise Mart, Chicago.LUX high-performing LED task lights reduce energy usage while enhancing spaces with style. Streamlined and sophisticated, LUX LED Lights are functional, eco-friendly and embody a simple aesthetic elegance, compromising neither form nor function.At NeoCon 2013, Mighty Bright will showcase three new lights designed to enhance spaces and provide the best sustainable lighting available on the market today:•    LUX...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced that Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will give the opening keynote address at its 2013 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo. This year’s conference will take place November 20 to 22 in Philadelphia at the LEED Gold certified Pennsylvania Convention Center. Registration opens June 5, 2013.Hillary Rodham Clinton served as the 67th U.S. Secretary of State from 2009 until 2013, after nearly four decades in public service. Her “smart power” approach to foreign policy repositioned American diplomacy and development for the 21st century. Clinton played a central role in restoring...

NAPLES, FLA.—Industrial Nanotech introduces Nansulate Energy Protect, a clear thermal insulation and mold resistance coating that insulates and reduces energy use in an easy to apply, environmentally friendly liquid coating. The product is designed to increase thermal resistance of windows, walls, ceilings, and skylights of commercial buildings and facilities. It can be used over surfaces without changing their look and can also be painted over with another water-based paint.On windows, the coating allows through approximately 92 percent of visible light and frosts windows for security. It is used over many types of building surfaces such as brick, drywall, finished...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced that more than 30 of the world’s most respected companies, ranging from banks and retail corporations to architecture firms and technology companies, are showing their strong commitment to green building and have joined USGBC as platinum level members. “USGBC’s platinum level members represent some of the world’s most innovative, forward-thinking corporations and organizations, and we are proud to count on them as partners in the green building movement,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair, USGBC. “USGBC’s global relevance helps members grow their business by joining a diverse community dedicated to...

WOODRIDGE, ILL.—Gerber Plumbing Fixtures LLC has added a high performing, high efficiency toilet (HET) option to its stylish Brianne Suite of products. This WaterSense certified product operates at 1.28 gallons per flush and provides significant water savings over older, more traditional products in the marketplace. In many instances, these toilets can save a homeowner or commercial building manager more than 20 percent in water usage.The Brianne HET features: a reliable FluidMaster 400A fill valve, which is fast, quiet and trouble free; a 3-inch flush valve for quick bowl clearing; powerful dual-fed siphon jets, which thoroughly clean the bowl; and...

SPARTANBURG, S.C.—Influenced by the concept of “art in memory,” photography plays a key role in the Moment Collection introduced by Milliken’s global floor covering division. Designed by Kristin Gruenefeld, each image was carefully selected to reflect the energy, dramatic impact and scale which occur naturally in large public spaces. The four Moment designs—Swept Away, On the Avenue, City Escape and Saturday Morning—take the visitor on a visual journey, while transitioning from public and interactive spaces to increasingly private, undisturbed areas.“The idea for this collection occurred when I started to think about the journey within a property and how design...