BROOKLYN, N.Y.—1 Hotels, the mission-driven luxury lifestyle hotel brand, announced last month that the newest addition to its portfolio, 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, will make its debut in February 2017. Green Lodging News ran the press release on the 10-story sustainable ground-up development that will feature 194 guestrooms. As a follow-up to the press release, Green Lodging News sent a list of questions to Waad El Hadidy, Designer at Starwood Hotels Worldwide, to learn more about the project. The following are the questions and answers: 1. What about the building's structure itself will ensure a high degree of energy efficiency?...

It’s no secret that the concerns towards the indoor air we breathe are growing, and as a result, people are doing something about it. That’s great news, because according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), most Americans spend up to 90 percent of their time indoors. The EPA has also named indoor air quality as one of the top five health threats in the United States. So why the increased apprehension towards indoor air quality (IAQ)? The 2015 outbreak of Legionnaires Disease in New York City, which took 12 lives, was a wakeup call. But let’s look at evidence that affects...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) has released the 2016 Lodging Survey—the definitive industry review examining the top trends in the hotel industry. Conducted by industry data provider STR and funded by the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation (AH&LEF), the survey provides a comprehensive understanding of sustainability steps hotels are taking, amenities, guest services and more. With just over 8,000 responses, the overall completion rate for the 2016 survey was 15 percent—a drop of three percentage points from 2014. Surveys were emailed to 22,423 hotels through STR using a third party service from www.surveymonkey.com. Surveys were faxed...

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA—A University of Melbourne researcher has found that over one-third of Americans report health problems—from asthma attacks to migraine headaches—when exposed to common fragranced consumer products such as air fresheners, cleaning supplies, laundry products, scented candles, cologne, and personal care products. The study also found that fragranced products may affect profits, with more than 20 percent of respondents entering a business, but leaving as quickly as possible if they smell air fresheners or some fragranced product. More than twice as many customers would choose hotels and airplanes without fragranced air than with fragranced air. In the workplace, over 15 percent...

BOURNE, MASS.—Scientific and medical research links carbon dioxide (CO2) levels to discomfort and lost productivity among occupants in offices, schools, healthcare facilities, and dwellings. Facility managers and building engineers are often responsible for ensuring optimal ventilation in these spaces, yet many are unfamiliar with the methods for achieving such control. To address this issue, Onset, a leader in data loggers, has published a new white paper that examines the risks of elevated carbon dioxide and how data loggers can be used to cost-effectively monitor CO2 and maintain safe levels. The Onset white paper, “Managing Carbon Dioxide Risk: What You Should...

TAMPA, FLA.—Advanced air purification, circadian rhythm lighting, dawn simulation and aromatherapy are just some of the new amenities in the newly opened Stay Well rooms at Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina. Created by Delos, the Stay Well room concept offers evidence-based health and wellness features to help travelers while they’re on the road. Wellness offerings have become increasingly important for business and leisure travelers. Marriott’s new Stay Well rooms offer a holistic hospitality experience to help minimize the impact travel has on the body and mind. Rooms strive to reduce the effects of jet lag, decrease stress, enable more...

SCHAUMBURG, ILL.—During the American Architectural Manufacturers Assn. (AAMA) 2016 National Fall Conference, the AAMA Sustainability Steering Committee hosted two speakers who stressed the importance of wellness in buildings the industry assists in creating and renovating. Lauren Wallace (Epsten Group) focused on the WELL Building Standard and the Living Building Challenge, followed by Dr. Elliott Horner (UL), who gave those in attendance information on indoor air quality testing and its merits. “When we think of sustainability, we often think of environmental impact,” said Mark Silverberg (Technoform), chair of the AAMA Sustainability Steering Committee. “But 92 percent of costs are employee-related, instead...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The design and construction of healthier buildings is a key business benefit for building owners, developers, managers and investors, according to the results of a new SmartMarket Report released by Dodge Data & Analytics and to which the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a contributing partner. “Our world is confronting massive challenges that affect our physical, mental and social well-being,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, Chief Operating Officer, USGBC. “We know that programs like USGBC’s LEED green building rating system and IWBI’s WELL Building Standard provide key solutions to business leaders who are looking for the best way to create...

TETIAROA, FRENCH POLYNESIA—The Brando announced its LEED Platinum certification. The luxury property earned the prestigious designation based on its commitment to conservation and sustainability efforts in the development and overall operation of the pristine island resort. This certification is the culmination of more than six years of work carried out by the resort’s owners, designers and architects, and establishes The Brando as the first project to earn LEED certification in French Polynesia. The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the foremost program for buildings, homes and communities that...

LOS ANGELES—“You’ve probably heard someone say, ‘I’m going outside to get some fresh air’—as if the inside air isn’t fresh. Right? Well often, it’s not.” So begins a new video that tells the story of how untreated indoor air, when emptied of such impurities as allergens, bacteria and other pollutants, dramatically reduces the workplace sickness and absenteeism that are so costly to employers.“As healthy buildings become more important and validation programs are given increased weight, businesses are focusing on the significant benefits of providing the cleanest possible air for their employees,” said Steve Levine, Chief Executive Officer of AtmosAir....