Hotels and restaurants that have been taking steps to green their cleaning operations may mistakenly be setting back their green cleaning programs as a result of H1N1 and other public health concerns that have surfaced in recent years. The problem is that eradicating from surfaces the germs, bacteria, and pathogens that can spread these diseases often requires the use of powerful, EPA-registered, hospital-grade disinfectants which they erroneously believe cannot be part of a green cleaning program. In the United States today, there are no disinfectants that can be marketed or labeled as green. Currently, disinfectants are classified as pesticides, which are...

NEW YORK—The total number of exhibitors may have been less than previous years due to the economy and other factors but the number of vendors offering green products and services was stronger than ever at this year’s International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show (IH/M&RS). The event was held November 8 to 10 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. Visitors to the show found exhibitors featuring amenity bottles that biodegrade much faster than traditional plastic bottles; dispensers that eliminate amenity bottles altogether; a nonprofit that matches up hotels with other nonprofits to help eliminate food, toiletry...

NEW YORK—Perkins+Will, a global integrated design firm, announced the creation of its Perkins+Will Precautionary List. It was unveiled at GreenBuild 2009. The goal of the list is to highlight chemicals, which are listed by government agencies as having negative health issues and the classes of building materials where they might be commonly found, while offering available alternatives in an effort to push the building industry to embrace healthier buildings. “There is an ever increasing focus in the green building movement on the relationship between humans and the built environment,” said Peter Syrett, AIA, LEED AP and associate principal at Perkins+Will...

ALPHARETTA, GA.—The Refinishing Touch, a specialist in environmentally safe and sustainable on-site furniture refinishing, upholstery and armoire modifications, has added new environmentally-friendly materials to its Touch Textiles fabrics brand. The new line includes a range of 100 percent recycled fabrics finished with GreenShield, a Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) recognized, low fluorocarbon treatment that uses two-thirds less chemicals without compromising the durability, moisture resistance, stain resistance or nonflammable qualities of the fabric. In recent years, the industry has seen a massive increase in the use and demand for eco-friendly textiles. Close to 12 billion pounds of post-consumer textile waste ends...

SAINT CHARLES, MO.—Pineapple Hospitality announced that two new hotel management groups have joined FreshStay.com, the largest online directory of 100 percent smoke-free hotels in the world. Potomac Hospitality Services and Charlestowne Hotels combined offer 22 properties that have completely eliminated smoking on their properties, adding to the comprehensive list of more than 4,800 other FreshStay.com hotels, motels and B&Bs. “Potomac Hospitality and Charlestowne Hotels are two well-known, well-respected management groups in this industry, so we are excited they see the benefits and are leading their properties to be smoke free,” says Dave Janicke, FreshStay’s CBO—Chief Breathing Officer. “It’s clear that...

NATIONAL REPORT—Over the past several years public awareness of climate change has lead to a significant shift in the way we all live our lives. This public awareness has also lead to a groundswell of support for green facilities design that supports the desire to save the planet by reducing dependence on fossil fuels and natural resources like forest timber. One integral component in green facilities design is the method of construction, and the method of construction that is the greenest is insulated concrete forming (ICF). ICF is widely used and recognized and has been used successfully for both...

NORTH WALPOLE, N.H.—Len-Tex Corp. announced that its entire line of contract wallcoverings has earned the Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) Indoor Advantage Gold designation. All Len-Tex and Surface iQ branded wallcoverings meet the rigorous standards outlined in the SCS testing protocols for healthy indoor air quality. SCS is recognized as the global leader in providing independent environmental standards and certification, including those for interior building materials. SCS Indoor Advantage Gold certification meets the criteria of the most stringent threshold for indoor emissions, California Section 01350, which uses human health-based standards for indoor air quality. SCS certification requires independent...

SOUTH BEND, IND.—Royal Adhesives and Sealants LLC announced that it has launched a new line of Gunther brand mirror mastic, Premier Plus. Developed specifically for the professional mirror installation market, this mirror mastic contains less than 10 grams per liter of VOCs compared to more than 500 grams per liter of VOCs in traditional solvent-based mirror mastics. With this ultra LVOC content, Premier Plus is the first mirror mastic for LEED compliant construction projects. Established through the U.S. Green Building Council, the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program establishes strict guidelines for energy and environmental design. As part...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes AtmosAir Solutions as a Green Product & Service Directory Partner. AtmosAir Solutions’ air purification process can eliminate mold, control bacteria and the spread of airborne viruses, and reduce airborne particles and germs that get past normal filtration solutions. The company’s technology involves an all-natural process and produces no harmful by-products such as ozone or ultraviolet light, commonly found in many other products. AtmosAir Solutions is now offering its advanced and proven technology throughout North America for use in hotels and many other applications where indoor air quality...

TEMPERANCE, MICH.—MTS Seating has introduced a full line of light-weight folding tables for the hospitality market, including convention, foodservice and lodging applications. In addition to folding tables, MTS has also introduced handling trucks, storage racks, portable staging and accessories. “We are excited to be able to offer a complete line of folding tables to complement our core seating business,” said MTS Seating CEO Phil Swy. “Combined with our storage and transport systems, we can provide the same level of sophistication for the behind-the-scenes operational support for our folding tables, as we do with our banquet seating.” MTS folding tables fit a...