GEORGETOWN, TEXAS—Sheraton Austin Georgetown Hotel & Conference Center, a AAA four diamond hotel, has achieved LEED Silver Certification for New Construction. The 222-room hotel, just 27 miles north of Austin, is the first Sheraton Hotel to earn the distinction in the continental United States. Developed by Novak Bros. LLC, the LEED status represents a milestone achievement for the Sheraton Austin Georgetown Hotel and serves as a testament to the property’s sustainability and ongoing green practices. “We are proud to have achieved LEED Silver status,” says Rita Healy, General Manager, Sheraton Austin Georgetown Hotel. “Georgetown, Texas operates on 100 percent renewable energy....

KNOXVILLE, TENN.—Knoxville businessman Tom Boyd announced that a new 40-acre resort with more than 150 unique dwellings and treehouses, a 150-seat restaurant, a 500-person meeting and event center, and a 1,000-seat outdoor amphitheater will open in South Knoxville in 2020. The $40 million project is expected to draw 200,000 visitors annually. No motor-driven vehicles will be used, rather electric golf carts designed as ancient wagons to transport guests to the various areas they want to visit. Parking is hidden from view, and roads are lined with trees to protect village views. The resort, called “Ancient Lore Village at Boyd Hollow,”...

MURRIETA, CALIF.—The pieces to put together a net zero hotel are here and ready to go—and at a cost less than typical hotel construction. So says S2A Modular, a Murrieta, Calif.-based company specializing in electrically self-sustaining, custom luxury homes and commercial buildings such as hotels. S2A Modular combines modular construction techniques with Tesla solar panels and Powerwalls (Powerpacks for larger buildings such as hotels) to create structures that get by without electricity provided by a utility. In fact, S2A buildings are built to provide surplus energy to the local utility when possible, creating “surplus energy income” for the building...

Tesla has built a huge following because of its sleek electric vehicles (EVs) but the company offers much more than EVs. It has also developed its own unique solar panels, solar tiles made from tempered glass, Powerwalls for home energy storage, and Powerpacks for larger-scale energy storage for buildings such as hotels. I bring up Tesla because a California company, S2A Modular, is combining its modular building techniques with Tesla energy storage technology to make net zero hotels not only possible but affordable as well. What S2A Modular is doing has the potential to dramatically change our industry. I spoke with...

MEDELLIN, COLOMBIA—Cannúa, a first-of-its-kind, 18-room boutique hotel set within a protected forest in Antioquia, Colombia, is scheduled to open in April 2019. Rooted in permaculture design principles and taking a holistic approach to sustainability, this 27-acre mountain-side property intends to forge a new era of experiential travel within the region. Guests of Cannúa will be among the first to explore this renewed, flourishing destination—one of the most biologically diverse and temperate in the world—through exquisite accommodation, natural encounters, and excursions designed to build a sense of community among neighbors, partners and visitors. “As Colombia continues to evolve as a destination of natural and cultural wonders, we’re proud to be...

CHICAGO—The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced that it will begin offering LEED recertification for all LEED certified projects. To be eligible for certification, projects must submit 12 months of data demonstrating continued or improved performance. Once recertified, projects will meet the standards of the newest version of the LEED rating system available. This recertification will be valid for three years. “For the last 25 years, USGBC has sought to make the communities in which we live, work, learn and play healthier, more resource efficient and less damaging to our ecosystems,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, President & CEO, USGBC. “Recertification has always...

JASPER, IND.—Indiana Furniture is taking orders for new additions to four existing casegood and seating product lines: Canvas, Gesso, Delphi, and Gleem. Canvas & Gesso Casegoods—New Height Adjustable Options: Ergonomic height adjustable options have been expanded in the Canvas and Gesso lines, now providing a full collection of models that allow users to easily move from sitting to standing and back again while working. New height adjustable units offer seamless design to layer with existing components for any private office or open plan work space. Learn more about height adjustability with Canvas and Gesso. Delphi Seating—New Bariatric Models: Clean lines, five...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The 2018 International Green Construction Code was released recently by the International Code Council, ASHRAE, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the Illuminating Engineering Society. The IgCC is part of the Code Council’s family of comprehensive, coordinated and modern model codes—including the International Building Code, International Mechanical Code, International Plumbing Code and International Fire Code—used around the world. The IgCC provides a whole systems approach to the design, construction and operation of buildings and includes cost-effective measures that result in lower operating costs, better indoor environments, lower impact on natural resources, and improved neighborhood connections and walkability. A...

FARMINGTON, N.Y.—Pioneer Millworks introduces Modern Farmhouse, a sleeker more modern line of wood products including flooring and paneling from sustainable and certified wood sources. Available in a variety of hardwood species, the Modern Farmhouse products are being offered in a high “clean” grade and “casual” grade both with a more uniform appearance than their reclaimed wood counterparts. “While reclaimed wood will always have our hearts, we understand that designers, architects, builders, and homeowners are at times in the market for something with a smoother complexion and less character,” said Jered Slusser, Market Manager at Pioneer Millworks. “Modern Farmhouse fits those...

SEATTLE—Hyatt Regency Seattle announced its opening, located in the heart of downtown at 808 Howell Street and near some of Seattle’s top attractions including the Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Pike Place Market. With its sprawling, dynamic event space and number of guestrooms, Hyatt Regency Seattle is the largest hotel in the Pacific Northwest and new premier destination for meetings and events in the region. It joins two other Seattle-area Hyatt Regency hotels. Hyatt Regency Seattle is targeting LEED Gold Certification in 2019, which is the second highest green building rating in the world. As part of their efforts, Hyatt...