WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Mason & Rook hotel in Washington, D.C. announced that it has been awarded LEED Silver. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the foremost program for buildings, homes, and communities that are designed, constructed, maintained, and operated for improved environmental and human health performance. The Mason & Rook project was more than just a renovation; it was a complete rebranding of the original property. The project consisted of construction of a new, one-story addition adjacent to the ground floor, over the existing basement level parking garage,...

DENVER—Synavax introduces Energy Protect, a water-based, easy to apply clear coating that provides thermal insulation for energy savings, mold resistance, and UV resistance. It is used in a wide variety of home and commercial building insulation applications due to the easy application over existing structures to increase energy efficiency. Customers using this patented technology report saving between 20 to 40 percent on their heating and cooling energy costs. The coating has independent testing over walls illustrating a reduction of heat transfer of 34.8 percent at the standard three-coat coverage. As a bonus, Energy Protect does more than insulate in a clear...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—USGBC announced the Top 10 Countries for LEED, a list that highlights countries outside the United States that are making significant strides in sustainable building design, construction and market transformation. These countries represent the ever-growing international demand for LEED-certified green buildings. This year, China moved from second to first on the list as the largest user of LEED, with 34.62 million gross square meters (GSM) of certified LEED space. Canada, India, Brazil and the Republic of Korea rounded out the top five countries on the list, respectively. “By recognizing these leading countries, we are showcasing the exponential growth of...

SAN FRANCISCO—Pioneering bamboo interior finishes manufacturer Smith & Fong has relaunched its Durapalm.com website dedicated to its growing range of premium flooring, paneling and plywood products manufactured from reclaimed palm wood. The website showcases new offerings in flooring and panel designs, including new colors, textures and finishes. “We are really excited about what we have to offer in this new line of palm products,” said Smith & Fong CEO Dan Smith, who is heading up the company’s palm program. “Our first range of palm flooring included coconut palm in flat grain and later we added the edge grain, which is a linear look,” Smith said. “Since then we have expanded to other species...

December 8 was an important day for MGM Resorts International. It was then that it officially opened the LEED Gold MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Md. The 308-room property is located minutes from Washington, D.C. The MGM National Harbor is MGM Resorts International’s ninth LEED certification. Cindy Ortega, Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer for MGM Resorts International, said in a press release that the hotel exemplifies MGM’s long-standing effort to implement sustainable and responsible practices across its resorts. I spoke with Todd Megrath, Executive Director of Sustainable Development, MGM Resorts International, about the new property and he...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—During the recent U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) International Summit held at the 2016 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo, Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) announced a new technology organization called arc. Officially launching later in 2016, arc will further the performance of the green building industry and the built environment as a whole. Scot Horst, USGBC’s chief product officer, has been named arc’s incoming CEO. He will transition from his role with USGBC and LEED at the end of 2016. “As the leaders of the green building movement over the last two decades, USGBC and GBCI have gathered more green...

LAS VEGAS—MGM Resorts International announced that the U.S. Green Building Council has awarded the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification to MGM National Harbor, the company’s newest resort. Located minutes from Washington, D.C., in Prince George’s County, Md., the resort is scheduled to open December 8. The LEED Green Building Rating System is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. Meeting the rigorous environmental standards of this designation is a testament to the complete integration of sustainable principles throughout the design and construction of MGM National Harbor. “Environmental responsibility is a...

ODESSA, FLA. & SINGAPORE—Green Lodging News, lodging’s leading environmental news source, and Greenview, a leader in advancing hotel sustainability, have released the Green Lodging Trends Report 2016. The report details the results of the first annual Green Lodging Survey conducted earlier this year and is available at no cost by clicking here. The report is based on data from more than 2,000 hotels in 44 countries and covers topics ranging from air quality to energy management to staff involvement. The report includes results of more than 100 questions asked in 11 categories. Supporters of this year’s survey include The Arbor...

ARLINGTON, VA.—Schupp Companies announced that it has achieved LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification for its Hyatt Place Courthouse development in Arlington, Va. Schupp pursued LEED as part of its commitment to sustainability with attention to reduced energy and water consumption, and a focus on optimal air quality to enhance the guest experience. Located at 2401 Wilson Blvd., the new Hyatt Place Arlington Courthouse is situated in close proximity to the metro, allowing for community connectivity. At 93,000 square feet, the hotel features approximately 1,200 square feet of street-level retail space, including a bar and café on the first...

DALTON, GA.—J+J Flooring Group, a leading manufacturer of commercial specified flooring, announced it has been recertified as a Zero Waste to Landfill (ZWL) manufacturer by GreenCircle Certified, LLC, a prominent third-party certifier of environmental claims. J+J Flooring Group was originally certified by GreenCircle as a ZWL manufacturer in 2015. This marked the first time a commercial floor covering manufacturer had achieved ZWL status and went the extra step to have its waste diversion efforts audited and verified by a recognized, third-party certifier of environmental claims. GreenCircle’s certification covers J+J’s waste diversion at its Dalton, Ga., corporate campus, which includes both its...