CROSSVILLE, TENN.—Officials with domestic tile manufacturer Crossville Inc. announced that the company has diverted a total of 40 million pounds of fired porcelain since launching its Tile Take-Back program and TOTO USA partnership.These recycling initiatives are based on the company’s proprietary process for recycling fired porcelain products, including post-consumer materials. Through Tile Take-Back, Crossville is able to recycle previously installed tile collected from its distribution network, as well as scraps that result from tile cutting during installation, sizing, or sample creation.Through its TOTO partnership, Crossville receives pre-consumer fired porcelain toilets that do not meet quality standards; prior to the...

BOULDER, COLO.—Renewable Choice Energy announced that it has joined Green-e Climate, and can now provide certified carbon offsets to green building projects under the new U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC’s) LEED v4 guidelines. The LEED v4 guidelines, which were released in November of 2013, provide universal criteria for green building performance, including new market sectors, new environmental impact categories, and clearer guidance to aid in the global adoption of green building practices.Under the LEED v4 Energy and Atmosphere Credit, certified buildings may receive points for use of green power and carbon offsets. The v4 guidelines require a longer-term commitment...

KANSAS CITY, MO.—Marriott International announced that the Courtyard Kansas City at Briarcliff in Missouri is the company’s first hotel to earn LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) green building program status through the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) prototype precertification program.The only LEED certified Marriott property in Missouri, the Courtyard Kansas City at Briarcliff was constructed on top of a mine, land previously undevelopable, and 10 percent of building materials used contain recycled content. Like all Marriott LEED Certified hotels, this hotel features a number of elements that focus on energy conservation, water efficiency and recycling. Some of...

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, CALIF.—Yosemite Lodge at the Falls, operated by Delaware North Companies (DNC) Parks & Resorts at Yosemite, Inc., announces the completion of a $10 million dollar multi-phased refurbishment of the hotel’s guestrooms and lobby in addition to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) updates to accessible paths of travel. Reflective of DNC’s award-winning environmental stewardship platform GreenPath, the hotel’s guestrooms were remodeled using eco-friendly materials. Yosemite Lodge at the Falls guestrooms were designed with a soothing, neutral palette featuring Yosemite-themed artwork by local photographers.Highlighting eco-friendly upgrades, all rooms were freshly painted using California-based Kelly Moore paints with low...

PORT HURON, MICH.—Port Huron, Michigan will become home to a new eco-friendly boutique hotel; CityFlatsHotel brand will open its third Michigan location in this historic downtown setting. Located at 301 Huron Avenue, CityFlatsHotel—Port Huron will revive one of the most well-known landmarks in the area. The building which once housed Sperry’s Department Store will be converted into a truly unique hotel property, a project CityFlatsHotel is familiar with from the construction of its Grand Rapids, Mich. location.“There is nothing more exciting than to see your baby take their first steps,” said Chuck Reid, owner of CityFlatsHotel. “We are honored...

NOTTINGHAM, PA.—Zandur exists to provide products that meet their three core product principles of sustainability, design and simplicity. In keeping with these principles, Zandur introduces a new line of solid rubber flooring named Flex.The color line is available in 24 standard colors ranging from cool and warm neutrals to vibrant primaries that coordinate with current design trends and blend with classic decor. Additionally, Zandur has the ability to create any custom color to complement a design scheme. Other options include oil and grease and skate resistant versions.Flex is composed of heavy duty 100 percent vulcanized rubber and comes with...

BERKELEY, CALIF.—Looking strictly at the economic costs and benefits of three different roof types—black, white and “green” (or vegetated)—Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) researchers have found in a new study that white roofs are the most cost-effective over a 50-year time span. While the high installation cost of green roofs sets them back in economic terms, their environmental and amenity benefits may at least partially mitigate their financial burden.A new report titled “Economic Comparison of White, Green, and Black Flat Roofs in the United States” by Julian Sproul, Benjamin Mandel, and Arthur Rosenfeld of Berkeley Lab, and Man...

ATLANTA—When it comes to the how-to of measuring a building’s energy use, there is much to take into consideration. Are the measurements of a building’s area—used in the equation to derive energy use per square foot—to be taken from the exterior dimensions or to the centerline of the wall? Since they are normally unoccupied, are storage spaces to be included or not?The newly revised ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 105-2014, Standard Methods of Determining, Expressing, and Comparing Building Energy Performance and Greenhouse Gas Emissions, supports commonality in reporting the energy performance of existing or proposed buildings to provide a consistent method of...

CHICAGO—Cintas Corp., the largest uniform supplier in North America, has introduced its 2014 Uniform Collection. The Uniform Collection features more than 70 new colors and styles and is the first collection to include shoes and branded promotional products. Together with the company’s new website, the Uniform Collection offers retail-inspired apparel and products for professionals in multiple industries, including healthcare, gaming, hospitality and foodservice.In response to fashion trends featuring shades of grey, Cintas introduced the color within its Regeneration Suiting Collection and Velocity Housekeeping Collection, both made out of recycled polyester. These collections enable organizations to outfit staff in charcoal...

BOGOTA, COLOMBIA—Five years in the planning, the Biohotel Organic Suites is just one month from opening in Bogota, Colombia in the district of Usaquen, known as the culinary and cultural hub of the city. The seven-story, 72-room property is “my retirement plan,” says Samuel Huertas, majority owner. Huertas is aiming for LEED Gold certification for the hotel that includes the Green Piece restaurant and meeting space to accommodate up to 150 people.True to its name, the Biohotel Organic Suites is green throughout. The exterior of the building features windows made from recycled glass and vertical “gardens” that help to...