NAPLES, FLA.—Industrial Nanotech introduces Nansulate Energy Protect, a clear thermal insulation and mold resistance coating that insulates and reduces energy use in an easy to apply, environmentally friendly liquid coating. The product is designed to increase thermal resistance of windows, walls, ceilings, and skylights of commercial buildings and facilities. It can be used over surfaces without changing their look and can also be painted over with another water-based paint.On windows, the coating allows through approximately 92 percent of visible light and frosts windows for security. It is used over many types of building surfaces such as brick, drywall, finished...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced that more than 30 of the world’s most respected companies, ranging from banks and retail corporations to architecture firms and technology companies, are showing their strong commitment to green building and have joined USGBC as platinum level members. “USGBC’s platinum level members represent some of the world’s most innovative, forward-thinking corporations and organizations, and we are proud to count on them as partners in the green building movement,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair, USGBC. “USGBC’s global relevance helps members grow their business by joining a diverse community dedicated to...

WOODRIDGE, ILL.—Gerber Plumbing Fixtures LLC has added a high performing, high efficiency toilet (HET) option to its stylish Brianne Suite of products. This WaterSense certified product operates at 1.28 gallons per flush and provides significant water savings over older, more traditional products in the marketplace. In many instances, these toilets can save a homeowner or commercial building manager more than 20 percent in water usage.The Brianne HET features: a reliable FluidMaster 400A fill valve, which is fast, quiet and trouble free; a 3-inch flush valve for quick bowl clearing; powerful dual-fed siphon jets, which thoroughly clean the bowl; and...

SPARTANBURG, S.C.—Influenced by the concept of “art in memory,” photography plays a key role in the Moment Collection introduced by Milliken’s global floor covering division. Designed by Kristin Gruenefeld, each image was carefully selected to reflect the energy, dramatic impact and scale which occur naturally in large public spaces. The four Moment designs—Swept Away, On the Avenue, City Escape and Saturday Morning—take the visitor on a visual journey, while transitioning from public and interactive spaces to increasingly private, undisturbed areas.“The idea for this collection occurred when I started to think about the journey within a property and how design...

LEESBURG, VA.—REHAU announces the launch of a new online tool for comparing estimated energy savings across numerous window design options. The energy savings estimator, available from a toolbox feature, specifically enables users to compare REHAU’s System 700, 1400 and 4500 and GENEO window designs against wood, aluminum, steel, PVC and other window options.The tool facilitates a tailored energy savings assessment by allowing the user to input a project’s size, geographic location, heating method and price per unit of energy (either Therm or kWh), as well as the heating method’s percentages of efficiency and increased annual costs. By then selecting...

CARTERSVILLE, GA.—Shaw Hospitality Group won Best of Show for flooring and Best of Competition for the Be Bold collection at the 2013 Hospitality and Design Expo and Conference.  Held annually in Las Vegas, HD is the premier trade show for the hospitality design industry, bringing together more than 900 exhibitors and 7,000 attendees to Las Vegas each May.Be Bold is a statement of layering patterns, color and texture. Graphic elements and dynamic black and white patterns create contrast and scale to transform a space. The innovation lies in the system of patterns, holistically designed to migrate throughout the space,...

CINCINNATI—Allison Beer McKenzie of SHP Leading Design is presenting a seminar titled, “Product Selection with LEED in Mind” at NeoCon 2013. NeoCon is North America’s largest design exposition and conference for commercial interiors. The seminar is intended to give attendees the opportunity to learn how to achieve LEED points in relation to interior finishes and furnishings.Product representatives often overstate how interior finish products can contribute to LEED certification. In her seminar, McKenzie is going to discuss how such products can realistically contribute to point achievement in a variety of LEED rating systems. The seminar is expected to identify the...

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA—Mario and Annemarie Delicio of Dematech are the owners behind Hotel Verde. Dedicated and passionate about sustainability, they have transformed what was initially just a sensible business proposition into a showcase for some of the most advanced environmentally conscious technological installations as well as construction and operation practices in the world.“We have a responsibility as a company, as an employer and as a visitor on this planet to live as sustainably as possible,” says Mario Delicio. “This is the only way we can survive long-term and hand over to our children in a responsible manner.”Construction on...

WHEELING, ILL.—In the fall of 2001, Brentano introduced their first leather and vinyl alternatives. Today, both of those patterns, Vapor and Satin, are part of Brentano’s expansive offering of eco-friendly polyurethane textiles. With each year since, Brentano’s design team has continued to develop and introduce environmentally-minded polyurethane textiles.For their spring 2013 Symphonic collection, Brentano has once again raised the bar for leather and vinyl alternatives, adding two new patterns to the Brentano Green line. Primal is an eco-friendly polyurethane that has been printed with a bold animal print and comes in eight fashion-inspired colors. Remix takes its cue from...

ANN ARBOR, MICH.—NSF Sustainability, a division of global independent public health organization NSF International, has partnered with emissions testing leader Materials Analytical Services, LLC (MAS) to offer VOC (volatile organic compounds) emission testing for the commercial and institutional furniture industry. This new service will help companies save costs and time by providing all testing and validation services needed to complete BIFMA level certification for sustainable furniture.Third-party validated low-VOC emission claims are important to companies as well as institutional and government organizations that are looking to protect occupants’ health by sourcing safer building and furnishing products. VOCs are a large...