PORTLAND, ORE.—Viridian Reclaimed Wood announced the introduction of Siberian Spruce paneling milled from reclaimed Russian crating material, according to Viridian co-owner Joe Mitchoff. A mix of slow-growing spruce and pine from the frigid climate of subarctic Russia, the paneling is reminiscent of the walls of an alpine lodge, but its light color also lends itself to contemporary interiors. “This paneling’s rustic character hints of its rough-and-tumble past,” Mitchoff said. “But it’s really beautiful, and it’s an extremely affordable way to use reclaimed wood on a project.”Siberian Spruce is available in 5/8″ or 3/4″ thicknesses, with a face width of...

CHATTANOOGA, TENN.—Outdoors-oriented travelers headed to the Chattanooga area for rock climbing, bicycling, kayaking and other activities can now stay in a hostel that is officially among the world’s greenest. Opened in June 2011, The Crash Pad just recently earned its LEED Platinum designation. According to the hostel’s owners, Max Poppel and Dan Rose, The Crash Pad is the only hostel on the planet to earn LEED Platinum. Only three other lodging establishments in the United States have earned LEED Platinum through the U.S. Green Building Council.Located on one acre in downtown Chattanooga, The Crash Pad sits on a site...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes EnviroTextiles as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. Based in Glenwood Springs, Colo., EnviroTextiles specializes in sustainable textiles. All of the company’s products are made from organic sources; including hemp, agave cactus, coconut fiber, and others. Each product must pass Sustainable Biodegradable Products Certification. EnviroTextiles currently provides wholesale hemp fabric and sustainable textiles to more than 60 countries. For more information, e-mail info@envirotextile.com, call (970) 945-5986, or go to www.envirotextile.com.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.—Valley Forge Fabrics, a leading supplier of decorative textiles to the hospitality industry, announced the launch of its brand new website and design library. For the first time ever, qualified Valley Forge customers will have digital access to its expansive running line fabric collection. “We are beyond excited to be able to deliver our fabric collections in a digital format to our customer base,” says Diana Dobin, president of Valley Forge. “Our new website is remarkably fast, includes up-to-the-minute inventory levels and allows customers to have specification information at their fingertips.”Valley Forge’s website and design library has been...

FRANKFURT, GERMANY—Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has signed an agreement with Bari Gruppe GmbH & Co. KG to open a new-build Element hotel at Gateway Gardens, Frankfurt`s new city district near the airport. Scheduled to open in 2014, Element Frankfurt Airport marks the European debut of the eco-wise brand. The hotel will be located in a newly developed business district at the doorstep of Europe’s third busiest air travel hub, near the global headquarters of companies such as Lufthansa, Condor and DB Schenker.Launched in 2008, Element has made history as the only major hotel brand to mandate that...

LOUISVILLE, KY.—The look and feel of stone wall covering in a residential or commercial setting is always an attractive aspect of a building, but adding a stone look is typically a professional undertaking which involves specialized equipment, installers and struggles with structural issues…until now. AirStone is an ultra-light wall covering system from Baton, LLC. that allows anyone to install a stone veneer using only pre-mixed adhesive, a putty knife and a hack saw. AirStones are individual stone pieces that precisely fit together so grouting is not required. They adhere directly onto any wall or fireplace in homes or commercial...

GRANVILLE, OHIO—Popular Euro-styling and superior nighttime performance merge in Antique Street Lamps’ new Eurotique LED luminaires. The high performance fixtures offer design flexibility with striking “Munich” and “Hanover” styles in two different sizes and either post top or pendant mounting.New Eurotique LED luminaires are family scaled to offer designers the opportunity to create attractive transitions from buildings to pedestrian gathering areas and streets. Multiple luminaire and arm combinations offer a choice of appearances to complement a range of outdoor environments.“Eurotique luminaires were created to complement virtually any site plan, offering eye-catching shapes and dimensions to facilitate continuity,” said Ben...

PARK RIDGE, N.J.—Nature-inspired brand AFFINA announces the launch of Seaweaves, its premier collection of architectural contract glass. A tribute to the oceans, Seaweaves draws upon the seas’ vast reservoirs for inspiration. Seaweaves is handcrafted, quality architectural glass manufactured in the United States by Skyline Design.“Architectural glass is very much like nature in its playful use of light,” says AFFINA designer and founder, Mary Ellen Putignano. “It is ever-changing, reflective, transparent, illuminating. A beautiful art form, it allows light to enter a room, frames and transforms a space, catches our eye and reminds us to look outside. It is the...

DENVER—Marriott International, Inc. announced the first TownePlace Suites hotel to open as part of its LEED Volume Program—the TownePlace Suites Denver Airport at Gateway Park in Colorado. TownePlace Suites is Marriott’s second brand to construct a hotel built using its LEED Volume program. The hotel will be the brand’s first property using the LEED Volume prototype.Certified by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the LEED Volume Program eases the process for property developers, such as hotel owners who want to build a LEED-certified hotel. Volume certification provides a streamlined path to LEED certification based on a pre-approved prototype...

NEW YORK—Sherwin-Williams is has introduced its Emerald Interior and Exterior paints and ColorCast Ecotoner colorants. Both Emerald paints and ColorCast Ecotoner colorants are zero VOC. Emerald Interior and Exterior paints are self-priming for a high quality finish achieved with fewer coats. The entire line of Sherwin-Williams water-based paints and colors are now tinted with zero VOC colorant. “Sherwin-Williams has always been at the forefront of innovation,” said Steve Revnew, vice president of product innovation, Sherwin-Williams. “These products feature revolutionary quality and industry-leading environmental responsibility.” Emerald Interior paint prevents stains from penetrating, providing easy clean up of surfaces, and resists water streaking...