COOPERSBURG, PA.—Energy-saving light control manufacturer Lutron Electronics announced that its Washington, D.C. Commercial Experience Center has been awarded LEED Gold Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED is the USGBC’s leading rating system for designing and constructing the world’s greenest, most energy-efficient and high-performing buildings. Lutron Experience Centers are showcases of Lutron’s most impactful residential and commercial products and solutions. The Washington, D.C. facility specifically showcases commercial products in use in a variety of vignettes (conference rooms, offices and more). “We’re pleased to have achieved USGBC’s LEED Gold Certification,” said Andy Wakefield, director of Government Relations at Lutron. “Knowing...

GASTONIA, N.C.—Flanked by the mayor and city council of Gastonia, N.C., a crowd of local business owners, event planners, community organizations, arts committees and local residents watched Mayor Jennie Stultz cut the ribbon on the long-awaited 30,000-square-foot, multi-use Gastonia Conference Center. Located in downtown Gastonia, the Center is easily accessible to I-85, just 15 miles from Charlotte/Douglas International Airport. The Center’s design pays homage to the surrounding architecture and heritage of the area and is registered for LEED Gold certification. The $10 million project is a centerpiece of downtown Gastonia’s robust revitalization to create a strong sense of community...

LOS ANGELES—As part of its effort to increase the use of recycled content and reduce energy use, Samsung recently received an upgraded Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) certification on 21 Staron Solid Surfaces and five Radianz Quartz Recycled Content products. In addition to the newly certified products, SCS certification was renewed on several Staron and Radianz Recycled Content colors. Along with the SCS certification, Samsung has also been accredited GREENGUARD Level 3 certification, meaning all Staron Solid Surfaces, Tempest and Radianz Quartz products are certified to be low-emitting materials that lead to better air quality indoors. “We pride ourselves on our commitment...

HOUSTON—Construction has started on the Hilton Garden Inn Houston Northwest—Americas Plaza, the first hotel in Texas scheduled to open with LEED Gold Certification, one of the highest environmental rankings bestowed on a building by the U.S. Green Building Council. Located at Highway 290 and West Little York, the 172-room property is scheduled for opening in November 2012 and will be owned and managed by Houston-based New Horizons Hospitality. The company’s portfolio of owned and managed hotels includes two Hampton Inns and a Homewood Suites in northwest Houston and a Hilton Garden Inn located in The Woodlands. As of October of this...

ANN ARBOR, MICH.—NSF International, an independent global organization that writes public health standards and certifies products for food, water and consumer goods, has qualified the first wallcoverings distributor to the American National Standard for Sustainable Wallcoverings—NSF/ANSI 342. NSF International developed the standard for Sustainable Wallcoverings to help architects, designers, retailers and consumers identify sustainable and environmentally preferable wallcoverings. NSF/ANSI 342: Sustainability Assessment for Wallcovering Products recognizes the important role distributors play in maintaining the sustainability of wallcovering products throughout their life cycle. In order to qualify and distribute certified sustainable wallcoverings, distributors must demonstrate that they follow environmentally preferable practices....

DALTON, GA.—Universal Textile Technologies (UTT) announced a new initiative to incorporate bottles collected from Grand Teton National Park into its manufacturing process. UTT converts the plastic bottles into a non-woven fleece material used to manufacture high-performance environmentally friendly backing for carpet and synthetic turf products. Now termed the PET Park Project, UTT is working in partnership with The Grand Teton National Park, Teton County Solid Waste and Recycling, CPE, Inc., and the United Soybean Board (USB). Americans generate an enormous amount of waste material every day. In the Grand Teton park millions of annual visitors are educated on the positive...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has launched its online App Lab as part of its LEED Automation Program. The lab launched with eight applications, developed by LEED Automation Partners, and is designed for use with Internet browsers, tablets, smartphones and other devices. The App Lab is a searchable catalog of third-party apps that are integrated with LEED data. Each app is a fully functional software tool that has been enhanced to provide LEED project teams and administrators integration with LEED Online and address the LEED certification process. These tools are already being used for helping with task management,...

NEW YORK—Hampton Inn Elmira Horseheads (N.Y.), part of the global brand Hampton Hotels, announced that the hotel achieved LEED Silver certification, as recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the internationally recognized green building certification, which provides third-party verification that a building was designed and operated to provide enhanced energy savings, water efficiency, emissions reduction and overall environmental quality.“This is a great achievement for the Hampton Inn Elmira Horseheads,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “A LEED silver certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership by ownership and management.”“This is a wonderful accomplishment...

COLUMBIA, S.C.—“It just happened that way,” says Hema Patel, in regard to her company’s Holiday Inn & Suites Columbia-Airport opening on Earth Day 2010. Planned or not, it certainly was appropriate that the five-story, 122-room hotel opened on a day that recognizes the birth of the modern day environmental movement. The hotel, which is owned by Patel and her husband’s Capital Hospitality, LLC and operated by the couple’s Courtesy Management Inc. of Orangeburg, S.C., is expected to earn LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council in early 2012. Patel says the intent initially was not to build...

PORTLAND, ORE.—Viridian Wood Products announced the introduction of a new line of 4’x 8’ architectural-grade veneered panels milled from reclaimed North American wood, according to Viridian co-owner Joe Mitchoff. Viridian’s sliced veneers—derived from old-growth redwood previously used in wine tanks, Oregon black walnut reclaimed from urban salvage, and old-growth Douglas fir from warehouse deconstruction—are produced domestically and laid-up on urea formaldehyde-free, FSC-certified medium density fiberboard (MDF) in a variety of thicknesses, including fire-rated cores. Mitchoff said more species are being sourced for launch in the future. “These are distinctive, beautiful and rich in history, a befitting use of some amazing wood,”...