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Green Design

With the goal of reducing energy costs and minimizing environmental impact, architects and designers are getting serious about green design. Every part of the property can be impacted and savvy designers are incorporating reclaimed materials and restorative greenery. Visit Green Lodging News for the latest news and best practices. Got news or a story idea to share? Contact Glenn Hasek, editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at: greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.

Green Design

Home Green Design
With the goal of reducing energy costs and minimizing environmental impact, architects and designers are getting serious about green design. Every part of the property can be impacted and savvy designers are incorporating reclaimed materials and restorative greenery. Visit Green Lodging News for the latest news and best practices. Got news or a story idea to share? Contact Glenn Hasek, editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at: greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.

The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte Celebrates LEED Gold Certification

CHARLOTTE, N.C.—The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte was recently presented with LEED Gold Certification at a press event in Charlotte. The rare achievement, awarded in the New Construction category, was announced to hotel general manager David Rothwell by Rick Fedrizzi, CEO of the U.S. Green Building Council. It represents the first LEED designation attained by a Ritz-Carlton hotel or resort. The 146-room Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte opened in October 2009 with a roster of environmental services and features that have ultimately qualified it for LEED Gold certification. LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a multi-category green building rating system developed...

California’s Barona Resort & Casino Earns LEED Gold from USGBC

SAN DIEGO—Barona Resort & Casino announced that it has achieved Gold certification as part of the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings (LEED-EB) rating system. Barona is the first tribal resort in the nation to earn the internationally recognized certification for the design and operation of high performance green buildings. “The Barona Resort & Casino”s LEED for Existing Buildings Gold certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO & founding chair, USGBC. “The most sustainable way to green the built environment is through retrofitting existing buildings. Barona can...

New Adhesive Developed in England for Carpet Tiles

BLOOMINGTON, IND.—A new, more sustainable adhesive has been developed for use on carpet tiles that, according to initial reports, is as effective as conventional adhesives and holds up well when cleaned with professional carpet extraction methods. Adhesives are typically used to bind the layers of carpet tiles together. However, some adhesives in use today make the carpet tiles difficult to recycle. Because of this, it is estimated that in Europe more than 154 million pounds of carpet tiles end up in landfills each year. Although the data were not broken down by type, the nonprofit Carpet America Recovery Effort estimates...

Wyndham Worldwide Earns LEED Silver for Headquarters

PARSIPPANY, N.J.—Wyndham Worldwide, one of the world’s largest hospitality companies, received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) on April 9 during a celebration event at the company’s Parsippany global headquarters. The certification is for the headquarters. One of numerous planned Wyndham Green events throughout Earth Month, the LEED celebration was attended by more than 100 guests and included remarks by Melverne E. Cooke, chief of staff for the office of Assemblyman Alex DeCroce, Parsippany Mayor Jamie Barberio, USGBC vice president, market development, Doug Gatlin and Wyndham Worldwide chairman...

W Hotel in San Francisco Earns LEED Silver Certification

SAN FRANCISCO—The four-diamond W San Francisco made history this week by earning the first LEED certification of an existing building belonging to a major hotel brand. With its Silver LEED certification, W San Francisco becomes only the seventh hotel in the United States to receive the recognition for an existing building. Stringent criteria for an existing building certification measure “operations, improvements and maintenance on a consistent scale, with the goal of maximizing operational efficiency while minimizing environmental impacts,” according to the U.S. Green Building Council, which administers the LEED program. “For our guests, the green experience at W San Francisco...

Marriott Headquarters Earns LEED Existing Building Gold Status

BETHEDA, MD.—Marriott International headquarters has been awarded the gold medal for green buildings. After a three-year effort to become more sustainable and environmentally-friendly, the 30-year-old building is celebrating its LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Existing Building Gold status—an investment that is saving the company $700,000 annually and that will result in up to $1.3 million in expected tax credits over three years. This achievement moves the company closer to the goal announced last fall to expand its green building portfolio to approximately 300 properties in five years, the broadest commitment of its kind in the industry. Today,...

GleenGlass Completes Recycled Glass Vanities for The Oxford Hotel

PORTLAND, ORE.—GleenGlass LLC, a manufacturer of recycled glass surfaces, recently completed recycled glass bathroom vanities and reception counters for The Oxford Hotel in Bend, Ore. Inspired by the cosmopolitan mountain town of Bend, The Oxford Hotel was designed and built to incorporate local, environmentally friendly products that reflect the ambience of the Cascade Mountains and Central Oregon region. GleenGlass was selected to create handcrafted recycled glass vanities that would capture the look and feel of a high desert river. “The goal of The Oxford Hotel’s vanity design was to provide a surface that was clear and would have enough...

Cali Bamboo Introduces Bamboo Dimensional Lumber

SAN DIEGO—Cali Bamboo, a premier manufacturer of green building materials for residential and commercial projects made entirely from bamboo, announced it will offer the world’s first bamboo dimensional lumber, Lumboo. The newly engineered offering replaces traditional lumber and provides customers with products that possess greater strength, density, sustainability and termite resistance while also being a cost effective option. “Lumboo has been in the works for more than five years, and we’re excited to offer customers an affordable and environmentally-friendly choice,” said Tanner Haigwood, COO and vice president of Cali Bamboo. “Not only is it made from 100 percent compressed bamboo,...

Luxury Fairmont Pittsburgh Opens, Aims for LEED Gold

PITTSBURGH—Fairmont Hotels & Resorts announced the opening of the Fairmont Pittsburgh, the city’s first premier luxury hotel. Featuring 185 guestrooms, 12,000 square feet of event space and a 6,000 square-foot health club, Fairmont Pittsburgh has made its home at Three PNC Plaza, one of the largest mixed-use buildings to be certified by the United States Green Building Council in accordance with its LEED rating system. Later this year, Fairmont Pittsburgh expects to receive LEED certification at a Gold level, which complements the company’s industry leading Green Partnership, a program focused on operational sustainability and responsible tourism practices. Guestrooms...

HD Green Day Conference to Return to Las Vegas on May 18

LAS VEGAS—Considered the only conference dedicated solely to sustainable hospitality design, Hospitality Design Green Day (HD Green Day) will be presented by Hospitality Design (HD) magazine at the Sands Expo & Convention Center and Venetian Conference Center in Las Vegas on Tuesday, May 18, 2010. HD Green Day is the industry’s leading event focused on idea exchange, education and trends related to sustainable design and operations. Co-located with Hospitality Design Exposition & Conference (HD Expo), the event will take place from noon to 4:15 p.m. “HD Green Day provides a unique opportunity to connect with the companies and individuals who...