CROSSVILLE, TENN.—Crossville, Inc. announced that it has become the first tile manufacturer in the United States to achieve certification of its waste recycling programs through Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), an independent, third-party certifier of recycled claims. Crossville has joined with TOTO, the world’s largest manufacturer of sustainable, luxury plumbing products, to recycle that company’s pre-consumer fired sanitary ware. This material from TOTO has been recently certified by SCS as part of the EcoCycle Fired Waste Process, marking the latest development in Crossville’s EcoCycle Recycling Processes program. SCS has verified that through these recycling processes, Crossville annually recycles approximately 12 million...

SAN DIEGO—Cali Bamboo, a manufacturer of green building materials for residential and commercial projects made primarily from bamboo, launched its BamDeck Composite Bamboo Decking made from 100 percent recycled materials. With durability characteristics twice the density and strength of other decks, it’s the only decking product made from 30 percent recycled bamboo fibers and 70 percent recycled plastics. “We’re really excited about the launch of BamDeck Composite,” said Jeff Goldberg, CEO of Cali Bamboo. “Not only is it the ultimate green choice in outdoor decking, but it’s incredibly easy to install using the hidden fastening system. Another factor that residential...

SPOKANE, WASH.—Prestyl USA is launching a line of far-infrared Radiant Artwork heating panels—panels of customizable thin-film artworks that provide heat to any room in a residential or commercial setting. Prestyl’s heating panel products are based on a highly efficient and reliable French thin-film technology that has been used in aircraft, ships, trains, homes and public buildings overseas for nearly 16 years. But now Prestyl has successfully incorporated this film into ultra-thin panels, printed artworks and decorative ceiling modules. The Prestyl far-infrared technology does not heat the air; the energy is reflected by some surfaces and absorbed by others, thus creating...

AUSTIN, TEXAS—Manchester Texas Financial Group LLC announced a proposal for a 1035-room hotel adjacent to the Austin Convention Center that will pursue Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification. The project includes two restaurants, retail, and 115,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space. Manchester Financial Group LP of San Diego (the parent company), contributed the land for the San Diego Convention Center and built both the Manchester Grand Hyatt and The San Diego Marriott Marquis and Marina consisting of approximately 3,000 rooms. Douglas Manchester admires what he refers to as “Texas’ finest city” and believed in the...

SNOWMASS, COLO.—Viceroy Snowmass, which opened to rave reviews in late 2009, announced that it has been awarded LEED Gold certification, established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). LEED is the nation’s preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. Viceroy Snowmass is the first hotel in Aspen/Snowmass to be awarded LEED Gold as well as the first luxury hotel in Colorado to receive this prestigious designation. By incorporating sustainable design and construction, innovative operational practices, and a culture of environmental stewardship, Viceroy Snowmass aims to...

GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.—The Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (BIFMA) International has collaborated with NSF International, a leading ANSI-accredited developer of more than 75 American National standards, to develop Product Category Rules for the furniture industry. The National Center for Sustainability Standards (NCSS), founded by NSF, will serve as the Program Operator for developing the furniture Product Category Rules (PCR). Product Category Rules (PCR) help meet the growing demand for science-based support to verify environmental product claims and eliminate greenwashing. PCRs define how to conduct a life cycle assessment for a particular product group and what to include in the...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced that LEED Volume Program for Operations & Maintenance is now available for existing green building projects. The track, which focuses on operations and maintenance needs, debuted at the 2011 BOMA International Conference held in Washington, D.C. “With the launch of the Operations & Maintenance track, LEED’s largest users are now able to make a sizable impact in greening their existing building portfolio as well as achieving green design and construction of their new builds,” said Scot Horst, senior vice president, USGBC. “Because existing buildings make up the vast majority of the...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced the release of the comprehensively updated LEED Demand Response Pilot Credit. Originally launched in 2010, the revised and enhanced Demand Response Pilot Credit establishes guidelines that are anticipated to increase participation in automated demand response programs. Leading industry experts from the Demand Response Research Center at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab (LBNL), Schneider Electric and Skipping Stone contributed to the development of the credit. LEED projects that satisfy the credit by demonstrating their ability to shift energy consumption during peak events by 10 percent of peak load demand will earn a point towards...

OAKLAND, CALIF.—Móz Designs introduces a new concept in interior décor, Móz Blendz Tapestry “floating wall” surfaces for use as room dividers and decorative elements in hospitality and hotel venues. Móz “floating walls” are fabricated from the company’s Blendz Laminate Metals, which are available in .040 gauge aluminum. Standard sheet sizes include 4-foot by 8-foot and 4-foot by 10-foot with custom dimensions also offered. The laminate metals are typically installed on the floating walls prior to site installation. The Blendz Collection features a dramatic surface treatment with blended colors, offered in a range of palettes from warm earth tones to cool...

MIAMI—Up on the roof of the 16-story Hampton Inn & Suites, a 221-room hotel in the Brickell Financial District of downtown Miami, building developer Hospitality Operations, Inc. originally planned to install solar thermal panels for the purpose of heating hot water. A local hurricane ordinance will prohibit them from adding the system to their property that is scheduled to open September 15. Even without the panels, the hotel is set to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification, according to Howard Wolfson, vice president operations for Nashville-based Hospitality America, Inc., the company that will manage the...