NATIONAL REPORT—“Green leather.” An oxymoron? Or, a viable option for designers interested in specifying environmentally friendly materials? The more one digs into the history of leather and its processing, the more one can be alarmed by its environmental impact—from the growing of grain, to the slaughter of animals, to the processing of hides. Yet, in recent years many leather suppliers have done a better job offering lines of leather that have less environmental impact than ones traditionally sold. That is good news for designers interested in using leather for furniture, walls, floors and other design aspects of a hotel...

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.—Valley Forge Fabrics will debut the newest FRESH innovation, Tencel+Plus Lyocell Eucalyptus Upholstery, during the Hospitality & Design Expo in Las Vegas, May 18 to 20, 2011. This natural fiber has been engineered for the rigors of hospitality upholstery use and is the latest textile to compliment the company’s extensive sustainable fabric collection called FRESH. Valley Forge Fabrics, a leader in sustainable textiles, launched its FRESH initiative more than five years ago. FRESH is an acronym for Fabrics Redefining Environmental Standards for Hospitality. Tencel+Plus Lyocell products are the only certified textiles from Eucalyptus verified by Lenzing Fibers for...

SYRACUSE, N.Y.—America’s newest, environmentally sustainable hotel is now open near the campus of Syracuse University. Hotel Skyler is only the third hotel in the United States to seek Platinum certification in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) from the U.S. Green Building Council. The Woodbine Group, owners of the Genessee Grande and Parkview hotels, renovated the former Temple Adath Yeshurun building—constructed in 1921—to create a one-of-a-kind 58-room boutique hotel. Hotel Skyler features some of the most advanced green design elements of any hotel in the United States. The building is heated and cooled with a geothermal heat pump, just...

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), which serves as the purchasing arm of the U.S. government and oversees more than $60 billion in purchased goods and services annually, now requires Gold Level certification to NSF/ANSI 140 Sustainability Assessment for Carpet for all broadloom (wall-to-wall) carpet and carpet tile purchased through the GSA. Current GSA carpet suppliers have until January 1, 2012, to certify their products to NSF/ANSI 140 Gold Level in order for their carpets to be considered for purchase through the GSA. NSF International, an independent organization committed to protecting human health and the environment,...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.—The Hotel Andaluz announced that it has been awarded LEED Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council 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. The hotel is the only historic property to be certified LEED Gold in the Southwest and the second in the United States. “The Hotel underwent a $30 million dollar renovation in 2009 with an eye on sustainability,” explained Gary Goodman, owner of Hotel Andaluz. “At the top of our priority list was long-term sustainability and...

DALLAS—The Omni Dallas Hotel, located in the heart of downtown Dallas, has outlined its sustainability plan which will lead to the property’s LEED Silver New Construction (NC) certification upon opening. The plan includes use of recycled and regionally-sourced materials, reduced construction pollution and water conservation initiatives. “Earning the LEED Silver New Construction status will be a tremendous accomplishment—one made possible by the tremendous efforts of the City, Matthews Southwest, Balfour/Russell/Pegasus, 5Gstudio_collaborative, BOKA Powell, Vivian-Nichols Associates and every team member who has a hand in keeping the project focused on sustainability,” said Nils Stolzlechner, general manager of the Omni Dallas Hotel....

SANTA ANA, CALIF.—Behr Process Corp., a provider of paint and coatings, announced that two of its paint lines now meet guidelines set forth by the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI) as part of the institute’s Indoor Air Quality and Children & School Certification programs. Behr’s recently certified products include all Behr Premium Plus and Premium Plus Ultra interior paints, including Behr Premium Plus interior/exterior high gloss series. The GREENGUARD Certified products meet strict chemical emission limits to help create healthier indoor-living environments. “Behr is proud to offer high-quality, environmentally-safe professional products,” said Joe Richardson, senior vice president of professional products and...

LAS VEGAS—The speaker lineup has been finalized for Green Day on May 17, an event held one day prior to the beginning of the 2011 Hospitality Design Exposition & Conference (The HD Expo). Both Green Day and The HD Expo are presented by Hospitality Design magazine and produced by the Hospitality Design Group and will take place at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas. Green Day will begin with a luncheon at which the winner of the NEWH Sustainable Hospitality Student Design Competition— Jamie Matthews Ivey, LEED AP—will be announced. The two winners of the Earth Minded...

NEW YORK—Toray International America, Inc., makers of Ultrasuede Ambiance and Torale Luxe, will exhibit at HDExpo 2011 in Las Vegas, May 18 to 20. The branded Ultrasuede and Torale upholstery covers offer eco-friendly solutions to specifiers of hospitality and design furnishings and installations. In 2009, Toray debuted EcoDesign, an environmentally responsible line of products based on innovative recycling technology, or PET chemical recycling. The new technology results in reduced energy consumption and CO2 emissions by a minimum average of 80 percent. EcoDesign captures industrial materials, such as scrap polyester films, from the Toray manufacturing processes and recycles them for use...

TORONTO—Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, an industry leader on environmental sustainability and responsible tourism for more than two decades through its Green Partnership Program, announced that it will further its commitment to greening with the introduction of a new Sustainable Design Policy. Establishing a formalized, worldwide policy, which addresses highly recognized environmental certifications such as the United States Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for new development projects and renovation programs, also supports the brand’s larger pledge to reduce operational CO2 emissions as a member of World Wildlife Fund’s Climate Savers program. “When it comes to greening...