SPRINGDALE, ARK.—MoistureShield composite decking products from Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies (A.E.R.T.) are now verified with 95 percent total recycled content—up from the 90 percent total recycled content previously listed in company literature. A report issued by the International Code Council Evaluation Service (ICC-ES) provides independent verification of 57 percent pre-consumer recycled content and 38 percent post-consumer recycled content. The report also gives design and building professionals a fast and easy way to see how MoistureShield composite decking can help contribute towards rating points under leading green building programs. “Composite decking brands vary greatly in their amount of recycled content,” says...

GREENVILLE, MAINE—A new green destination for outdoor recreation in Maine’s 100-Mile Wilderness region is now available to the public with the official opening of the Appalachian Mountain Club’s (AMC) Gorman Chairback Lodge and Cabins, on Long Pond, between Greenville and Brownville. The new central lodge building is Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) registered, making it the first sporting camp lodge in Maine, and one of only a handful of backcountry facilities in the nation, to be LEED registered. Overseen by the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED provides a nationally recognized set of industry standards for evaluation and certification...

SAN FRANCISCO—Smith & Fong Co. announced the company has launched a new range of sugar-palm plywood, wall paneling and flooring products. Joining the company’s line of Durapalm coconut palm plywood, flooring, veneers and panels, Smith & Fong’s new Deco palm products feature an almost three-dimensional appearance. “The new Deco palm design is an assemblage of the full range of textures and rich colors inherent to this species of palm,” company founder and president Dan Smith said. “The Deco wall panel product is actually three-dimensional, as the surface is constructed of varying thicknesses of material. Our flooring and plywood sheet products...

ATLANTA—An integrated design approach to building energy modeling—and learning how to use modeling tools more effectively—improves the accuracy and reliability of simulation results and increases the return on time and resources invested to generate the models. ASHRAE’s Energy Modeling Conference: Tools for Designing High Performance Buildings, April 4 to 6, 2011, ASHRAE headquarters, Atlanta, will provide hands-on modelers and principals with the information to better harness the power of energy modeling tools. The conference covers modeling fundamentals, building component contributions, software demonstrations and case studies. A collaborative perspective is provided that demonstrates how energy models and computer simulations can...

SAN FRANCISCO—InterContinental San Francisco announced that it has been awarded LEED Gold certification under the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance (LEED EBOM) program. LEED is USGBC’s rating system for designing, constructing and maintaining the world’s greenest, most energy efficient and high performing buildings. InterContinental San Francisco is the first property in the InterContinental Hotels & Resorts portfolio to achieve LEED certification for an existing building. To achieve LEED EBOM, InterContinental San Francisco was evaluated on operational efficiency and minimization of environmental impact. To date, it is the largest...

FLORHAM PARK, N.J.—BASF announced the launch of its SELECT (Sustainability, Eco-Labeling and Environmental Certification Tracking) Eco-Label Manager, a database created to strategically manage the abundance of eco-labels, environmental claims, directories and ratings systems by allowing the user to search, analyze and compare these programs in a structured and consistent format. “The demand for environmentally preferable products is rapidly evolving and influencing purchasing decisions along entire supply chains,” said Pat Meyer, senior product steward and program leader at BASF. “These purchasing requirements have spawned hundreds of eco-labels and programs from the federal government, large retailers, trade associations and third-party organizations, leading...

ASHLAND, OHIO—A 160-acre parcel located just southwest of Ashland, Ohio could soon be the home of the United States’ greenest retreat center. Developer Wendy Kertesz says she hopes to break ground this summer on Windy Retreat Center, a 25,000-square-foot, 16-guestroom facility that will include two indoor conference rooms, one outdoor conference space, three classrooms, great room, dining room, commercial kitchen, fitness center and conservatory. The goal is to open the center by late 2012. Constructed in part using straw bales, Windy Retreat Center will pursue at least Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification and Passive House...

FAIRFAX, VA.—Concord Eastridge Inc. announced that The Mason Inn Conference Center and Hotel has been awarded LEED Gold established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). “As Mason works to achieve ambitious sustainability goals, a LEED Gold certified conference center and hotel makes a strong statement about how serious we are in these efforts,” said Christine LaPaille, vice president for University Relations at the property. “We believe there is significant appeal among businesses and organizations with similar sustainability commitments to bring their meetings and conferences to a green building like...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—To address the challenges of green design in the hospitality industry, RTKL recently completed participation in a year-long working committee facilitated by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The committee, formally known as the Hospitality Adaptations Working Group, was charged with developing sustainable design guidelines specifically tailored for lodging, food and beverage, and conferencing facilities. RTKL principal Laura Galbreath AIA, LEED AP, the sole architect to serve on the committee, is optimistic that the new guidelines will encourage more hotel developers and operators to enhance their sustainability goals in accordance with USGBC standards. “While most clients are interested in sustainable...

PLYMOUTH, MINN.—Advance now offers battery and electric burnishers that meet requirements for sustainable cleaning equipment specified by the Leadership for Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance Rating System (LEED-EBOM). Advance burnishers that meet requirements for contributing points to LEED-EBOM certification include the Advance Advolution 20BT battery burnisher and the Advance Advolution 20XP electric burnisher. The Advolution 20BT and Advolution 20XP burnishers are both available with active dust control and operate at sound levels of less than 70 dBA, which are requirements under the LEED-EBOM program. Burnishers with active dust control include a shroud and vacuum system...