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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.

Organic Mattresses, Inc. Introduces OrganicPedic Line to Industry

YUBA CITY, CALIF.—Organic Mattresses, Inc. (OMI), is now making its OrganicPedic line available to green hotels and B&Bs. “In the environmentally-conscious lodging industry, businesses now have an opportunity to share (and sell) environmentally safer products together with their comfortable surroundings,” says Walter Bader, co-founder of OMI. “Green lodging is about the sustainable, eco-friendly practices and products that enhance a guest’s stay. Shouldn’t that philosophy extend to the mattresses as well?” The opportunity to include organic mattresses in green lodging operations is often overlooked, and represents a huge potential profit center. Plus, ecologically aware travelers appreciate knowing about the extra purity...

Serious Materials Receives Award for EcoRock Green Drywall

SUNNYVALE, CALIF.—Serious Materials announced that its EcoRock green drywall has been named the grand award winner for the green tech category in Popular Science’s Best of What’s New. The company adds this award to its growing list of honors including: voted No. 1 at Cleantech Venture Forum XII, Global Gypsum Product of the Year 2008, and winner of the first Aspen Institute award for innovation in Energy Conservation. Serious Materials has also been recognized by TIME/CNN, Fortune, Business Week, GreenTech Media and Red Herring as one of the most promising green technology companies. EcoRock is used like standard gypsum drywall,...

USGBC Awards LEED Platinum to Los Angeles’ Center for Community Forestry

LOS ANGELES—The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) awarded its highest level of recognition, LEED Platinum certification, to the Conference Center at the newly re-opened TreePeople Center for Community Forestry. TreePeople, an environmental nonprofit, has served the Los Angeles region for 35 years with the goal of “helping nature heal our cities.” The state-of-the-art Conference Center provides a gathering place for local, national, and international leaders to create healthy, sustainable cities. The Conference Center is the focal point for the Center for Community Forestry, a four-acre environmental educational campus located in L.A.’s Coldwater Canyon Park. Furthering TreePeople’s mission to provide...

LEED-Pursuing Hotel Arista Opens in Naperville, Illinois

NAPERVILLE, ILL.—Hotel Arista has opened in Naperville, located 45 minutes from downtown Chicago. It is the city’s first luxury boutique hotel and is slated to receive LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. The property features 144 modern designed residential-style accommodations, as well as a signature restaurant, SugarToad. The restaurant is led by executive chef Jimmy Sneed. In Greece, a land known for its epic hospitality, Arista means “the best.” Hotel Arista, a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, delivers a luxury hotel experience with its customer centric and environmentally friendly practices. Hotel Arista’s 144 guestrooms are expansive, thoughtfully...

Carnegie Fabrics Introduces New Collection of Upholstery Textiles

NEW YORK—Carnegie, a leader in the field of textile design, has introduced Night Sky, a collection of high-performance barrier upholstery textiles. Night Sky is an anti-microbial, moisture- and odor-resistant finish that has been awarded Cradle to Cradle Silver certification by MBDC, the highest rating available for a finish. As with all Carnegie products, sustainability is an important factor; Night Sky is fabricated using Crypton Green, currently the most environmentally-responsible product of its kind in the market. Night Sky is made using a minimum of 50 percent recycled content and Crypton Green contains 90 percent less PFOAs and 20 ppb less...

Klaussner Home Furnishings Launches Contract Division

ASHEBORO, N.C.—Industry giant Klaussner Home Furnishings is launching a contract division with a focus on hospitality. The new division, Klaussner Contract Furnishings, will offer a full range of quality contract upholstery products, including sofas, loveseats, chairs, sleepers, sectionals, chaises and ottomans. An extensive network of coast-to-coast manufacturing and distribution facilities will ensure quality service. Ron Werner, the recently appointed director of contract furnishings, will lead the division and spearhead the company’s sales initiative in the hospitality industry. “Our new division will specialize in not only a full catalog of standard seating but also made-to-order, designer-specified, upholstered seating that upholds the high...

Pillow Maker Hollander Commits to Zero-Waste Goal

BOCA RATON, FLA.—Hollander Home Fashions announced it will commit to an ambitious zero-waste goal for its manufacturing operations by 2010. The nation’s largest pillow manufacturer is the first company of its size in the home fashions industry to make such a bold commitment to environmental sustainability. “A lot of companies are trying to be greener,” says CEO Jeff Hollander. “We are thinking more in terms of true sustainability. What we are doing is integrating a new way of thinking into our entire operation. Over the past 18 months, the company has engaged employees and experts to develop a holistic program...

East Teak Fine Hardwoods Launches New Website

DALLAS—East Teak Fine Hardwoods, Inc., an industry leader in First European Quality teak and other fine exotic hardwood products, announces the launch of a new website dedicated to its eco-friendly line of hardwood products: www.CertifiedHardwoods.com. East Teak will highlight its current stock of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified, 100 percent post-consumer recycled teak and rosewood, its new stock of FSC-certified ipe and tigerwood, as well as future hardwood species and products carrying a third-party certification. The creation of the new website is the result of the high demand from those looking for more sustainable timber because of concerns about the...

USGBC Reaffirms Commitment to Developing Green Building Code

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) reaffirmed its commitment to the development of Standard 189.1 P, which will be America’s first National Standard developed to be used as a green building code when completed. Created specifically for adoption by states, localities, and other building code jurisdictions that are ready to require a minimum level of green building performance for all commercial buildings, Standard 189.1 P is being developed as an ANSI standard under ASHRAE’s leadership, in partnership with USGBC and IESNA. “As green building goes mainstream, government leaders are asking for tools that set minimum standards for green building,”...

Valley Forge Fabrics One of Three Finalists in Sage Award Competition

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.—Valley Forge Fabrics is one of three finalists in the inaugural Sage Award Competition announced by The American Home Furnishings Alliance (AHFA) and Cargill BiOH Polyols. The award program was launched to recognize environmental accomplishments within the home furnishings and bedding industries. The other two finalists are Cisco Brothers and Hickory Chair. “A sage is someone who is widely respected for wisdom, experience and judgment,” says AHFA CEO Andy Counts. “This award was created by AHFA and Cargill BiOH polyols to seek out, discover and recognize true industry innovators from whom all of us can learn.” Valley Forge Fabrics,...