GAINESVILLE, FLA.—The National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) “Your Role in the Green Environment” curriculum has been approved by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) for 15 hours of continuing education under the Green Building Certification Institute’s (GBCI) Credentialing Maintenance Program. Under the new Credentialing Maintenance program, LEED Accredited Professionals (APs) must earn 30 continuing (CE) education hours every two years and LEED Green Associates must earn 15 (CE) hours every two years to maintain their LEED credentials. “We are very excited about having our green training program approved by USGBC to support maintenance of LEED credentials,” said...

MADISON, WIS.—Quarra Stone, the Madison, Wis.-based company that supplies and fabricates natural stone for signature architectural and restoration projects throughout the country, has launched a comprehensive database that identifies dimensional stone quarries throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. The database is designed to enable architects who are specifying natural stone in their projects to earn points towards LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. Current guidelines call for the award of one point towards LEED certification for builders who use dimensional stone that is quarried within 500 miles of construction. “The use of natural stone in buildings is...

SHEFFIELD, MASS.—Cypress Bath, Bed & Spa, a leading designer and manufacturer of luxury bathrobes, towels, slippers, and sheets for the global hospitality and spa industries, announced the appointment of Neil Rastogi to the position of vice president of business development. Among other executive leadership responsibilities, his primary role will be to grow the U.S. market for environmentally-friendly linens, and achieve a larger market share for Cypress’ consumer and hospitality product lines. Rastogi brings a lifetime of textile experience to Cypress, having grown up working in a family-run mill in India and working for textile companies worldwide since graduating from the...

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.—Valley Forge Fabrics, Inc., a leader in sustainable textiles for hospitality, announced the results of a 360 Degree Green Audit of the company conducted by MindClick SGM. Valley Forge, already known for its award winning FRESH fabric collections—including LIVING FRESH Bedding with Tencel+Plus Lyocell—looked to MindClick SGM for the next step in their sustainability evolution. Valley Forge Fabrics, recognizing customer demand for sustainable products, sought to further improve its service by establishing transparent, ongoing sustainability performance measurement. Going beyond the limitations of traditional sustainability evaluations which measure energy, water and waste only, Valley Forge Fabrics turned to MindClick...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Drafters of the International Code Council’s International Green Construction Code (IGCC) are nearing completion of the first-ever integrated green code for traditional and high-performance commercial buildings, set for a public release in March. “This will be the first time code officials, owners and designers will have an integrated regulatory framework to put into practice that meets the goal of greening the construction and design of new and existing buildings,” according to Code Council CEO Richard P. Weiland. “Only a code that is useable, enforceable and adoptable will have the capability of impacting our built environment in dramatic ways.” The IGCC...

LINTHICUM, MD.—TownePlace Suites by Marriott at Baltimore BWI Airport will receive LEED Existing Building Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), making the hotel the first property at BWI Airport to have that distinction. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification is an internationally recognized green building certification system, providing third-party verification that a building was designed and operated to provide enhanced energy savings, water efficiency, emissions reduction and overall environmental quality. LEED certification is available for existing buildings that have been retrofitted to comply with USGBC standards and those newly constructed. The TownePlace Suites property,...

DALLAS—Matt Mladenka, director of marketing and sales for East Teak Fine Hardwoods, Inc., recently passed the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Associate accreditation exam. The accreditation will help Mladenka—who is the first person on East Teak’s staff to earn the credential—to consult with architects, designers and contractors in applying potential LEED credits. “As sustainable practices become increasingly important in the construction industry, it is imperative that our staff is knowledgeable not only about our green product line, but green building practices in general,” Mladenka said. “The ability to discuss the entire building process,...

SHELTON, CONN.—Jekyll Island, Ga., has its first new hotel in 35 years with the grand opening of the new Hampton Inn and Suites, announced New Castle Hotels & Resorts, which will manage the property on behalf of co-owners Jekyll Ocean Oaks, LLC, an affiliate of the ownership group of the Jekyll Island Club Hotel. In its building design and operation, the new hotel is focused on sustainability to compliment the island’s environment and is among the greenest hotels in New Castle’s portfolio, having used many recycled materials during construction, underscoring the property owner’s commitment to green business and building practices....

ALBUQUERQUE—American Clay Enterprises has introduced an addition to its line of natural, sustainable and healthy plasters for interior walls and ceilings. The product is lime putty. It can be used for gauging, or adding to, American Clay’s Earth Plasters and also mixed to make limewash. One primary element that makes American Clay lime products uniquely more sustainable—and LEED friendly—than most lime putty used in the United States is that the lime is U.S. sourced. The lime putty was previewed at Greenbuild International Expo in November in Phoenix. American Clay has long wanted a U.S.-made Lime Putty to augment the breadth...

PITTSBURGH—Pittsburgh’s eagerly anticipated premier luxury hotel, Fairmont Pittsburgh, is set to open March 29, 2010. The new hotel will feature 185 guestrooms, 12,000 square feet of event space, and a 6,000-square-foot health club, as well as a full-service restaurant, Habitat, and its feature bar, “Andys.” The new Fairmont makes its home at Three PNC Plaza, the largest high rise construction project in the city of Pittsburgh in the last 20 years, and one of the largest mixed-use buildings to be certified by the United States Green Building Council in accordance with its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating...