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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.

Choice Modifying New Construction Prototypes to Support LEED Criteria

SILVER SPRING, MD.—With its 10 brands and more than 5,000 hotels open or under development, Choice Hotels International, Inc. is one of the largest hotel franchisors on the planet. As committed as it has been to global growth, Choice has historically not taken the kinds of aggressive environmental stances that some of its competitors have taken. Granted, Choice did convert its Comfort Suites brand to a 100 percent nonsmoking one in 2007, but it has not announced any other major environment-related commitments. That is all beginning to change. As a franchisor, it is not so easy for Choice to mandate...

Starwood’s First ELEMENT Hotel Debuts in Lexington, Mass.

LEXINGTON, MASS.—Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. opened the eco-friendly doors of ELEMENT Lexington in Lexington, Mass. on July 1. ELEMENT is Starwood’s newest hotel concept and the first LEED-certified hotel chain in the country. ELEMENT Lexington is making its national debut, offering guests an entirely new extended stay experience that combines smart design, and nature-inspired and eco-friendly touches. Modern amenities range from complimentary WiFi to an international pantry stocked with everything from Korean kimchi soup to artisanal meats and cheeses. ELEMENT Lexington—the first ELEMENT hotel to open its doors to guests—will also serve as Starwood’s green trailblazer with...

Turtle Creek Casino Design Inspired by Northern Michigan Surroundings

WILLIAMSBURG, MICH.—The all new, 360,000-square-foot Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel near Traverse City, Mich., that opened June 17, 2008, is a modern architectural structure. It was designed to appeal to the senses as it evokes the natural environs with facilities and service that bring casino gaming in Northern Michigan to an entirely new level of convenience and comfort. The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians, who own and operate the new casino and hotel, financed $80 million to construct the unique facility. The tribe made a deliberate decision to create a striking modern design with many organic and...

NSF Announces First Gold Certification for Sustainable Resilient Flooring

ANN ARBOR, MICH.—NSF International announced that Mannington is the first floor covering company to be independently certified to NSF Draft Standard 332-2007 Gold Certification for commercial inlaid resilient flooring. The new NSF Draft Standard provides an effective means to evaluate the sustainability of floor coverings. As products with sustainability claims continue to inundate the market, NSF 332 provides end users with the most credible sustainability or “green” claim available in the marketplace—independent certification. This certification also allows consumers to make informed decisions when it comes to understanding and purchasing such products. Certification recognizes the Mannington brand as an environmentally preferable product...

Time Equities Boutique Project in NYC to Pursue LEED Gold

NEW YORK—New York-based developer Time Equities, Inc. hosted a groundbreaking event on June 23 to celebrate Lower Manhattan’s iconic hotel and residential skyscraper, 50 West Street. More than 100 guests, including politicians, community officials and project partners, joined Time Equities to break ground on the site of the 65-story tower. The green residence and boutique hotel, which anticipates LEED-Gold certification when completed, will include sustainable technologies such as a green roof, water-efficient plumbing fixtures, automated blinds, and energy control systems. Demolition waste will be recycled, and the new construction materials will be sustainable and rapidly renewable. Both hotel...

Report Takes Look at Costs Related to Pursuit of LEED for Existing Buildings

MADISON, WIS.— The majority of measures associated with gaining LEED-Existing Building status include low or no costs, according to a survey of LEED-EB owners and managers. In “The Economics of LEED for Existing Buildings for Individual Buildings,” the nonprofit Leonardo Academy looks at the costs of implementing LEED-EB and how operating costs compare to other buildings. The Academy sent surveys to all LEED-EB buildings, 53 at the time of the survey, and received 23 responses. Building owners and operators were asked to identify which LEED-EB measures were low/no cost actions and which had significant costs. More than 70 percent of measures...

Eve’s Garden Organic B&B Pays Special Attention to Waste Recycling

MARATHON, TEXAS—Newspapers guests read at the Eve’s Garden Organic Bed & Breakfast and Ecology Resource Center will definitely get recycled. In fact, they may even end up in a wall or one of the many domed structures at the five-room inn here in Marathon, Texas. The owners—Kate Thayer and Clyde Curry—don’t like to waste anything. Bottles and cans are recycled, kitchen and yard waste are composted, and energy is saved when sheets and towels are hung out to dry on a clothesline. When you put the words “organic” and “ecology” in your inn’s name, you are expected to deliver and...

Mammoth Mountain Ski Area Unveils LEED-Registered Building

MAMMOTH LAKES, CALIF.—In celebration of continued commitment to the environment, Mammoth Mountain Ski Area (MMSA) has announced the completion of the first registered Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building in the Town of Mammoth Lakes. The deluxe 1,336-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bath cabin at Tamarack Lodge sets a precedent for environmentally friendly building practices in the area and will be available for vacation rentals beginning in July. “Constructing the Tamarack cabin to LEED standards is one of many important steps that Mammoth Mountain is taking to fulfill our commitment to the environment,” said Rusty Gregory, CEO, Mammoth Mountain. “The completion...

Green Roofs 101: Understanding the Basics & Benefits

NATIONAL REPORT—Hotels are emerging as leaders in the Green movement. Many are now building more environmentally responsible properties and are even seeking LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. For instance, the soon-to-open Hilton Baltimore Convention Center Hotel will incorporate a number of energy- and water-conservation systems as well as several sustainable operating practices. And when construction is completed in August, the 750-room, $301 million hotel beside the Baltimore Convention Center will contain the area’s largest green roof—32,000 square feet, to be exact. So what does that mean? The Hilton Hotel’s gigantic roof is expected to reap big benefits for...

GLN Adds The Natural Mattress Store as Directory Partner

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes The Natural Mattress Store as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. The Natural Mattress Store offers a large selection of organic mattresses and manufactures the Eco-Cloud brand of healthy, durable and comfortable mattresses using organic cotton, organic wool and 100 percent natural latex. The Natural Mattress Store also carries 100 percent natural latex pillows, organic wool pillows and wool mattress toppers from Holy Lamb Organics, and organic millet pillows and organic buckwheat pillows from Serenity Pillows. For additional information, call (877) 628-6288, e-mail sales@thenaturalmattressstore.com, or go to...