UNITY VILLAGE, MO.—The Unity Village Hotel and Conference Center, opened January 2007, recently received LEED Silver certification from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). The hotel is the first lodging property in the Midwest to receive LEED certification and the sixth in the United States. LEED stands for “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.” LEED-certified buildings conserve natural resources, reduce operating costs and foster healthier and more productive occupants. “Unity sought LEED certification for the Unity Village Hotel and Conference Center to reflect our deep concern for the environment as well as the well-being and comfort of our guests,”...

PITTSBURGH—Pittsburgh Paints is launching a new line of paints and hues. The EcoEcho color palettes, part of Pittsburgh Paints’ The Voice of Color program, are designed to echo the growing interest in the ecological/environmental movement. Eco-consciousness is being broadcast from every angle—spanning fashion, home decor, automobile design, even food trends, according to Josette Buisson, artistic director of Pittsburgh Paints. “From paint to cosmetics, jeans to kitchen flooring, our preference for greener options makes a statement about who we are, and our new way of life,” Buisson says. The following are the company’s descriptions of the four emerging color trends within EcoEcho for...

THE BAHAMAS—There have been many changes in the few years since “travel” and “sustainable” first appeared in the same sentence. Emerging technologies coupled with mounting consumer demand have given us green travel options from luxury ecolodges (that have a negligible impact on their ecosystems) to carbon-neutral resorts, tours and airlines. A new leader in this green revolution is Star Island, a private-island destination currently under development in the Out Islands of the Bahamas. When it opens its doors in late 2009, its mix of high-luxury and high-sustainability could be the talk of the travel industry and the inspiration for...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Autodesk, Inc. and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) recently announced the results of the 2007 Autodesk/AIA Green Index, an annual survey that measures how AIA member architects in the United States are practicing sustainable design, as well as their opinions about the green building movement. The index shows that green building has taken a firm hold on the industry and has captured the attention of both architects and their clients. The 2007 Autodesk/AIA Green Index survey reports 70 percent of architects say client demand is the leading driver of green building and that the primary reason these owners...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes the Twig Factory as a Green Product & Service Directory sponsor. The Twig Factory offers a unique selection of willow and birch furniture. Included in the Twig Factory collection are tables and desks, chairs and loveseats, beds and night stands, end tables, baskets and birdhouses, plant stands and signs, picture frames, and arbors and ladders. The Twig Factory is based in Fairfield, Iowa. Call (800) 918-6184, e-mail info@twigfactory.com, or go to www.twigfactory.com.

SAN DIEGO—Cali Bamboo has added paneling and wainscoting to its extensive line of environmentally friendly bamboo products. Also new from Cali Bamboo are marbled flooring and plywood, and all-natural bamboo candles. Cali Bamboo paneling is a simple and affordable solution to covering walls, ceilings, bars and wainscoting. Constructed by securing uniform bamboo slats to a thin mesh fabric, bamboo panels add a rustic sense of nature to any decor or theme. The panels come in a variety of colors and patterns. The panels can be attached to surfaces using standard adhesive products or a brad nailer. Cali Bamboo paneling products are...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—A newly incorporated entity, the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI), has been established with the support of the U.S. Green Building Council to develop and administer credentialing programs related to green building practice and standards. “Credentialing programs support the application of proven strategies for increasing and measuring the performance of buildings and communities as defined by industry systems such as the LEED Green Building Rating Systems,” said Peter Templeton, Vice President of Education & Research, U.S. Green Building Council. GBCI will ensure that the LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP) program will continue to be developed in accordance with best practices...

CHICAGO—In a presentation at Greenbuild earlier this month, Destiny USA founder and chairman Robert J. Congel introduced the initial design of a hotel and conference facility that will be the next phase of the Destiny USA project in Syracuse, New York. The hotel, which will feature more than 1,300 rooms, is being designed to LEED Platinum standards and will serve as a showcase for sustainability. “Five years ago, Destiny USA was still learning what it takes to build a living laboratory for environmental stewardship, renewable energy and innovation,” Congel said. “Fortunately, we were ahead of the curve. Today we are...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes The Turkish Towel Co., Peabody, Mass., as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. The Turkish Towel Co. offers plush, luxurious certified-organic towels and bathrobes. Visit the company’s site at www.turktowel.com to see its entire line of soft, 100 percent ring-spun Turkish cotton towels. Call (866) 631-1676, e-mail delgart@turktowel.com, or go to The Turkish Towel Co. for information.

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Kustom Options Inc. as a Green Product & Service Directory sponsor. Window films from Murrieta, Calif.-based Kustom Options help owners earn LEED points while reducing heating and cooling costs, enhancing views, and creating comfort zones. Kustom Options offers only the industry’s highest quality products; ceramic and metal-based products lead the way to comfort, quality and protection. Solar control, security, anti-graffiti, and decorative films are available. Call (866) 564-8468, e-mail kustomoptions@verizon.net, or go to www.kustomoptions.com.