VANCOUVER, WASH.—The 226-room Hilton Vancouver, Washington, will know later this summer if it will become one of the United States’ first hotels to obtain Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. LEED is a building rating system established by the U.S. Green Building Council, Washington, D.C. The hotel, which is owned by the city of Vancouver, is managed by Beverly Hills, Calif.-based Hilton Hotels Corp. It was designed by Portland, Ore.-based Fletcher Farr Ayotte (FFA). The design incorporates myriad sustainable design strategies, including sensors that adjust the climate control systems when rooms and hallways are vacant,...

GUILFORD, MAINE—Interface Fabrics, a leader in textile manufacturing, announces that its Terratex family of environmental textiles will now be available to meet a growing need for green products in the hospitality market. Introduced in 1996, Terratex has deeply penetrated the corporate market with its branded family of environmental textiles. Terratex fabrics are made from 100 percent recycled and/or renewable materials and are sold through jobbers, furniture manufacturers and re-manufacturers in the commercial interiors industry. “Hotels and resorts, feeling an increased corporate responsibility to preserve the beautiful places in which they are located, are also realizing that sustainable practices...

BOSTON—Green is rapidly becoming a necessity as companies as diverse as Bank of America, Genzyme, Goldman Sachs, IBM, and Toyota are now pushing green buildings fully into the mainstream, according to “Building the Green Way” by Charles Lockwood. This article in the June 2006 issue of the Harvard Business Review makes the case for green and cites the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) and its LEED Green Building Rating System. The article examines the national energy crisis, and raises a looming threat to commercial real estate portfolios. The Green Tipping Point Before 2000, companies generally regarded green...

LOS ANGELES—McGraw-Hill Construction has launched a new magazine dedicated to the growing market for environmentally responsible green buildings. “GreenSource, The Magazine of Sustainable Design” will present news, features, case studies of important projects, and green product information to more than 40,000 architects, interior designers, building owners, and members of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). McGraw-Hill Construction editors will collaborate on GreenSource and the related Web site with editors from BuildingGreen Inc.—an information company that provides green product information and policy analysis for building industry professionals and policy makers. BuildingGreen editors will assist with editorial content, green product...

EASTHAMPTON, MASS.—Treefrog Veneer has introduced seven new real wood veneer laminates for 2006, including horizontal cross-grains, popular verticals and on-the-cusp teaks. The new horizontal finishes—Asian Cherry and Tahoe Birch—plus five vertical and figured finishes, (Silver Ash, Teak & Ebony Sabbiata, Green Willow and Palmwood) represent Treefrog’s commitment to offering designers real wood veneers. “Asian and natural influences abound,” says Treefrog creative director Geoff Schaefer. Treefrog Veneer offers a complete selection of 35 real wood veneer laminates, in traditional wood grains, birdseyes, burls and exotics. Treefrog features composite wood technology, a unique manufacturing process that, utilizing Italian...

NATIONAL REPORT—One of the most extensive and comprehensive studies to date, an analysis by the California Sustainable Building Task Force released in October 2003, found that “a minimal upfront investment of about 2 percent of design and construction costs to integrate green or sustainable building practices into a facility typically yields life cycle savings of more than 10 times the initial investment.” The study indicated, for example, that an initial investment of approximately $100,000 to incorporate green and sustainable building upgrades into a $5 million facility would result in a savings of at least $1 million over the...

GUILFORD, ME.—Interface Fabrics, a textile manufacturer, introduced its first open line collection of Terratex fabrics designed specifically for the hospitality market at the HD Expo, April 27-29, in Las Vegas. Terratex, introduced in 1996, is a family of environmentally friendly textiles made from 100 percent recycled and/or renewable materials using state-of-the-art technology to reduce waste and emissions and to conserve valuable resources such as energy and water. Sizeable financial paybacks resulting from environmental conservation initiatives have recently motivated numerous companies in the hotel and lodging industry to look even deeper to see endless potential in the emerging green...

ONTARIO, CALIF.—Met-Tile Inc. has become an Energy Star partner for its metal tile panel roofing system, which combines the popular look of tile with the high performance of metal. The new “cool roof” Met-Tile line combines all-weather performance and aesthetics with energy savings. The updated roofing line features a Super Series 4800 Super Cool architectural coating system in 10 designer colors. Manufactured by Specialty Finishes Co. (Fontana, Calif.), these coatings have solar reflectivity values ranging from 26 percent up to more than 67 percent, meeting and in some cases greatly exceeding Energy Star requirements. (For every 5 percent...