PEORIA, ARIZ.—LG HI-MACS, a leader in premium acrylic solid surfacing, launched LG Eden, the industry’s first environmentally conscious acrylic product, in conjunction with Earth Day and the City of Chicago’s Going Green: Earth Month Kick-off. Like Chicago, one of the top U.S. cities for green building, LG HI-MACS is committed to raising awareness of the simple things—like transitioning to green building products—that individuals and businesses can do to help improve the environment. Highlights of Chicago’s Earth Month Kick-off included a speech by Mayor Richard Daley and a showcase of more than 25 organizations presenting a unique mix of...

LAS VEGAS—The HD 2007 Expo & Conference got off to a green start with the second annual Green Luncheon on Wednesday. The luncheon featured case study presentations by representatives of San Francisco-based design firm Gensler and by Larry Traxler, vice president architecture and design, Hyatt Hotels Corp. The three case studies included: Hyatt Regency Chicago, Lower Wacker Exhibit Hall and Riverfront Development; MGM Mirage City Center, Las Vegas; and Eagle Lodge Sky Resort, Mammoth, Calif. The Hyatt Regency Chicago is in the process of adding a zero-energy building addition to its Lower Wacker Exhibit Hall. Hyatt intends to...

ATLANTA—To reduce the building design industry’s impact on the environment, key leaders in that sector are collaborating to establish carbon-neutral buildings by the year 2030. The American Institute of Architects (AIA), the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), Architecture 2030, the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA), and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), supported by representatives of the U.S. Department of Energy, finalized an agreement of understanding, establishing a common starting point and a goal of net zero energy buildings. “This agreement allows the building design sector to move forward with...

WEST BLOOMFIELD, MICH.—In Crypton’s ongoing effort to provide cleaner, greener and better textiles to the marketplace, the company announced that going forward, all Crypton Fabrics, not just Crypton Green, will now be finished with its new, low-emitting, optimized formulations for stain, moisture, bacteria, and odor resistance. By June 2007, all fabrics processed at Crypton’s Kings Mountain facility will be using the same recalibrated chemistry that was developed for Crypton’s greenest product, Crypton Green. Crypton Green leads the company’s “Green” initiative, a combination of optimized chemistry and basecloth requirements. However, the company came to the conclusion that to be...

BUENA VISTA, COLO.—You can huff and you can puff but you will never be able to blow down the walls of the Las Manos Bed and Breakfast in Buena Vista, Colo. The walls are made of straw. Well, mostly. They are actually constructed from bales of straw and covered with concrete stucco. They are solid, fire proof, and have an energy efficient insulation value of R-50. The unique exterior wall structure is just one of the fascinating elements of the B&B set within view of Colorado’s majestic 14,000-foot peaks. The 2,600-square-foot home, which includes two large suites ranging from 600...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has announced that projects seeking certification under the LEED Green Building Rating System can now earn “Innovation in Design” points by using the Cradle to Cradle (C2C) program for certified building products, as well as products certified by other established systems. C2C assesses products on a number of criteria, such as the use of safe and healthy materials; design for material reuse and recycling; efficient use of energy and water throughout production; and instituting strategies for social responsibility. The C2C design paradigm was developed by William McDonough and Dr. Michael Braungart,...

NEW YORK—Greenhouse 26, the first green boutique hotel in New York City, will open at 132 W. 26th St. in Spring 2008. Blending first-class amenities with progressive environmental initiatives, Greenhouse 26 will apply for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold status, establishing that hotels of all sizes can be successfully green. Sustainability has been an integral part of the development and design process for developers Jack Ancona, who has been in the New York City real estate industry for over 50 years, and Flatiron Real Estate Advisors LLC. With the belief that outstanding design is inherently...

TUALATIN, ORE.—Hartmann & Forbes, fabricator of sustainable handcrafted window coverings, announces the launch of the ErtheWeave Collection, the company’s first line of textile window coverings. The European-inspired collection includes more than 70 natural textiles with more than one-third being handwoven. “Handcrafting natural textiles is the logical next step for Hartmann & Forbes,” says Michael Jones, Hartmann & Forbes’ founder and CEO. “We searched exhaustively throughout Europe for the finest natural materials and wove them into a collection that will provide designers with high-end, environmental sensitivity they won’t find anywhere else.” The ErtheWeave Collection captures the texture and...

LAS VEGAS, CHICAGO—The HD 2007 Expo & Conference, to be held in Las Vegas at the Sands Convention Center from May 9-12, and the National Restaurant Association Show, to be held in Chicago at McCormick Place from May 19-22, will both feature myriad green events for attendees—everything from a green luncheon at the HD 2007 Expo & Conference to a Green Restaurant Products Pavilion at the NRA Show. In Las Vegas, HD Expo & Conference green activities will kick off on Wednesday, May 9, with the second annual Green Luncheon. Three case studies will be presented, each of which involves...

LAS VEGAS—Empire Resorts Inc. and the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe announced that they are exploring ways of making the proposed St. Regis Mohawk Casino at Monticello Raceway in Sullivan County (N.Y) the first such facility in the Northeast to be built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards. Empire Resorts is the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe’s development and management partner in the $600 million project. Steven Winter Associates will be guiding the developers through the LEED certification process. “Empire Resorts looks forward to working with the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe in exploring the possibility of building...