ONTARIO, CALIF.—Met-Tile Inc., an Energy Star partner, has launched a redesigned website that features its metal tile panel “cool roofing” system. The Met-Tile roof system, which combines the popular look of tile with all-weather performance and energy savings, can be viewed at www.met-tile.com. The redesigned website incorporates a new easy-to-use navigation system and expanded product and application information for architects, builders, contractors, and home and building owners. The site includes separate areas for residential and non-residential applications, expanded photo galleries, a rep./distributor locator section, updated project case studies, technical data and more. Suitable for use in all...

OSLO, NORWAY—Significant gains can be made in efforts to combat global warming by reducing energy use and improving energy efficiency in buildings. The right mix of appropriate government regulation, greater use of energy saving technologies and behavioral change can substantially reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the building sector which accounts for 30 to 40 percent of global energy use, says a recent report from the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) Sustainable Building and Construction Initiative (SBCI). The new report, Buildings and Climate Change: Status, Challenges and Opportunities, says many opportunities exist for governments, industry and consumers to...

CITY OF INDUSTRY, CALIF.—Bentley Prince Street announced that it has been selected as a member of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Environmental Performance Track. This partnership program recognizes and rewards private and public facilities that demonstrate strong environmental performance beyond current requirements and that have implemented high-quality environmental management systems. All Performance Track members are required to set three-year goals for continuous improvement in environmental performance beyond their legal requirements, have internal systems in place to manage their environmental impacts, engage in local outreach about their performance and publicly report results. As part of its membership...

LAGRANGE, GA.—Convergence from Milliken Hospitality took the honors at the recent HD Expo, capturing the Best Product Design Award in the Flooring, Carpeting and Carpet Systems category. With this new product technology, the pattern and color are integrated into the structure, so it reads as one. Pattern emerges through texture and texture through pattern to create an unexpected, complex new surface. Building on the award winning Étage concept, Milliken Hospitality Carpet introduced three new broadloom collections at the 2007 Hospitality Design Expo. Étage allows designers to interact with the layers of pattern and use them in different combinations...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Classic Metal Roofing Systems, Piqua, Ohio, as a Founding Sponsor. Classic Metal Roofing Systems specializes in the production of aluminum, steel, and copper roofing systems that are attractive as well as environmentally friendly. The company’s aluminum roofing has 95 percent recycled content with a life expectancy of over 50 years. The special Kynar 500/Hylar 5000 finishes it uses feature special pigments to reflect radiant heat. The company’s customers have reported energy savings of up to 20 percent and even more due to their buildings being kept...

NATIONAL REPORT—Metal roofing has a long, successful history in the United States and the world. Its proven track record spans all types of projects—commercial, industrial and residential, new construction and remodeling. With today’s heightened interest in and demand for ecologically-sound building materials, metal roofing is an ideal choice. In fact, The Metal Construction Assn. says metal roofing should be included on all lists of environmentally friendly or “green” roofing materials. Metal roofing’s durability can virtually eliminate the need for future raw materials to be used to produce roofing. Other roofing materials are heavily affected by weather extremes. Metal roofing, however,...

LOS ANGELES—JL Furnishings (JLF)/Lone Meadow, the exclusively sustainable division of JL Furnishings and a leader in hospitality furniture design and manufacturing, has expanded its collection with the introduction of 14 new creations; from sleek, modern lounge chairs to elegant sofas with stylish patterns. The company featured the collection at the 2007 Hospitality Design Expo in Las Vegas. As with all JLF/Lone Meadow furnishings, the new collection exemplifies the firm’s commitment to bringing green sustainable practices and progressive designs to the hospitality industry. The company is at the forefront of the sustainable hospitality furniture design and is currently the...

LAS VEGAS—It was pretty easy to determine what vendors were selling green products at this year’s HD 2007 Expo and Conference. A separate vendor directory was created for them and green, circular markers sat within each participating exhibitor’s booth. A separate Green Room on the show floor also featured environmentally friendly products. Vendors had to pony up additional funds to have a presence there. There is no possible way to mention every company that introduced a green product at this year’s show but here are some noteworthy examples: Simmons Hospitality Group announced its EverNU mattress top to help hotels get the...

DALTON, GA.—Healthier Choice, a manufacturer of premium carpet cushion and acoustical underlayment, has introduced a new line of low-VOC commercial carpet cushions. The line, called Foundation Contract Carpet Cushion, has emissions nearly 50 times lower than the CRI Green Label limit. Specifiers may be able to use Foundation to obtain credit with several environmental rating systems or programs, including LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, based on the outstanding IAQ characteristics of the cushion. The official product launch is slated for May 10-12 at HD Expo 2007 in Las Vegas. Foundation represents a new focus...

LAS VEGAS—Like a professor teaching his students, Kip Richardson taught a little bit of Sustainability 101 during “Beyond Green: ‘The Talk,’” at the HD 2007 Expo and Conference. A packed room of attendees listened to Richardson, director of business development for Portland, Ore.-based Ankrom Moisan Architects. What is sustainability? Richardson said it is “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” “Sustainability touches everybody,” Richardson added. “This is not a political issue. It is a human issue. Almost every hotel brand is talking about it,...