NEW YORK—The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and Informa Connect , a division of Informa plc, announced the Greenbuild International Conference + Expo 2022 slate of keynote speakers, ranging from leading officials at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Transportation to Jane Fonda and leaders in climate and ESG. This year’s conference will take place November 1 to 3 in San Francisco at the LEED Platinum Moscone Center. Registration is now open for industry professionals and press. This year, Greenbuild is celebrating its 20th Anniversary as the world’s leading sustainable building conference. In celebration of 20 years, Greenbuild is expanding on what it means...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) announced the appointment of Peter Templeton as President & CEO. Templeton has played a leading role in the development, launch and ongoing operation of the LEED program, the most widely used and respected green building program in the world which developers, corporations and governments have leveraged to dramatically reduce their environmental footprints. LEED provides a comprehensive, globally recognized framework for healthy, high-performing green buildings, communities, and cities. Templeton has served at USGBC and its partner organization Green Building Certification Inc. (GBCI) for over 20 years. During the past year, he has...

CROSSVILLE, TENN.—Crossville Inc. announced three tile collections that have received the prestigious Living Product Challenge Petal Certification with 14 of 20 imperatives achieved in the seven categories. The Living Product Challenge is a recognition program of the International Living Future Institute. The Retro Active 2.0, Shades 2.0, and Color Blox 2.0 collections are now Petal Certified. The Living Product Challenge is organized in seven performance areas, known as Petals, with each area consisting of detailed requirements. The Retro Active 2.0, Shades 2.0, and Color Blox 2.0 collections achieved full petals in the following: Water Petal—2/2 for meeting requirements that included...

OSLO, NORWAY—Nordic Hotels & Resorts announced the grand opening of its newest luxury hotel, Sommerro, located in the heart of Frogner in Oslo’s West End. One of Europe’s most anticipated launches of 2022, the urban retreat is set within the former headquarters of Oslo Lysverker, the city’s original electrical company, and is energizing the neighborhood and its surroundings with a new sense of creative spirit that pays tribute to Norway’s cultural heritage. Providing a home away from home for both travelers and locals, the iconic 231-room Art Deco hotel is complete with 56 branded residences, seven restaurants and bars, meeting...

KALAMAZOO, MICH.—Landscape Forms, a leading designer and manufacturer of high-design site furniture, structure, LED lighting, and accessories, introduces Backdrop, a system of modular panels and accessories. Designed by Landscape Forms in collaboration with KEM Studio, Backdrop offers a new and uniquely versatile way to create welcoming outdoor destinations. It is ideal for campuses, streetscapes, residential communities, and retail and hospitality locations. “Backdrop defines space in a way no one’s ever done before outdoors,” says Landscape Forms Chief Creative Officer, Kirt Martin. “We call it Backdrop because the panel system itself doesn’t necessarily shout for the foreground attention. But the environments...

HELSINKE, FINLAND—Scandic Helsinki Hub recently opened its doors in the Finnish capital. Located in downtown Helsinki, the hotel is housed in a 1920s printing house that has been transformed into a large 352-room hotel. Along with unique loft-style rooms, the hotel features inspiring event, meeting and coworking spaces along with a trattoria and bars. Scandic Helsinki Hub is strategically located at the crossroads of downtown Helsinki and the charming Helsinki south district. Vestiges of the former printing house have been elegantly preserved in the design throughout the building, and guests can choose accommodations that offer a variety of special features...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Vinyl Sustainability Council (VSC), a self-funded business council advancing sustainability in the vinyl industry, welcomes Trusscore as the newest member of the council. VSC membership is reserved for organizations taking a leadership role to advance sustainability throughout the vinyl industry. “With their focus on developing products that outperform what they replace, Trusscore joins more than 55 other VSC members demonstrating a commitment to sustainability efforts in their business practices,” said Jay Thomas, VSC Executive Director. “Trusscore is dedicated to driving innovation in the commercial and residential construction industry. We’re proud to have them join us.” Trusscore makes a range of products...

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF.—If you think you see a tree while walking along the outdoor deck of Maggie’s Restaurant at the Desolation Hotel in South Lake Tahoe, you are not imagining things. The outdoor deck of the restaurant is wrapped around a live pine tree. It is just one example of how Desolation Hotel founder and owner Chet Pipkin attempted to leave the site of his eco-luxury micro resort as unscathed as possible. Trees that had to be harvested from the site where a motel once stood were repurposed for the hotel’s construction. Additional lumber from offsite came from...

ATLANTA—ASHRAE and the International Code Council announced joint development of a standard to assess carbon emissions across the entire building life cycle. Proposed ASHRAE/ICC Standard 240P—Evaluating Greenhouse Gas (GHG) and Carbon Emissions in Building Design, Construction and Operation, will provide a whole life carbon approach to support emissions reductions in buildings. The proposed standard establishes how to measure and verify the greenhouse gas (GHG) and carbon emissions of a building, or group of buildings, over the entire life cycle. The goal is to provide consistent procedures and data to be referenced by policies, codes, and other standards that address new and...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The JW Marriott Washington, DC announced, during Environmental Awareness Month, that the hotel has been awarded a Gold level LEED certification for Building Operations and Maintenance. LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) is developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and is the most widely used green building rating system in the world and an international symbol of excellence in green building. The JW Marriott Washington, DC is also expected to receive the Energy Star award in late September. The LEED Certification achievement, along with JW Marriott Washington, DC’s energy conservation awards, achievements, and efforts, such as using solar energy,...