SKOKIE, ILL.—Each year in the United States, more than $35 billion in direct property loss is caused by natural disasters. Yet, while states and municipalities are seeking to adopt ordinances that require “green” or “sustainable” construction, they are overlooking disaster-resistance construction. To allow local governments to adopt green building codes that address high performance as well as conventional sustainable features, the Portland Cement Association (PCA) and the Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) have developed High Performance Building Requirements for Sustainability 2.0. The criteria are written in mandatory language that amends and appends the International Code Council International Building...

BANGKOK—Dining at Soneva Kiri by Six Senses is anything but ordinary and has now been taken to new heights, with the recently launched Treepod Dining experience. The Treepod is situated at one of the best vantage points the resort offers, a few yards along the coastal path from the resort’s main facilities on the west facing side of the island. Guests board the rattan bird’s nest at ground level and fasten their leather seatbelts to be gently hoisted 16 feet into the tall, native massang trees. The Pod is outfitted with comfortable cushioned seating for up to four diners....

SANYA, CHINA—The Ritz-Carlton, Sanya has received two accolades for its commitment to running and operating an environmentally conscious hotel: The Gold Leaf Grade “China Green Hotel” and the “Top 10 Green Hotel Room.” These awards were given to the hotel by the National Green Hotel Committee and China Hotel Association. The awards are the highest certifications for recognizing a hotel’s contribution toward environmental conservation, greening programss, food safety and hygiene, and energy efficiency. Continuing The Ritz-Carlton brand’s longstanding Community Footprint and Give Back Getaway activity, The Ritz-Carlton, Sanya has established a long-term program based on environment protection. It embraces the...

GOLDEN, COLO.—Lewis Properties announced that it has installed solar panels on its award-winning Colorado-based hotels—the Golden Hotel in Golden and the Boulder Creek Quality Inn & Suites in Boulder—making them the first solar powered hotels in their respective cities. The installations, to be completed this month, will make a significant impact on decreasing the carbon footprint of the hotels. Owners Burt and Andria Lewis stated, “This was an easy decision for us; we are consistently trying to enhance our green practices and what better way to do so than by going solar.” The 62-room Golden Hotel features a 160-panel, 33.6-kilowatt...

ORLANDO, FLA.—The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, a luxurious property located on the shores of Lake Louise in Banff National Park, has partnered with Clean the World, an Orlando-based soap recycling organization, to collect discarded hotel amenities and distribute them to people in need. Collections for recycling begin September 16 and will help reinforce the eco-friendly profile of The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, which already enjoys a strong reputation for responsible tourism and sustainable hotel management. Since opening its doors in 1890, the Chateau has been a distinguished vacation destination in the heart of Banff National Park. With 554 guestrooms and suites,...

CHICAGO—The North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers’ (NAFEM) biennial event, The NAFEM Show, February 10 to 12, 2011, Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Fla., will provide a first look at the foodservice equipment and supplies industry’s products, solutions and innovations in 2011. Attracting approximately 20,000 foodservice professionals and featuring more than 500 exhibitors, the show once again includes a new product gallery, topical educational sessions and networking opportunities. Innovative thinking is celebrated in WHAT’S HOT! WHAT’S COOL!, a one-stop-shop spotlighting new products in the areas of labor savings, sanitation, energy efficiency, food safety, lifecycle costs and more. The 2011...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Last month, the total footprint of commercial projects certified under the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED Green Building Rating System surpassed one billion square feet. Another six billion square feet of projects are registered and currently working toward LEED certification around the world. “This traction demonstrates the transformation of the way we design, build and operate buildings,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair, USGBC. “Not only does green building contribute to saving energy, water and money, it also creates green jobs that will grow and energize our economy.” The milestone is a testament to the global effort...

AUSTIN, TEXAS—As the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) closed its public comment period for its Green Guides, EnviroMedia Social Marketing released new research that shows 65 percent of Americans would prefer just one seal for green products over the hundreds now that are causing confusion. It’s increasingly hard to determine if a product is truly “green.” Certifications like Energy Star help consumers address energy efficiency. However, new standards for water use, packaging, recyclability, toxics, and carbon impact are competing for attention and space on the product label. The research shows Americans most trust a third-party certification system, like the Good Housekeeping Seal,...

DEZHOU, CHINA—Located in China Solar Valley in the Economic Development Zone of Dezhou, the Solar Valley Micro-E Hotel is part of Sun-Moon Mansion, the largest single solar powered structure in the world. Sun-Moon Mansion, an 800,000-square-foot building, includes more than two thousand solar collectors on its roof. The hotel opened in December 2009 and is part of complex that features solar air collectors, seasonal heat storage, solar heating and cooling, ceiling radiation, geothermal system, photovoltaic (PV) electricity generation, PV lighting, energy-saving glass, sun-shading panels, external wall insulation, and rainwater collection. The five-star Solar Valley Micro-E Hotel was constructed by Himin...

PARIS—Euro Disney S.C.A. Group (“Euro Disney”) and Groupe Pierre & Vacances Center Parcs (“Pierre & Vacances”) recently unveiled their new concept of a vacation destination based on the search for harmony between man and nature. The destination would be, in its design and in its operations, a unique model of sustainable development for tourism and be called Les Villages Nature de Val d’Europe (Villages Nature). As a mixed-use resort, Villages Nature will work with visionary landscape architects to develop new lodging and leisure experiences that will provide multiple opportunities for visitors to interact with nature. These activities would be...