ORLANDO, FLA.—Clean the World has passed another significant milestone in its steady advance toward launching a global “hygiene revolution” with soap. The Orlando-based nonprofit organization has now distributed more than 7 million bars of soap to children and families in the United States, Haiti and more than 40 countries worldwide. Included in this number are 1.5 million bars of soap sent to Haiti since the January 2010 earthquake, with 300,000 soap bars delivered since an outbreak of cholera (diarrheal disease) in October. Clean the World now distributes a bar of soap every 9.2 seconds worldwide, while the death rate among...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo welcomed more than 28,000 attendees this past November at its show in Chicago. Attendees representing various backgrounds, professions and 114 countries filled the exhibit hall floor, educational and speaker sessions, green building tours and networking events that made up the three-day show. The nearly 200,000-square-foot expo hall floor featured more than 1,800 exhibit booths representing more than 1,000 exhibiting companies. Greenbuild is the industry’s largest gathering of representatives from all sectors of the green building movement. “Generation Green came out in full-force in Chicago, proving that the...

TALLAHASSEE, FLA.—The new year could see the official birth of the American Green Lodging & Hospitality Association (AGLHA), according to Peter Goren, president of the two-year-old organization that still is in the process of obtaining its 501 (c)(3) nonprofit status. The aim of the group will not be to participate in political and legislative lobbying but to focus on education and research. The AGLHA website already includes links to resources helpful to those interested in green lodging—links to government sites such as Energy Star and WasteWise, for example. Goren, who at one time led the Florida Green Lodging program,...

PARSIPPANY, N.J.—Wyndham Worldwide, one of the world’s largest hospitality companies, announced that through its social good campaign, the company’s Wishes by Wyndham philanthropic program will donate $60,000 to be equally divided between its three signature charities: the Association of Hole in the Wall Camps, Christel House International and Starlight Children's Foundation. During the three-month Facebook campaign that began in August, Wyndham Worldwide pledged to donate $1 to its signature charities (up to $60,000) for every new person that “liked” the Wyndham Worldwide Facebook page. Through the campaign, Wyndham Worldwide gained almost 5,500 Facebook fans, who shared nearly 7,000 Facebook posts...

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.—Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. recently announced the opening of Element New York Times Square West. The first Element hotel to open in New York City, Element New York Times Square West is one of the city’s greenest properties and located in the center of fast-paced Times Square. Element, Starwood’s green trailblazer, continues to make history as the first major hotel brand to mandate that all its properties pursue Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Element’s energizing, eco-chic environment offers bright public spaces, smart design, and modern...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Green Seal is proposing a criterion revision to its existing Standard for Hotels and Lodging Properties, GS-33. This revision proposes to extend the transition period between Bronze and Silver levels of certification from the currently mandatory one year, to three years. This amendment would make GS-33 more consistent with other Green Seal service standards, namely GS-46, Green Seal’s Standard for Restaurants and Food Service Operations. Green Seal also recognizes the challenges of the industry of capital expenses or additional training of staff and sees that by extending the Bronze-level timeline, it becomes a more effective entry level; while...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.—Distributed Sun LLC (D-SUN), a Washington, D.C.-based solar project developer, owner and operator, announced it has signed a 20-year, 1.1-megawatt power purchase agreement (PPA) to generate solar electricity for the Sheraton Meadowlands Hotel & Conference Center. In the first of several megawatt-scale, commercial solar projects to be commissioned in 2011, D-SUN will construct and operate a solar powered carport facility in partnership with The Buccini/Pollin Group (BPG), the owner of the property, and Pollin/Miller Hospitality Strategies, Inc. (PMHS), the property manager. The solar system will be owned by Distributed Sun’s Solar Energy Investment Company (SEIC), sunTWO, and...

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...