WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has opened the first public comment period on LEED 2009, the next evolution of the LEED green building certification system. LEED 2009 represents a reorganization of the existing LEED rating systems for commercial buildings, combined with a series of major technical advancements focused on improving energy efficiency, reducing carbon emissions, and addressing other environmental and human health outcomes. “Continuing to seek the right balance between technical advancement and market transformation was a driving force behind the LEED 2009 work,” explained Scot Horst, Chairman of the volunteer LEED Steering Committee, which leads the...

BALTIMORE, MD.—The Hilton Baltimore Convention Center Hotel is taking green building to another level—the roof level. The $301 million, 750-room hotel next to the Baltimore Convention Center will include the Baltimore area’s largest green roof when construction is completed in August. The 32,000-square-foot green roof is located on the hotel’s east and west buildings. Dan Freed, principal of RTKL Associates, the architectural firm with offices in Baltimore that designed the hotel, said he didn’t know of another hotel in Maryland with a green roof the size of the Hilton’s. “Hotels are a little behind the curve on sustainable issues,” Freed said....

TALLAHASSEE, FLA.—With Memorial Day and the summer travel season approaching, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is encouraging Florida residents and guests to travel close, clean and green with the launch of a new green travel website and Florida Green Lodging Program locator map. The newly launched green travel website offers resources for families and travelers looking to get away without depleting their wallets, gas tanks or the environment. “With a state park or a Green Lodging facility within just a short car ride of any location in the state, there are plenty of opportunities for affordable, eco-friendly travel...

PARK RIDGE, N.J.—Following an increase of nearly 5 percent in 2007, the average price of electricity for industrial or large commercial entities in the United States rose another 3.9 percent over the past year. The annual survey by an independent consulting company, NUS Consulting Group of Park Ridge, N.J., found the average price of electricity in the United States was 9.44 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) as of April 1, 2008 compared with 9.08 cents per kWh in April 2007. The survey sampled 24 investor-owned electric companies in the country using a sample model of monthly usage totaling 450,000 kWh...

PORTLAND, ORE.—The Green Meeting Industry Council announced the addition of Tamara Kennedy-Hill as its new Executive Director. “We are pleased Tamara will be leading the Council into its next phase of development,” said Amy Spatrisano, GMIC Board Chair. “The current rate of growth the Council is experiencing requires a strong, knowledgeable leader like Tamara. She has been involved in the organization in various capacities and is very familiar with the issues facing the organization and the state of green meetings in the industry.” Kennedy-Hill has more than 10 years experience in the meetings and hospitality industry. Her most recent position...

NEW YORK—U.S. business travelers are increasingly making daily choices to reduce their environmental impact, and they have specific expectations about the green practices hotels should be adopting today, according to a recent survey commissioned by Deloitte. The survey shows business travelers have begun to practice some green practices routinely. Nearly seven of 10 business travelers (69 percent) say they always turn off the lights and one out of three (31 percent) always adjusts the heat/air conditioner when leaving the room. Roughly a third of travelers surveyed are keenly concerned about green travel. Some 34 percent “seek out hotels that are...

TALLAHASSEE, FLA.—Florida Governor Charlie Crist last week applauded Walt Disney Parks & Resorts for its achievement of 100 percent of its lodging properties earning the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Green Lodging Program designation, covering all 24 of its resort hotels. “I applaud Disney’s compelling participation in the Florida Green Lodging Program,” said Governor Crist. “Through its commitment, Disney is demonstrating the importance of environmental stewardship to thousands of employees and millions of guests.” Launched in 2004 by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Florida Green Lodging Program establishes environmental guidelines for hotels and motels to conserve natural...

LAS VEGAS—Last week’s HD 2008 Expo & Conference was the setting for the introduction of hundreds of new green products. Furniture, floor covering, fabric, wall covering and other vendors capitalized on the opportunity to talk about the ways their products incorporate recycled content, reduce or eliminate volatile organic compounds (VOCs), reduce waste, and lower energy consumption. It would be a Herculean task to mention every new product but here are some of the highlights from last week’s event at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas. Valley Forge Fabrics introduced its 100 percent recycled and recyclable polyester drapery...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The American Hotel & Lodging Association’s (AH&LA) Green Assessment Survey results reveal the top 10 green initiatives hotels are enacting, the top 10 green programs hotels can improve upon, motivations and challenges for implementing green lodging practices, and quantifiable measurements of green action being taken around the nation. Among the many findings, the survey revealed the following notable statistics: • Eighty-eight percent of respondents’ properties have a linen reuse program for guests who stay multiple nights, and 83.5 percent offer a towel reuse program; • Nearly half (43.4 percent) of responding properties have programmable on/off timers or sensors used for lighting...

MCLEAN, VA.—Meeting planners looking to incorporate sustainable practices into their meetings, events, and expositions will learn about the growing green movement at the 12th annual Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Affordable Meetings West Conference and Exposition at the Long Beach Convention Center from June 11-12. Deborah Popely, president, Green Events Source, Jesse Suglia, director of sales, Kimpton Hotels and Janet M. Cooperman, CMP, president, Green PEAS Events, will present planners with ways to “green” their meetings without causing additional stress during a general session on Thursday, June 11 at 10:30 a.m. Attendees will learn how to partner with...