WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced that former President Bill Clinton will deliver the keynote speech of the opening plenary of Greenbuild, the world’s largest conference and exposition dedicated to green building, to be held Nov. 7-9, 2007, in Chicago. “This is an unprecedented opportunity for our green building community to hear from one of the greatest philanthropic and environmental leaders of this century,” says USGBC President and CEO Rick Fedrizzi. “The William J. Clinton Foundation is facilitating a series of global action plans that are addressing some of the most intractable problems of our times—AIDS, economic sustainability...

HOUSTON—Facility management professionals from around the world will converge on the Big Easy to analyze the latest industry trends and rediscover New Orleans during the International Facility Management Association’s (IFMA) World Workplace 2007 Conference & Expo, Oct. 24-26, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in the heart of New Orleans. Long recognized as the world’s premier educational and networking conference for facility managers, World Workplace brings industry leaders from the world’s top business and government organizations together with educators and exhibitors to focus on the future of facility management. Now in its 28th year, the conference will...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Retailers and electronics manufacturers voluntarily recycled more than 34 million pounds of electronics in 2006 as part of their commitment to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Plug-In To eCycling program. The program is a voluntary partnership between EPA and electronics manufacturers and retailers to offer consumers more opportunities to donate or recycle their used electronics. Since 2003, Plug-In partners have recycled more than 95 million pounds of electronics. “Our Plug-In partners have energized the industry to give consumers practical alternatives for recycling their used electronics,” says Scott Sherman, EPA’s associate assistant administrator for the Office of Solid Waste and...

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.—Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Worldwide, Inc. announced the development of its first wholly-owned aloft and element hotel project in Lexington, Mass. The project—aloft and element Lexington—will breathe new life into the select service and extended stay markets in this vital and energetic suburban community. Both hotels are scheduled to open in late spring of 2008. Just twelve miles outside of Boston, Lexington offers a charming combination of historical sites, farm stands and greenhouses, as well as convenient access to Boston’s thriving business community and leisure attractions. Sharing the same parcel of land, the two hotels will be located...

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ.—As part of its ongoing program of green initiatives, the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess will offer complimentary overnight valet parking to guests who arrive in a hybrid vehicle. Beginning August 21, guests who drive a hybrid vehicle will enjoy the convenience of the resort’s overnight valet parking service, valued at $23 per night, for free. “We are excited about including our guests in our environmental programs such as the recycling effort in Willow Stream Spa and our Sonoran Trail eco-tour,” says Bob Foster, the resort’s general manager. “Offering complimentary valet parking is just one more way to encourage green-minded guests...

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND—Key players in real estate and construction misjudge the costs and benefits of green buildings, creating a major barrier to more energy efficiency in the building sector, a new study by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) reports. Respondents to a 1,400-person global survey estimated the additional cost of building green at 17 percent above conventional construction, more than triple the true cost difference of about 5 percent. At the same time, survey respondents put greenhouse gas emissions by buildings at 19 percent of world total, while the actual number of 40 percent is double this. The findings...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS), January 28–30, 2008, at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles, Calif., attracts the lodging industry’s leading hotel executives, investors, lenders, developers and professional advisory community. This year, programming will focus on educating the industry’s leaders on best practices and the importance of environmentally-friendly green hotels with a new green hotels track that includes a series of sessions discussing how to develop, convert, operate, and design a green hotel. “While a small number of people in the hotel industry have been promoting the logic and merits of ‘green/sustainable’ development and operations for...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The EPA has announced new specifications for two new commercial food service products—dishwashers and ice machines—that will earn the Energy Star label. More efficient commercial kitchen equipment can save restaurants and food service facilities from 10 to 30 percent on commercial kitchen energy consumption. “Energy efficiency is a top priority among restaurant owners and operators,” says Bob Meyers, EPA’s principal deputy assistant administrator for Air and Radiation. “We are pleased to deliver more options to save on energy costs and help protect the environment through two new commercial food service products earning the Energy Star.” The specifications cover several...

AMERICAN CANYON, CALIF.—Gaia Napa Valley Hotel and Spa—the United States’ first and only LEED Gold-certified hotel—has commissioned a 36-kilowatt solar project that produces electricity to help run the hotel. The system is projected to meet approximately 12 percent of the hotel’s annual energy needs and contributed two points toward the hotel’s LEED Gold certification. An energy-usage panel in the hotel’s lobby shows exactly how much power is being generated by the solar system—and how much energy is being used by the hotel, minute by minute. The Gaia project will generate 49,000 kWh of clean renewable energy annually, reflecting the priority that...

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.—As part of Westin’s ongoing commitment to personal renewal, they are teaming up with SuperFoods Partners LLC, owners of the SuperFoodsRx brand, to become the first hotel brand to create a SuperFoods focused menu for their guests. Superfoods, known for being health-enhancing and rich in antioxidants and phytonutrients, will be the main ingredient in Westin signature dishes such as banana oatmeal brulé, green-tea-infused salmon and molten dark chocolate cake. The initiative, which is currently rolling out in 25 Westin hotels in the U.S. and Canada, will go global in 2008 with the introduction of the Westin Signature Breakfast,...