CROSSVILLE, TENN.—Executives with Crossville, Inc., a domestic manufacturer of porcelain tile collections, have announced the unveiling of the company’s 2014 Sustainability Report. The report was compiled with input from Crossville’s stakeholders as gleaned through a formal survey and follow-up discussions conducted by a third party sustainability consulting firm and is based on the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) sustainability reporting and ISO 26001 frameworks. Additionally, it meets the requirements of LEED V.4 MRc3 Credit. This is the first such sustainability report in the company’s 28-year history, and it is also the first GRI-based document released by a tile-only manufacturer, denoting...

LAGRANGE, GA.—Interface has drawn on the natural beauty found in salvaged matter and materials for the design of its new Reclaim carpet tiles. The 25cm x 1m skinny plank series echoes the look of worn, weathered wood, lending interiors a feeling that’s both warm and inviting yet completely modern. Constructed of 100 percent recycled content fiber that combines reclaimed carpet fiber with salvaged fishing nets, Reclaim remains true to its name and at the same time is in lockstep with the company’s Mission Zero promise to eliminate any negative impact is has on the environment by the year 2020....

Name: Harith WickremaTitle: Chief Visionary OfficerProperty: Eco Serendib Villa and SpaYears property open: Three Primary responsibilities: “One of my most important responsibilities as chief visionary officer is to ensure the villa stays true to the original concept.”   Organization’s most significant sustainability-related accomplishment: “Educating guests while using resources to give back to the St. John Community.”  Organization’s most significant sustainability-related challenge: “Recycling. On St. John we don’t have recycling. Garbage gets shipped to St. Thomas.”  ST. JOHN, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS—As Chief Visionary Officer and owner of the eight-suite Eco Serendib Villa and Spa on St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, Harith...

LEESBURG, VA.—The National Conference Center, one of the largest conference training centers in the country, and West Belmont Place, an events center with a 16,000 square foot ballroom, were hosts to an unusual event earlier this month when a rescued bald eagle was released on the property to the delight of about 200 people who came out to see the bird released back into the wild. The National Conference Center and West Belmont Place have received awards for their environmental stewardship of the property and the eagle release highlighted the conference center’s commitment to protecting the environment.The National Conference...

NEW ORLEANS—The world’s largest sustainable building conference, The Greenbuild Conference and Expo, featuring the first “net zero” exhibit space, was held in New Orleans, October 22 to 24, with 23,000 attendees and 600 exhibitors.The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center helped Greenbuild set up the first “net zero” exhibit space by utilizing the building’s balcony as the location for solar generated panels that powered an on-site microgrid, generating power to the exhibit booths. The Net Zero Zone showcased how booths in the exhibit hall can unplug from the utility grid and operate totally on power generated by solar...

NEW YORK—Turks & Caicos has deepened its commitment to advancing renewable energy by joining the Carbon War Room’s Ten Island Challenge. The Premier of Turks and Caicos, The Honorable Doctor Rufus Ewing, and Carbon War Room’s Operations Director, Justin Locke, signed a Memorandum of Understanding, committing to work together to reduce the island’s dependence on fossil fuels through increased renewable energy production and improved energy efficiency.The Ten Island Challenge provides the Government of TCI the opportunity and platform to define and realize its own vision of a clean economy. In order to achieve this vision, the Carbon War Room,...

PORTLAND, ORE.—Provenance Hotels, with six locations in Washington and Oregon, is raising the bar on sustainable travel by partnering with the experts in car sharing services and electric vehicle technology—Zipcar and Tesla Motors—to make it even easier and more affordable for guests to use alternative transportation when visiting the eco-conscious cities of Portland, Seattle and Tacoma.Provenance Hotels’ art-filled hotels are conveniently located downtown within steps of each city’s light rail routes, making them the perfect getaways for those who want to go car free. When guests who are Zipcar members need or want to venture further, Zipcar, the world’s...

NEW YORK—The Waldorf Astoria, New York Hilton Midtown, and Carlton hotels have been honored for their environmentally friendly initiatives as recipients of the first ever Sustainability Awards, presented yesterday by the Hotel Association of New York City (HANYC) at the International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show held at the Javits Center.The Hotel Association of NYC’s Sustainability Committee offered awards in three categories: Environmental Protection, awarded to the New York Hilton Midtown for its comprehensive green building efficiency program; Social Responsibility, awarded to the Carlton for its engagement with the community; and Holistic Strategy for Sustainable Hospitality, awarded to the...

ST. PAUL, MINN.—Water scarcity is impacting the vitality of communities around the world. For businesses, it is a significant constraint to growth. The Water Risk Monetizer is a financial modeling tool that enables businesses to factor water into decisions that support business growth and help ensure the availability of this limited natural resource for future generations. The Water Risk Monetizer provides actionable information to help businesses understand the impact of water scarcity to their operations and quantify those risks in financial terms.The Water Risk Monetizer was developed by Ecolab Inc., a global leader in water technologies and services, and...

NEW YORK—The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) New York Metro’s Chapter honored GROHE, a leading manufacturer of premium kitchen and bath fixtures, in its first annual design awards. Announced last month, the awards recognize outstanding design, creativity, commitment and service within the industry. GROHE was honored with three awards: the Sustainability Award, Industry Partner Award and the Creative Invention Award for GROHE Blue Chilled & Sparkling.“We’re honored to be recognized by ASID,” said Cheryl Dixon, Head of Brand and Trade Marketing for GROHE America. “Receiving recognition from esteemed interior designers and the New York design community is especially...