ATLANTA—Ensuring sustainability of ecosystems through protection of plants, soil and water and increased habitat for native birds and insects is the goal of proposed requirements to the green building standard from ASHRAE, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES).“The intent of the proposal is to maintain or restore a minimum level of biodiversity including bio-diverse plantings, native plants and limited turfgrass,” Anthony Floyd, a member of the Standard 189.1 committee, said. “Supporting and maintaining the biodiversity is critical to the long term health and sustainability of ecosystems of which humans and all life depend...

EDMONTON, ALBERTA—The Shaw Conference Centre (SCC) officially unveiled its new Sustainability Wall, which showcases a vertical garden by local horticulture company Greenjeans. The garden adds color and visual interest to its location on the pedway level across from Hall D. In addition to the garden, the wall highlights a number of sustainable initiatives at the SCC and throughout the City of Edmonton.“This unique showpiece helps tell our sustainability story,” said Cliff Higuchi, Vice President and General Manager of the Shaw Conference Centre. “The convention centre’s location allows us to connect a thriving downtown with the historic river valley, using...

BRANDENBURG, KY.—If you are staying at the Southern Grace Bed & Breakfast in Brandenburg, Ky., and can’t finish your tasty breakfast, don’t even think about throwing your food scraps in the trash. The approximately 70 chickens—free range chickens—will be more than happy to eat what you cannot. According to Theresa Padgett, owner of the 15-acre B&B with her husband David, all food scraps are either fed to the chickens or composted. The plate-to-chicken approach to waste management is just one of the ways the B&B owners work to lighten their property’s impact on the planet. In the garden that...

LAUCALA ISLAND, FIJI—Amidst dramatic rainforest-laced landscapes and coconut plantations, the Fijian private island resort Laucala Island sets the gold standard for the “farm-to-resorts” movement. The resort’s new Executive Chef, Anthony Healy, creates signature cuisine by foraging for the freshest ingredients across the island and taking advantage of the island’s plentiful indigenous produce and livestock. Organic produce is grown on a 240-acre hydroponic farm with 15 different types of fruit, 35 varieties of vegetables and more than 50 Fiji Vanilla plants. Additionally, 80 percent of the island’s seafood is caught within a mile of the shore to preserve the natural...

ATLANTA—InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) announced that IHG Green Engage, the online sustainability program used by more than 2,600 IHG-branded hotels worldwide, is now recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council under its LEED Volume program and Green Key Global (GKG) as providing streamlined pathways to certification. IHG is the first hotel company to provide an approach to precertification for new-build hotels under the LEED 2009 for New Construction rating system. This is IHG’s second LEED designation—IHG was also the first hotel company to provide LEED precertification for existing hotels.Globally recognized sustainability certifications like LEED and GKG could ultimately improve...

LAS VEGAS—MGM Resorts International has started the largest installation of electrical vehicle (EV) charging stations in Nevada. Twenty-seven EV charging stations will be located at nine of the company’s Las Vegas resorts in addition to MGM Resorts’ main corporate offices. Additional stations will be available at Circus Circus Reno. The charging stations, which will be installed in guest garages and valet areas, will be available for employees and guests to use at no cost.“It is important that our guests have the convenience and ability to continue sustainable habits during their time with us,” said Cindy Ortega, Chief Sustainability Officer...

PARSIPPANY, N.J.—Wyndham Worldwide announced that RobecoSAM, an investment asset management firm, has recognized the company as a 2014 Silver Class Sustainability Leader in its annual Sustainability Yearbook. This is the first time the company has been included in the Sustainability Yearbook and received the Silver Class rating.The Sustainability Yearbook lists the world’s most sustainable companies in each industry. This year, in addition to being within the top 15 percent of their industry, companies needed to achieve a score within 30 percent of the best-performing company in their industry to be included. Wyndham Worldwide is the only company in the...

BOULDER, COLO.—PE International, a global sustainability software and services firm, has been selected by LG Electronics USA to help manage its sustainability initiatives. Using PE International’s SoFi software, LG will measure and report on its U.S.-based sustainability metrics, supporting the company’s environmental stewardship programs and its goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its U.S. operations 50 percent by 2020 (compared with a 2008 baseline).LG will use SoFi to monitor emissions, energy, water and waste for its offices and distribution centers across the United States. Sustainability reports will allow LG to more effectively measure success and identify opportunities for...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Garage Juice Bar as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. The Juice Bar Electric Vehicle Charger and Green Garage Oasis Amenity Center are an upscale, sustainable branded experience and environment for electric vehicle driving guests and visitors to upscale hotels and resorts. Juice Bar EV charging stations are available as a Juice Bar Double, which includes one Level 2 plug and one Level 1 plug, and as a Juice Bar Quad, which includes two Level 2 plugs and 2 Level 1 plugs. Juice Bar’s premium product...

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.—It is not often that an investment in renewable energy is celebrated with fireworks and mayoral visits but that is what happened this past Wednesday evening at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort. The fireworks and visits by City of Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler and Broward County Mayor Barbara Sharief marked the official unveiling of six 52-foot, 4 kilowatt wind turbines that rise above the hotel’s rooftop. Approximately $500,000 was invested in the turbines that required the tallest crane in the state of Florida to install.“It is an exciting day for us,” said Andreas Ioannou, general...