VANCOUVER, B.C.—The Best Western Plus Chateau Granville, located in downtown Vancouver’s newly revitalized Granville area, officially joined the EcoStay program. EcoStay is a national initiative that helps hotels measure their carbon footprint, identify and fund reduction strategies and balance off their greenhouse gas emissions through carbon offsetting.“We’re very excited to be part of the EcoStay Program,” said Anastasios Theodoropoulos, general manager of Best Western Plus Chateau Granville. “It’s a meaningful and effective way of demonstrating our concern for the environment.”Under the program Best Western Plus Chateau Granville will collect $2 per night from hotel guests. Funds will be used...

ATLANTA—The Acuity Brands, Inc. Carlisle, Penn. manufacturing and distribution center has achieved zero landfill status, as certified by Link International, a California-based full-service waste and recyclable commodities company. This is the second Acuity Brands manufacturing and distribution site to operate as a zero landfill plant. Waste generated by the Carlisle plant is now recycled or composted.“We are thrilled to implement the zero landfill process at a second site within our plant facilities network,” said Derek Nelson, Vice President, Northeast Operations at Acuity Brands Lighting. “As a manufacturer of products that help reduce energy waste, it is important to us...

PARSIPPANY, N.J.—Wyndham Worldwide, one of the world’s largest hospitality companies, announced it has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index for the first time. The company is one of three hospitality companies, and the only one in North America, recognized in the hotels, resorts and cruise line segment.The S&P Dow Jones Indices are one of the most recognized sustainability performance rating tools, with the Sustainability Index identifying leaders in the areas of sustainable economic, environmental and social performance. Companies listed to the annual Index demonstrate best-in-class performance against numerous metrics. Wyndham Worldwide was recognized in particular...

DALLAS—Approximately 185 people, including hoteliers, exhibitors, speakers and others, attended the first annual Lodging Green + Sustainability Conference & Expo. The event, organized by Lodging Magazine, was held at the LEED Gold certified Omni Dallas Hotel from October 1 to 3. The conference offered many educational and networking opportunities with highlights including a tour of the 1,001-room host hotel and a keynote presentation by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.James Cannon, Director of Engineering at the Omni Dallas, toured attendees through guestrooms and back of house areas, pointing out the ways in which the $500 million hotel is saving energy, water...

LONDON—IHG plc. (InterContinental Hotels Group), one of the world’s largest hotel companies, announced a series of new corporate responsibility (CR) targets for 2013 to 2017. The new targets will continue to focus on driving impact through IHG’s three core CR Programs—IHG Green Engage, IHG Shelter in a Storm Program and IHG Academy—and will see IHG track and report supply chain diversity and integrate CR criteria into the selection and evaluation process for all preferred suppliers. IHG has also published an update on progress made against previous targets, as well as its 2010 to 2012 carbon footprint results.IHG Green Engage...

NOTTINGHAM, PA.—Zandur has relaunched its Cork Rubber Flooring under the Sustain brand name. The new color line features extensive options in cool and warm neutrals as well as brighter primaries. This updated pallet coordinates with current trends in wall coverings, fixtures and other flooring materials. Along with the updated color line, Sustain’s best-in-class slip resistance, low intensity maintenance and underfoot comfort make it a natural choice for commercial facilities that are looking for a safer product that is more durable and contains more recycled content than most other resilient products today.  Sustain Cork Rubber is made from more than 65...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—According to the latest issue of the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Electric Power Monthly, with preliminary data through to June 30, 2013, renewable energy sources (i.e., biomass, geothermal, hydropower, solar, wind) provided 14.20 percent of the United States’ net electric power generation during the first half of the year. For the same period in 2012, renewables accounted for 13.57 percent of net electrical generation. Moreover, non-hydro renewables have more than tripled their output during the past decade. They now account for almost the same share of electrical generation (6.71 percent) as does conventional hydropower (7.49 percent). Ten...

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLA.—PGA National Resort & Spa announces the launch of its new Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) charging stations with a reception on October 7. The South Florida destination is the first in the area to install the Eaton electric vehicle charging stations for electric and hybrid cars. Its parking lot will be outfitted with three total charging stations—two Eaton Commercial Level II Chargers and one Eaton DC Level III Quick Charger. The DC Quick Charging unit is capable of fully charging a vehicle in 40 minutes or less, while the two Level II chargers can fully charge...

PARSIPPANY, N.J.—Wyndham Worldwide, one of the world’s largest hospitality companies, announced that in 2012 it achieved a nearly 12 percent reduction in carbon emissions per square foot of its operationally controlled assets versus its carbon footprint in 2011.The company, which is working toward a goal to reduce its carbon emissions by 16 percent by 2016 and by 20 percent by 2020, announced this latest accomplishment in its third annual Sustainability Report.“Advancing sustainability best practices remains among our top priorities not only because it’s good for the environment, but because it’s also good for business,” said Stephen P. Holmes, chairman...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The National Restaurant Assn. (NRA) announced the members of the Conserve Sustainability Advisory Council as part of its plan to help restaurateurs better understand environmental awareness and become more resource-efficient through its Conserve program.  The advisory council is composed of 14 members of the foodservice and allied industry, all of whom are sustainability experts in their own right. As council members, they will be tasked with sharing their education, lessons learned and best practices applied at their own businesses. “We are pleased to announce this group of some of the most influential sustainability leaders in the foodservice industry today,”...