PORTLAND, ORE.—Viridian Wood Products announced the introduction of a new line of 4’x 8’ architectural-grade veneered panels milled from reclaimed North American wood, according to Viridian co-owner Joe Mitchoff. Viridian’s sliced veneers—derived from old-growth redwood previously used in wine tanks, Oregon black walnut reclaimed from urban salvage, and old-growth Douglas fir from warehouse deconstruction—are produced domestically and laid-up on urea formaldehyde-free, FSC-certified medium density fiberboard (MDF) in a variety of thicknesses, including fire-rated cores. Mitchoff said more species are being sourced for launch in the future. “These are distinctive, beautiful and rich in history, a befitting use of some amazing wood,”...

CHICAGO—Cintas Corporation has released a complimentary white paper for hotels. The paper provides hotel owners and operators with critical information on how to maximize the appearance, quality, and longevity of assets such as tile and carpeting and air-conditioning (A/C) units through deep cleaning solutions. Offering an in-depth overview of the process—complete with statistics and testimonials—the white paper reveals how deep cleaning solutions improve guest satisfaction, audit scores and the bottom line. “Tile, carpeting and A/C units undergo a lot of wear and tear and are significantly expensive to replace,” said Todd McKeown, vice president of Hospitality, Cintas. “The white paper...

NEW YORK—Raw, an InterfaceFLOR modular carpet tile product created from yarns derived from a combination of salvaged fishing nets, post-industrial waste, and fibers from the company’s own processing of reclaimed carpet products, is among 100 products named “Best of What’s New” for 2011 by Popular Science magazine. In naming Raw to this noteworthy list, Mark Jannot, the magazine’s editor-in-chief, said, “For 24 years, Popular Science has honored the innovations that surprise and amaze us—those that make a positive impact on our world today and challenge our views of what’s possible in the future. The ‘Best of What’s New’ Award is...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Luxurious Organics as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. The company is a wholesale supplier of organic textiles and apparel. It works specifically with organic cotton, bamboo viscose, silk and hemp. Luxurious Organics can customize any product, size or private label. The company’s specialties include: sheets, duvet covers, comforters, blankets, throws, rugs, towels, bathrobes, and pajamas. Call (503) 481-0106, e-mail luxuryorganics@aol.com, or visit www.luxuriousorganics.net for more details.

BALTIMORE—Constellation Energy and Marriott International, Inc. announced an agreement to develop more than 23 megawatts of load response capability across more than 250 Marriott-managed hotel properties in the mid-Atlantic, New England, New York, Texas and California. Load response is the reduction of electrical consumption in response to high wholesale electricity prices, system resource capacity needs or system reliability events. Constellation’s load response program is designed to improve energy efficiency and reduce electricity costs at Marriott properties, while ensuring guest comfort through expanded building automation capability and customized load curtailment strategies. “Marriott International sees this program as a direct link to our...

HOUSTON—Toshiba International Corp. announced that it is introducing a 40-watt equivalent A19 LED lamp. Unlike many other LED lamps launched to date, Toshiba’s A19 boasts a more traditional light bulb shape—a feature that research shows is important to lighting designers, specifiers and consumers. Toshiba’s new A19 lamp is manufactured with patented technology enabling omnidirectional light distribution that is similar to an incandescent lamp. The lamp is also dimmable and comes in 2700K and 4000K color temperatures. Manufactured to Energy Star standards, Toshiba’s A19 LED light bulb lasts up to 40 times longer than incandescent lamps and reduces energy use by...

FAIRFIELD, N.J.—Tommy Bahama dispensers have found a home in a number of hotels along the Pacific Coast with the help of Essential Amenities, Inc. and Pineapple Hospitality. The Acqua Hotel, Hotel FIVE, The Maxwell Hotel, University Inn, and Watertown Hotel have all recently adopted the Tommy Bahama hotel amenities in all guestrooms as part of an effort to reduce waste and make a positive impact on the environment. “We’re very proud because we are the first hotel in California to feature the Tommy Bahama dispensers,” says Kurt Helmke, general manager for the Acqua Hotel, located in Marin County just outside...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes LittleFootprint Lighting as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. The company is the maker of the HeronLED Personal Task Light. It is the first desk lamp made from recycled ABS plastic from e-waste. The replaceable LED bulb lasts 15 years or longer and uses just 4 watts. The lamp produces a “warm white” light, more than 230 lumens, at 58 lumens/watt. The desk lamp and bulb are manufactured in the United States and can contribute to LEED in several categories. The desk lamp comes with a...

WEST CHICAGO, ILL.—CFR, a leading manufacturer of recycling carpet extractors, has introduced the next generation of one of its best-selling machines, the ECO-500. The new machine, part of the ECO-500 AW Series, is powered by an all-new vacuum motor engineered with a number of advanced features that improve cleaning performance, reduce energy needs, and make the machine quieter than earlier models. Most importantly, the new unit is specifically designed for foam- and moisture-laden applications. “New moisture shields protect the motor’s bearings, the cooling fan has been repositioned to improve airflow, and the machine’s electronic system has been re-engineered to help improve...

NOTTINGHAM, PA.—Zandur, a green manufacturer dedicated to developing the world’s most environmentally sensitive flooring products, announces the launch of a new tile size in their “True Green” line of natural Cork Rubber Flooring. The 12" x 24" tile addition creates extensive opportunity for designers to discover their own unique patterns by mixing and matching square or plank cut tile in nearly limitless combination. Zandur’s high performance material is available in 48 standard colors.    Zandur’s Cork Rubber Flooring is made from more than 65 percent recycled and renewable cork and 35 percent rubber and meets the requirements of numerous...