WARWICK, N.Y.—With the motto “Eco-friendly is Design Friendly at Impact,” Impact Enterprises, Inc., a leader in menu cover manufacturing, has announced a new green initiative: All custom menu and binder cover material options first presented to Impact’s customers will be materials that are considered environmentally friendly. For several years, Impact Enterprises has researched solutions for quality and durable eco-friendly menu cover materials. The company, based in New York and Nevada, has determined that it can initiate the same new designs and material combinations and provide the same wide selection of materials that it is known for, but now its selection...

GARDEN CITY, N.Y.—Reinforcing its “responsible lighting” commitment, WAC Lighting introduces LEDme Recessed Downlights. WAC Lighting, a leading manufacturer and designer of track, recessed, undercabinet, monorail and decorative lighting, develops nearly all of its responsible products in the family owned, ISO 9001-certified manufacturing campus with in-house UL approved testing labs. Developed for both residential and commercial applications, WAC’s new LEDme Downlights utilize the latest energy efficient LED technology, and offer a potential LED life of 50,000 hours. The fixtures are dimmable and available in 2-, 3- and 4-inch apertures. Designed with a clean, architectural look, LEDme Recessed Luminaires are engineered for...

GAINESVILLE, FLA.—The National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) “Your Role in the Green Environment” curriculum has been approved by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) for 15 hours of continuing education under the Green Building Certification Institute’s (GBCI) Credentialing Maintenance Program. Under the new Credentialing Maintenance program, LEED Accredited Professionals (APs) must earn 30 continuing (CE) education hours every two years and LEED Green Associates must earn 15 (CE) hours every two years to maintain their LEED credentials. “We are very excited about having our green training program approved by USGBC to support maintenance of LEED credentials,” said...

MADISON, WIS.—Quarra Stone, the Madison, Wis.-based company that supplies and fabricates natural stone for signature architectural and restoration projects throughout the country, has launched a comprehensive database that identifies dimensional stone quarries throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. The database is designed to enable architects who are specifying natural stone in their projects to earn points towards LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. Current guidelines call for the award of one point towards LEED certification for builders who use dimensional stone that is quarried within 500 miles of construction. “The use of natural stone in buildings is...

MURRIETA, CALIF.—Green Globe Certification (GGC) announced the launch of Green Globe Mexico to service markets in its home country and Latin American neighbors. Green Globe Mexico has been appointed a three-year license, with opportunity to extend, to provide sustainability certification and related services under the Green Globe brand. Green Globe Mexico is a 100 percent Mexican company supported by environmental organizations including PRONATURA SUR A.C and Productos y Procesos Sustentables A.C., both having a long history of environmental stewardship in Mexico as well as certification of sustainable agriculture. “Our mission at PRONATURA has been the conservation of flora, fauna and priority...

SHEFFIELD, MASS.—Cypress Bath, Bed & Spa, a leading designer and manufacturer of luxury bathrobes, towels, slippers, and sheets for the global hospitality and spa industries, announced the appointment of Neil Rastogi to the position of vice president of business development. Among other executive leadership responsibilities, his primary role will be to grow the U.S. market for environmentally-friendly linens, and achieve a larger market share for Cypress’ consumer and hospitality product lines. Rastogi brings a lifetime of textile experience to Cypress, having grown up working in a family-run mill in India and working for textile companies worldwide since graduating from the...

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.—Valley Forge Fabrics, Inc., a leader in sustainable textiles for hospitality, announced the results of a 360 Degree Green Audit of the company conducted by MindClick SGM. Valley Forge, already known for its award winning FRESH fabric collections—including LIVING FRESH Bedding with Tencel+Plus Lyocell—looked to MindClick SGM for the next step in their sustainability evolution. Valley Forge Fabrics, recognizing customer demand for sustainable products, sought to further improve its service by establishing transparent, ongoing sustainability performance measurement. Going beyond the limitations of traditional sustainability evaluations which measure energy, water and waste only, Valley Forge Fabrics turned to MindClick...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes ClearEdge Power as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. With facilities in California and Oregon, ClearEdge Power is a privately held technology company leading the way for smarter, cleaner on-site energy systems focused on commercial, institutional and residential buildings. The company designs, manufactures and markets the ClearEdge5 system, a unique, proven fuel cell appliance that cleanly converts natural gas to electricity and heat, offering a significant financial savings as well as a greatly reduced impact on the global environment. The ClearEdge corporate management systems are certified...

SEDONA, ARIZ.—Sedona’s Kings Ransom Inn recently launched Green Suites International’s “EcoRoom Accommodation Program,” converting each of its 53 guestrooms into healthier, more environmental “EcoRooms.” They are the first property in the area to do so. The guestrooms will now feature more than a dozen environmental products. The products include compact fluorescent light bulbs, water-efficient showerheads and sink faucets; LED nightlights (according to a study at Livermore Laboratories, 40 percent of all travelers leave bathroom lights on as nightlights), nontoxic cleaning chemicals; a linen reuse program, and Natura brand liquid soaps, lotions and shampoo products offered in shower and vanity dispensers....

COOPERSBURG, PA.—In effort to fill the gaps that currently exist between utilities and their customers in the burgeoning “smart grid” demand response arena, Lutron Electronics Co., Inc. announced an initiative to broaden the use of its existing technologies that are used today in many “whole home” and “whole building” lighting systems. The company hopes to move quickly to help connect power utilities “smart metering” to the electrical infrastructure in both residential homes and commercial spaces. The initiative will also include focused, new technology development efforts led by a newly-formed Energy Solutions Business Unit. The long time leader in electronic...