CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Kenyon International as a Green Product & Service Directory Partner. Kenyon International manufactures Kenyon Custom “suite green” compact ceramic cook tops with one or two burners and in 120-, 208- and 240-volt models. The cook tops include “HOT” and “ON” indicator lights. Kenyon Custom’s Lite-Touch Q Outdoors waterproof one-burner cook top and All Seasons Electric Grill for outdoor kitchens are available in 120-volt models. Kenyon International offers a three-year product replacement warranty. For more information, e-mail sowens@kenyonappliances.com, call (860) 664-4906, or go to www.kenyonappliances.com.

HOLLAND, N.Y.—Staroba Plastics, Inc. announces the acquisition of EcoStar from Carlisle Construction Materials. EcoStar, known for its premium roofing tiles manufactured from recycled rubber and plastic, will now be known as EcoStar LLC under the ownership of Staroba Plastics. Based in Holland, N.Y., Staroba Plastics has manufactured the product since its inception. EcoStar LLC will have full control of all aspects of manufacturing, marketing and selling the EcoStar line of products and will be ideally positioned to consolidate its position as one of North America’s leading suppliers of synthetic roofing tiles. The visionary glimpse of what EcoStar is today began...

NORFOLK, NEB.—MP Global Products, a leader in the manufacture of underlayment for the flooring industry, announced that FiberBacker, by MP Global Products L.L.C, has earned Indoor Advantage Gold certification from Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), the organization’s highest level of indoor environmental quality certification and the most stringent indoor air quality certification in the country. It is the first underlayment for ceramic and porcelain floors to do so. The seal from SCS requires conformance with limits for 80 different volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) and is intended to insure that individual occupants’ overall exposure to any one of these chemicals does...

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...