SAN METEO, CALIF.—Outsource Development Software company Solve IT Labs has developed technology to help InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) hotels achieve their environmental goals. The software allows management to track and manage hotel energy, water and waste consumption for the world’s largest hotel group. Green Engage software enables hotel owners to reduce energy costs by operating more efficiently. It measures energy and environmental metrics across eight areas of hotel operations. Hotels can measure, manage and report on environmental benchmarks. Using the program, general managers at individual properties can enter facility data on site, and compare that data with information entered from similar...

FORT. LAUDERDALE, FLA.—Valley Forge Fabrics, Inc., a leader in sustainable textiles for hospitality, announced that the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) confirmed recognition of bedding within the LEED rating system, specifically within LEED for Existing Buildings (LEED EB). The Valley Forge LIVING FRESH with Tencel+Plus Lyocell products may help projects earn LEED points in three areas as this collection is made from a rapidly renewable resource (eucalyptus), will be picked up at the end of its life through Valley Forge’s established reclamation program and the eucalyptus is harvested from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) managed forests. All eucalyptus fiber for...

HORSHAM, PA.—Roxanna Lopez, an operations manager in LRA Worldwide’s Quality Assurance Practice, has passed the Tier 1 accreditation exam offered through the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) arm of the U.S. Green Building Council. By passing the exam, Lopez earned her LEED Green Associate credentials. As sustainable operational practices become increasingly important in the lodging industry, Lopez will work to integrate “green” standards into existing LRA client quality assurance programs. The consultants in LRA’s Quality Assurance practice currently conduct nearly 13,000 property evaluations in a given year. “As more of our clients are looking to add sustainable operational practices...

ALPHARETTA, GA.—The Hansgrohe formula of blending modern and traditional design elements with state-of-the-art technology is once again on display with the new Metris C line of lav, bidet and tub faucets. All of the lav models in this new series feature ceramic cartridges and Hansgrohe EcoRight technology to limit flow rates to 1.5 gallons per minute (GPM)—a 30 percent savings over conventional lav faucets. Like the new Talis C series, Metris C faucets are designed to be combined with Hansgrohe Raindance C showerheads, handshowers and bodysprays, creating a coordinated look that brings a classical elegance to the bath, but with...

SAN DIEGO—Cali Bamboo, a manufacturer of green residential and commercial building materials made entirely from bamboo, announced a $14,000 contribution to San Diego Coastkeeper to support their Watershed Monitoring Program. The donation will help the nonprofit organization enhance the physical condition of San Diego’s beaches, bays, watersheds and oceans as well as provide valuable public health benefits to residents and visitors. “Not only is it our mission to do our part as a company to protect the environment, but a lot of our staff enjoy spending time at the beach; so contributing to a program that aims to improve our local...

ALPHARETTA, GA.—Atlanta-based Neenah Paper announced it has received a 2009 national Green Power Leadership Award from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA cosponsors the Green Power Leadership Awards in conjunction with the United States Department of Energy (DOE) and the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) to recognize the leading actions of organizations, programs, and individuals that significantly advance the development of green power sources. Neenah Paper was one of only 10 companies in the United States to be named a Green Power Purchaser at the 2009 awards ceremony held in Atlanta last month in conjunction with the...

NORTH WALPOLE, N.H.—Len-Tex Corp. announced that its entire line of contract wallcoverings has earned the Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) Indoor Advantage Gold designation. All Len-Tex and Surface iQ branded wallcoverings meet the rigorous standards outlined in the SCS testing protocols for healthy indoor air quality. SCS is recognized as the global leader in providing independent environmental standards and certification, including those for interior building materials. SCS Indoor Advantage Gold certification meets the criteria of the most stringent threshold for indoor emissions, California Section 01350, which uses human health-based standards for indoor air quality. SCS certification requires independent...

SOUTH BEND, IND.—Royal Adhesives and Sealants LLC announced that it has launched a new line of Gunther brand mirror mastic, Premier Plus. Developed specifically for the professional mirror installation market, this mirror mastic contains less than 10 grams per liter of VOCs compared to more than 500 grams per liter of VOCs in traditional solvent-based mirror mastics. With this ultra LVOC content, Premier Plus is the first mirror mastic for LEED compliant construction projects. Established through the U.S. Green Building Council, the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program establishes strict guidelines for energy and environmental design. As part...

SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA—In celebration of World Tourism Day, September 27, the Rainforest Alliance, an international conservation organization, released the results of a study that examines whether tourism businesses in Latin America benefit from applying sustainable practices to their operations. The study, titled “A Cost and Benefit Analysis of Best Practice Implementation in Tourism Businesses,” was conducted earlier this year with 14 tourism businesses in Guatemala, Belize, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Ecuador. The data shows that businesses working with the Rainforest Alliance’s sustainable tourism program gained tangible benefits from the application of best management practices for environmental and social...

COOPERSBURG, PA.—Lutron Services Company has announced the introduction of the Lighting Energy Audit, a new program designed to help facility managers and building owners reduce lighting-associated costs, implement creative energy-saving strategies, and enhance their reputation as leaders in environmentally responsible initiatives. As commercial buildings across the United States continue to age, facility management teams are increasingly being faced with issues ranging from inefficient light sources to outdated control strategies. The growing focus on sustainability has prompted many of these teams to re-examine their lighting systems when looking for new ways to save energy while lowering operating and maintenance costs....