OSCODA, MICH.—PROTECT-ALL Commercial Flooring, manufactured by Oscoda Plastics, Inc., has joined the ReSource Commercial Flooring Network (RCFN) as a Preferred Supplier. PROTECT-ALL joins a strategic group of manufacturers currently part of RCFN that include the industry’s most recognized brands of commercial flooring, accessories and installation products. “We are excited at the opportunity to be associated with the ReSource Network,” said John Rouse, Oscoda Plastics national sales manager. “Their members, who are some of the top commercial contractors in the country, can help us respond to the growing market demands for our environmentally-friendly flooring products.” PROTECT-ALL is a leading environmentally-friendly recycled vinyl...

LOS ANGELES—Staron Surfaces, a division of worldwide technology leader Samsung, was recently honored with the SCS Material Content Certification for seven of its surfacing products. The certification, issued by Scientific Certification Systems, a leader in certifying independent environmental claims, recognizes Staron for the use of recycled material in several of its acrylic surfacing options. The certification was awarded on the following Staron solid surface products: Staron Pebble Seastar—Minimum 5 percent pre-consumer recycled resin and chip content; Staron Aspen Mine—Minimum 10 percent pre-consumer recycled resin and chip content; Staron Aspen Snow—Minimum 10 percent pre-consumer recycled resin and chip content; Staron...

FALL RIVER, MASS.—Native Waters, LLC has introduced Native Water, a sustainable bottled water in environmentally friendly packaging. Locally sourced and packaged in biodegradable bottles, Native Water is 100 percent natural, organic and pure while making minimal environmental impact. Native Water is bottled in ENSO Bottles, a biodegradable PET plastic bottle. The bottles are produced with Ecopure, an additive added to the plastic manufacturing process that allows the bottles to be metabolized and neutralized on a microbial level, breaking down the plastic. ENSO bottles maintain the same physical properties and strengths as existing PET plastic bottles yet provide a more shelf...

DALLAS—LQ Management LLC, one of the largest operators of limited-service hotels in the United States, has long had an interest in running properties that are energy efficient. It has been an Energy Star partner since 1995, first established a compact fluorescent lighting program for its La Quinta Inns and La Quinta Inns & Suites brands in 1999, has a towel and linen reuse program at its more than 700 hotels, has deployed guestroom energy management systems in more than 160 properties, and is currently working with the American Hotel & Lodging Assn. to follow its 11 Minimum Guidelines for...

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF.—As of July 20, the owners of the Embassy Suites Lake Tahoe Hotel & Ski Resort had spent $250,000 less than they had expected to spend on energy this year. According to David Hansen, director of engineering at the 400-suite property, the hotel could come close to a total of $500,000 in energy savings by the end of 2009. When comparing the first six months of this year against the first six months of last year, electricity consumption dropped by 575,000 kilowatt hours ($98,902 savings) and natural gas consumption by 9,314 dekatherms ($67,709 savings). The hotel...

TORONTO—As part of the brand’s focus and commitment to sustainability, more than 22 Fairmont locations worldwide are reducing their waste disposal costs and supporting the switch to a cleaner economy by manufacturing used kitchen oils into biodiesel, a domestic and renewable fuel derived from natural oils. No one method or solution is universal and biodiesel initiatives vary by property. At The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, the hotel gets the job done by partnering with Yokayo Bio-Fuels, a local biodiesel firm, to gather approximately 150 gallons of kitchen grease each quarter, turning it into tallow or feed. The Fairmont...

PARSIPPANY, N.J.—Looking down on the roof of Wyndham Worldwide’s new headquarters on a sunny day could be hazardous to your eyes. The 83,000 square feet of white roofing on the top of the company’s new corporate headquarters building in Parsippany just might reflect the sun back at you. The white roof, which helps keep the building cool during the summer, is just one of the many green features found at Wyndham’s three-level corporate office. According to Faith Taylor, vice president, sustainability and innovation for Wyndham Worldwide, the complex opened earlier this year in February and more than 800 employees...

YORKVILLE, N.Y.—Expanding its Green Sustainable Lighting Program while introducing a classic brand in lighting, Meyda Lighting unveils the new Coca-Cola licensed Bottle Mini Pendants, which features recycled Coca- Cola glass bottles and the Coca-Cola licensed design. Meyda Lighting is a leading designer and manufacturer of custom and decorative lighting. The Coca-Cola Bottle Mini Pendant (109314) integrates a nostalgic design and craftsmanship with an authentic, recycled Coca-Cola bottle. This Coca-Cola Bottle Mini Pendant is handcrafted of Classic Green tinted glass featuring the authentic colors and contours of the original Coca-Cola bottle. The hardware features a canopy that replicates a Coca-Cola...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes PestWest LLC as a Green Product & Service Directory Partner. PestWest is currently offering its Vapor Vacuum Lamp Compacter for the disposal of fluorescent lighting. The Compacter contains used lamps in a secure container, while at the same time removing the hazardous mercury via a specially designed filter system. PestWest also offers professional insect light trap systems and other flying insect management products. For more information, call (941) 358-1983, e-mail info@pestwest.com, or go to www.pestwest.com.

NEW ORLEANS—More than 200 non-biodegradable fiberglass trash cans, once destined for a landfill, have found a new life as bright yellow-green recycling bins at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. In an effort to be more environmentally-friendly, the Convention Center sought to replace their existing trash cans with 210 new recycling bins for paper, plastic, and waste. As the trash cans were about to be put out to pasture, enterprising Convention Center employees stepped in with an innovative idea for repurposing the 25-year-old trash cans. During a brainstorming session, operations staff members suggested that the Convention Center’s existing...