CHICAGO—When Virgin Group opened its first hotel last month—the 250-room Virgin Hotels Chicago—what was not talked about much in the media was the green story behind the renovated historic Old Dearborn Bank Building at 203 N. Wabash Ave. Richard Branson, Virgin Group founder, and member of the B Team leaders who recently called for a global commitment to net-zero greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050, established a hotel brand with the goal of LEED Silver for each hotel. Virgin Hotels Chicago’s green story begins with its site selection. Rather than building new, Virgin Hotels chose a historic bank building and kept...

GRANT, MICH.—All the Porous Pave manufactured and installed through December 2014 included a total of about six million pounds of rubber recycled from 200,000 tires. A proven option for green stormwater infrastructure, Porous Pave is a highly porous, durable and flexible surfacing material consisting of recycled rubber, aggregate and a binder. The controlled shredding and processing of discarded tires produces the one-quarter-inch nominal size rubber chips incorporated into Porous Pave.“Reaching a total of 200,000 tires saved from landfills, recycled and processed into a component of Porous Pave is an environmental achievement,” said David Ouwinga, President and CEO, Porous Pave,...

TRAVELERS REST, S.C.—T&S Brass and Bronze Works has released a new brochure detailing models, features and options for its ChekPoint line of electronic sensor faucets, including new models with  above deck electronics that are especially suited for commercial kitchen applications. T&S electronic sensor faucets are made of chrome-plated brass, require no sealants, are ADA-compliant, and boast a wide range of convenient features, including: •    adjustable temperature control mixing valve; •    adjustable automatic time-out feature; •    adjustable water shut-off delay; •    troubleshooting LED indicator lights and low battery indicator light; •    scratch-resistant sensor lens and modular quick-release sensor connections; •    solenoid...

NORTHBROOK, ILL.—UL, a global safety science leader, recently conducted a study to learn where value and return on investment lie in the area of sustainable buildings. The study and its result is available in a free white paper titled, “The Dawn of the Building Performance Era.” The paper wasa written by UL Chief Economist Erin Grossi.In the white paper, Grossi predicts disruption in the building market over the next five to 10 years as owners, operators and investors of buildings increasingly recognize the potential of innovation in building energy consumption, water usage and indoor air quality to positively impact...

ALPHARETTA, GA.—Hansgrohe has added new shower products—handshowers, showerheads, and shower trims—to its expansive lineup. The Raindance Select E 300 showerhead and the new Croma 160 showerhead can serve as a complement to a handshower or take center stage in the shower. With two showerhead sprays and Hansgrohe’s easy Select button, the Raindance Select E 300 showerhead is fully equipped to be the main shower source in the bath. Its sleek yet solid stylish shape is also the mark of Phoenix Design. For a more circular shaped showerhead, the well-engineered and long-lasting Croma 160 showerhead delivers. It has a polished...

TORRANCE, CALIF.—Courtyard Los Angeles Torrance/Palos Verdes is taking its green efforts to the next level with the completion of a landscaping renovation project that will not only save the hotel money but will help take the edge off of California’s severe drought. The unique project brings a low-maintenance, low-water outdoor environment to the hotel in Torrance, Calif. and demonstrates the Courtyard’s commitment to the surrounding community. Flower beds, hedges and turf have been replaced by drought-resistant plants. After a self-audit, the hotel also replaced areas of its irrigation system while adjusting timing and putting in new sprinkler heads.“Our hotel...

SAN MARCOS, CALIF.—Hunter Industries proudly announces the release of the new MP800SR360, a short radius version of its popular MP Rotator, featuring rotating streams of water applied at a slower rate to conserve water and prevent runoff. “The MP800SR360 rounds out our short-radius offering with a 360º full-circle pattern and complements the 90º-120º adjustable arc model introduced earlier this year,” said Kelsey Jacquard, Hunter Product Manager.The MP800SR360 reaches radius settings as low as 6 feet and can reach up to 12 feet on the high end. The precipitation rate remains matched across all arc and radius settings at approximately...

TRAVELERS REST, S.C.—T&S Brass and Bronze Works has been singled out as one of the best plants in North America, according to IndustryWeek Magazine. The publication recognized the South Carolina-based commercial foodservice and plumbing manufacturer on January 13 as one of six winners in its 25th annual Best Plants competition.IndustryWeek Executive Editor Steve Minter visited T&S’s Travelers Rest facility last fall as part of the competition’s on-site assessment process. “T&S Brass and Bronze Works embodies the values of IndustryWeek’s Best Plants contest winners—efficient manufacturing operations dedicated to continuous improvement producing high-quality products,” Minter said. “The company’s engaged workforce is...

ST. PAUL, MINN.—Ecolab Inc., a global leader in water, hygiene and energy technologies and services, has committed $1.5 million through the Ecolab Foundation to the Project WET Foundation, a nonprofit water resources education organization dedicated to preparing the next generation of responsible water stewards. The funds will help the Project WET Foundation reach more than two million people with water conservation and hygiene education by 2017.The support is part of Ecolab’s newly launched Solutions for Life program, which enhances the company’s work to conserve water and improve hygiene around the world through new partnerships, global philanthropy and employee volunteerism.“To...

VISTA, CALIF.—While it is unquestionably welcome, the latest U.S. Drought Monitor Report indicates that the recent rains in California, which dumped nearly 3 inches of rain on many parts of the state, are not having much impact on the state’s overall water supplies after three very dry years. “Despite a southward shift of the precipitation over the period, the moisture during the week not sufficient to afford drought relief to California,” the report said. “The rain will certainly benefit pastures and begin the process of aiding reservoirs. However, the moisture still fell well short of what is needed to...