NEWH - Winter 2011 - (Page 8)

sustainability point of view what it means to be green NEWH Sustainable Hospitality seeks to close the credibility gap between specifiers and suppliers By David Mahood, VP sustainable hospitality, NEWH After reviewing a recent survey on sustainability conducted online by IMRE, a research organization, in conjunction with AIA and ASID, I thought one part was worth sharing. The crux of which is below: void in information on sustainable practices. After several major revisions, the directory remains an excellent tool for both producers and specifiers. On December 9th, our committee will be conducting a “green” tradeshow in Washington, DC, In furthering our mission of education and scholarship, we have requested all tradeshow exhibitors to complete the resource directory information for the review of all attendees. Specifiers and manufacturers will both benefit from this open exchange of information. By promoting better industry transparency, we are actively shrinking the credibility gap. We recommend any company with a sustainable mission to exhibit at our NEWH Sustainable Hospitality Tradeshow and Forum in December, and we recommend all specifiers to attend our event to seek them out. In addition to the informative exchange from the tradeshow format, sustainability experts will be sharing their wisdom throughout the day in various keynote and session events. Dina Belon, director of sustainable hospitality for NEWH, states, “Be a leader in the sustainable hospitality industry, show your customers and competitors your leadership in honest and transparent reporting by completing the NEWH Sustainable Hospitality questionnaire and becoming a member of the sustainable directory list on the NEWH website. Show off your green colors.” To exhibit, attend, or sponsor our committee’s inaugural event, please go to NEWH.org or seek out your nearest NEWH chapter representative. On “Greenwashing.” Forty percent of architects and 34 percent of interior designers are “uncertain” if products claiming to be sustainable are actually sustainable. Almost 22 percent of architects and 11 percent of interior designers are “somewhat” or “not at all confident” that products are actually sustainable. Only two percent of architects and three percent of interior designers are “completely confident” in manufacturers’ claims that products are actually sustainable. That’s a disturbingly low level of confidence shown by our A&D partners of the sustainable claims of suppliers. It clearly indicates that the need for greater product transparency and full disclosure is at hand. Many of us who are producers of goods share a similar lack of confidence in the countless organizations seeking lots of dollars to certify our products through proprietary means. This conflict is at the center of the problem. NEWH Sustainable Hospitality has always readily addressed this conflict through education. The more we all become educated on sustainable hospitality practices, the more the gap closes between manufacturers and specifiers. Our committee produced our first sustainable resource directory more than five years ago in an educational format that would help simplify the 8 winter 2011 www.newh.org tel 800.593.NEWH http://www.NEWH.org http://www.newh.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NEWH - Winter 2011

NEWH - Winter 2011
Contents
NEWH and chapter updates
Who’s Who
Sustainability: Point of View
Interview: Lisa Homan
Interview: Helen Reed
Conference
Cover Story
Have You Seen?
Product Know How
On the Scene
Project: Padre Hotel
Project: Hyatt Regency Rochester
Partner Profiles
Save the Date
New Members
Ad Index

NEWH - Winter 2011