Cadiz Design Studio to present Green Vignette at HI Connect Design

Hi Connect Design is Hotel Interactive, Inc’s re-imagined tradeshow experience.

Taking place at the  Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville from March 21-23, 2012, Cadiz Design Studio has been selected to present the “green room,” which will feature the firm’s version of the “hotel room of the future.” Under the leadership of Lorraine Francis, AIA, LEED AP, and principal at Cadiz Design Studio, the team is hard at work developing their vignette.

Connect with Cadiz in Nashville

Hotel Interactive, a leader in providing “edgy” editorial content for to the hotel industry, is stepping off the page to produce a HI Connect Design in Nashville.

Francis is looking forward to unveiling their design at HI Connect and is sure that the team will deliver a winning concept that will provide value to participants at the show.  “We look forward to working with lodging industry leaders and helping them develop sustainable products that are affordable and easy to incorporate into existing hospitality brands.”

Francis feels that the ability for attendees to interact with the vignettes at HI Connect is a great way to introduce  hotel industry owners, designers, purchasing pros and suppliers to sustainability topics.

Cadiz Design Studio chosen to present Green Room at HI Connect Design

Cadiz Design Studio, under the leadership of Lorraine Francis, is planning the “hotel room of the future.”  Francis and her team are busy making plans for their vignette that will be part of the  HI Connect Design show in Nashville in March, 2012.

Members of the Cadiz Design Studio team are excited to participate in this unique trade show event and are looking for ways to showcase the firm’s expertise and leadership in sustainable design concepts in the hospitality sector.   The fully designed Green- Vignette will feature an interactive experience incorporating sustainable design and products.

It’s easy to transform your office and fulfill your earth-friendly lifestyle.  Just follow these guidelines:

• Look for green products, like Safe White correction fluid, staple-less staplers, and refillable pens- anything that won’t be sent to a landfill after you’re through with it.

• Look for products made from post-consumer content (materials collected from previous products to make new ones,) like paper and plastic items.  Even paper clips with post-consumer metals are now available.

•  Recycle used office supplies whenever possible.

For Printers

Besides the obvious fixes, (like buying and using recycled paper, not printing whenever possible to save paper…) here are some great ways to print smart:

• Put a sign up in the office to remind everyone to print only when necessary.
• Also, printing on both sides of a sheet of paper can save paper tremendously.
• Use your printer’s eco-mode setting, if it has one.  Also, use software such as GreenPrint or EcoPrint2 to save ink, toner, and paper.
• Do not keep your printer set to turn on whenever your computer or network is switched on.  Turn on your printer only when necessary.
• When buying a printer, choose an Energy Star compliant printer.  Make sure your new printer has an energy saving feature.
• Recycle your used ink and toner cartridges.

• Turning off your computer when it’s not in use greatly helps the environment and really gives your files a rest.
• Replace your Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) monitors with flat screen monitors.  Flat screen displays consume only about 1/3 of the energy used by a CRT monitor, and they look more stylish!
• Consider replacing a few desktop computers with laptops.  Laptops are the most energy-efficient computer/monitor combinations.
• Keep computer equipment updated.  New monitors and computers are more energy efficient than those even two years old.  When choosing new equipment, look for Energy Star compliant computers and monitors.
• Recycle your used computers.  See Where to Recycle Computers in Canada and Computer Recycling in the U.S. about PC Hardware/Reviews on about.com.

• The Obvious Tip: Turn off lights when not in use.  You’d be surprised to know how many office staff rooms and wash rooms keep their lights on all day.  (*It will save you money on your energy bill too!)
• Blow-Your-Mind Tips:  
• Replace standard incandescent bulbs with compact florescent lamps (CFLs).  They use 75% less energy than standard incandescent light bulbs, while delivering the same light output.
• Use light wall colors.  Light paint colors and higher gloss sheens reflect daylight, which means your space will need less overhead lighting.  BC Hydro has a great guide for naturally lighting your space.

Heating and Cooling

• If you can access your office thermostat, heat your office to twenty-one degrees celsius when the space is unoccupied.  Heating and cooling set points must be set 2 to 3 degrees C apart so that the air conditioner does not cycle (turn on and off) frequently (BC Hydro.)
• Use weather stripping and caulking to minimize heat loss from windows and doors.

Some Positive Facts To Keep You Thinking Green

(See more tips on http://green770.blogspot.com/)

• Every ton of recycled paper saves up to seventeen 12-metre Douglas Fir trees.
• Up to 90% of recycled glass can be reused to make new glass items, such as bottles and jars.
• Each recycled glass bottle saves enough energy to light a 100 watt light bulb for 4 hours.
• One recycled aluminum can saves enough energy to power your television for 3 hours.
• 43 recycled bottles can produce 1 m2 of carpet.
• Recycling a 1 gallon plastic milk jug will save enough energy to keep a 100-watt bulb burning for 11 hours.

Tips on Recycling All Sorts of Home Waste Materials

• Newspaper material goes directly back into newsprint recycling, so you should save your newspapers in one bin.
• Recycling a 1.2 m stack of newspapers is equal to saving one 12-metre fir tree.
• Magazines, glossy printed flyers, newspaper inserts, phonebooks, envelopes, computer paper, old letters, and paper packaging can all be saved together in one bin.
• Staples are acceptable, but the following should not be included in your paper recycling process: rubber bands, carbon paper, plastic wrap, stickers, cardboard, laminated paper, laminated cardboard…
• Disregard fast food wrappers made from plastic, dirty or food-stained paper, tissues, and napkins.
• Corrugated cardboard is a highly valued recyclable.  The most important thing is to remember to keep it dry, before grouping it all together and tying it with a string for your curbside collectors.
• Plastic or waxy-coated, as well as wet or greasy cardboard (like pizza boxes), cannot be recycled because it clogs up the sorting machines.

Most plastic grocery bags are made of high density polyethylene, a type-2 recyclable plastic.  Most grocery stores have bins outside to that customers can drop off used plastic bags for recycling.\

Choose products packaged with plastic #2 (HDPE), as many companies have done, especially those in organic food sales. 

Good Luck!

I hope these tips are useful to you, as following them wisely allows you to be a part of the movement toward a better planet for all of us.

SAY BYE-BYE TO BUYING BAD    

by Olivia Nuhn

Juliet Schor, of Born To Buy, reports that “between 1196 and 2002, the number of pieces of imported apparel purchased by each American consumer rose 83%.  All that acquisition has led to a culture of ‘disposable clothes,’ dramatic increases in consumer discard rates, and mountains of perfectly wearable but economically valueless garments piling up all over the country.”

We buy more because clothes are getting cheaper (prices having dropped by 10% between 1993 and 2003.)

“When t-shirts can be had for roughly the cost of a cup of coffee, we’re a lot less likely to ask ourselves if we really need it.”

WHAT WE CAN DO:

We can’t possibly expect to find anything looking for “sweatshop free” labels, so what can we do to shop smart?

BUY CLOTHING TO LAST

Adjust your attitude to your clothing.  Purchase wardrobe that you’ll see fit for several seasons.  It will save you thought and money.

 STEER CLEAR OF DRY CLEANING

The process uses perchloreothylene (easily known as “perc”) which causes headaches, dizziness, nausea, reproductive problems like miscarriages and male infertility, and does great overall damage to the central nervous system.

*An easy alternative: WET CLEANING- uses water and eco-friendly detergents to clean sensitive fabrics.

SHOP SECONDHAND

It’s the new, cool trend anyway, right?  Consignment shopping is a fun, easy way to consume without doing much harm to your wallet or environment.  Seek out stores in more affluent areas and keep an eye out for high-end labels (they’re there), as better made clothing can usually stand the test of time.

 PRESSURE THE RETAILER

Don’t be afraid to ask companies what their production methods are and where they get their clothes from.  Companies take these concerns seriously, so writing those letters and emails are worth the effort.  Tell them, “I want to shop with you, but I want to feel good about it,” and ask “What are you doing to ensure workers are being treated according to the Fair Labor Standards Act?  How do you monitor this?”

(The Organic Consumers Association’s Clothes for Change Campaign offers addresses, email information, and suggested comments to some large manufacturers like The Gap, Nike, and Wal-Mart at www.organicconsumers.org/clothes/action.cfm)

Companies like American Apparel, Cotton Ginny, Patagonia, Timberland, Levi Strauss, Loomstate, and many others are some that are favored, setting the bar high for others that should follow their methods of production.

Support their initatives by buying their clothing with a conscience.

*According to an online survey on Oprah Winfrey’s website, about 1/3 of the respondents own 10 pairs of jeans.  Approximately 2/3 report that they haven’t seen the back of their closet in months, but 1/4 say they look in those exact closets EVERY MORNING, concluding with that same, old statement: “I have nothing to wear.”

WHAT FABRICS TO LOOK FOR:

Organic Cotton:

But some baby-soft cotton isn’t as “natural” as marketers like to make us believe.  Cotton is the second most pesticide-laden crop in the world (after coffee and before tobacco.)  It accounts for 25% of the world’s pesticide use, but organic cotton is grown without chemicals or toxic pesticides.

Companies like Levi Strauss, Victoria’s Secret, and Espirit are in favor of incorporating organic cotton into their lines and following a greener path.  (For more companies to favor, see “Brands I Love” and visit www.organicexchange.org/consumer_marketplace.php)

Hemp:

It’s the strongest natural fiber and the most eco-friendly fiber in the world.  It flourishes without pesticides or fertilizers and produces more yield per acre than any other crop.

Tencel (The Wonder Material):

You’ve probably never heard of it, but Tencel (a.k.a. generic fiber lyocell) feels like cotton, only better.  It’s softer, gentler, and more elegant.  It’s also well known for it’s “drape,” which flatters your body.  On top of that, it’s biodegradable, durable, and easily machine washed and dryed, thus making it “the wonder material.”

Bamboo:

Although it doesn’t look it from the plant, bamboo material can feel very soft and cozy.  It’s similar to rayon and contains microbial properties that keeps out odor.  It’s eco-friendly because it’s a very fast-growing grass, ready to harvest within four to five years.

Microfiber:

Looks like leather or suede, but has no traces of dead animals, tanning dyes, or needs for dry-cleaning.  (Wow, right?)  It’s long-lasting luxury, and without the guilt.

Fleece:

EcoSpun- a high quality polyester fiber, is made from recycled plastic soda bottles.  Look for names like Polartec, Ecopile, or E.C.O. Fleece.

Soy:

Quite a great and powerful bean: providing food, skin care, and now, clothing.  It is soft and light on your skin and in your closet, as well as in your tummy.

Others to look out for: Corn, Seaweed, Ingeo, Lenpur, Sasawashi, and more!

(Resources: Leslie Garretti’s The Virtuous Consumer)

Presently, designers everywhere have been coming up with great ways to add style to sustainable living.

Here are some examples of environmentally-friendly products and ideas that are already available to us.

Cadiz Design Studio will get to showcase its recent architectural and interior design renovation of Starwood’s Phoenician Ballroom as the Arizona Network of Executive Women in Hospitality (NEWH) offers a public tour of the Ballroom on June 23^rd.

The recent $40 million, 45,000-square-foot Camelback Ballroom was added to the 64,000 square-foot Phoenician Resort to create a 109,000 square-foot location ideal for many occasions — from social gatherings to annual business conferences. Located at the base of Camelback Mountain and a majestic sight to behold, The Phoenician offers a fantastic getaway for the leisure traveler and business guru alike.

Admittance is $25 for members and students, $30 for nonmembers, and attendants may expect a finger food and cash bar upon entry.

For more information on this event, please visit the event’s webpage here.

We’re looking for testimonials and comments on our company’s services. If anyone has something to say, please send an email to douglas@cadizdesignstudio.com, or leave a comment on our Facebook page. Your testimonials will be featured on our website, and most importantly are much appreciated by the entire Cadiz team. Thanks everyone, hope to hear from you all soon.

Thursday Night Please join us for Food, Drinks and Entertainment as we welcome you to our new home at CISCO Home Furniture at The Camp! Time: 5:00-8:00 Where: 2937 Bristol Street Costa Mesa, Ca. 92626 Join us to celebrate the opening of the newest Cisco Home Store and Cadiz Design Studio’s collaboration with them to create beautiful interiors. Cadiz Residential: Your Life. Your Style. Your Home.

View the entire flyer here.

Cadiz Design Studio has been nominated for a finalist position in the 2011 Real Estate & Development (RED) Awards! Check back for results in the near future.

In celebration of the new Cadiz and Cisco partnership, a social event will be held at the Cisco Brothers property on March 3rd, 2011. More Info to be announced within the next few weeks. Keep your availibility open!

Cadiz Design Studio moves its office space to Costa Mesa, California.

Lorraine Francis moderates a panel at the October 2010 Bitac Conference in Las Vegas: Green Strategies for your Hotel Asset.

Cadiz Design Studio’s latest project the 15,000 square-foot Phoenician Camelback Ballroom in Scottsdale, Arizona opened it’s doors on October 1st, 2010.

The Ballroom is one of four luxury properties in the U.S. that can accommodate up to 800 people and also providing guestrooms, food & beverage, and conference facilities. This 40 million dollar project is located on the southeast side of Camelback Mountain. It features high clerestory windows, custom designed carpet, lighting fixtures, and furniture. It also includes numerous registration areas and a separate valet entrance designed to architecturally enhance the existing property. “The Camelback Ballroom combines The Phoenician’s Five Diamond standard of excellence with a contemporary style and state-of-the-art technology to transform any occasion into an incomparable experience,” said Mark Vinciguerra, area managing director for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.