The use of social media by industry members for business purposes is definitely on a significant incline. Many of the Web sites from industry companies, associations and trade shows -- as well as brochures and press releases -- are promoting Facebook pages or asking readers to follow them on Twitter.

I recently returned home from Coverings, which was held in Las Vegas this year.

This fall, I made my annual journey to Verona, Italy, to attend Marmomacc, the largest stone exhibition in the world. And as always, the show did not disappoint.

As fall approaches, another trade show season is set to begin. A week from now, I will be in Verona, Italy, touring the expansive exhibit halls at Marmomacc -- the world's largest stone exhibition.

In researching some of the latest tile and stone construction methods, I recently met with representatives from Marazzi, a large Italian manufacturer of porcelain tile.

CarraraMarmotec stone trade fair is not only a stone industry exhibition, as it also incorporates a range of events and initiatives to bridge stone producers with the architecture and design community.

Over the past couple of years, producers of technology for stone processors have introduced a new technology specifically for stone slab projects, and it appears to be making some serious traction in the marketplace. 

It is becoming apparent that "green design" is not a passing trend. More and more, words such as "sustainable," "LEED certified," "eco-friendly" and "carbon foot print" are being used to describe the construction of new buildings and homes.