Environmental Design + Construction - January 2009 - (Page 25)

EXCEL DRYER SPOTLIGHT The U.S. Green Building Council Practices What it Preaches with New Headquarters — and Energy-Efficient Restrooms. There’s no doubt about it: “green” is red hot. Environmental concerns and regulations are driving more and more companies to rethink the concept of “business as usual,” and as sustainable building continues to rapidly increase in popularity, building owners around the country turn to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for the certification needed to obtain or improve the environmental ratings of their facilities. The present demand for LEED certification for building projects is so high that the USGBC has expanded significantly in recent years to accommodate their clients. As a result, they quickly outgrew their former offices – and decided to build new headquarters that would embody the founding principles of the organization. “We knew that this was an opportunity to show our clients what a green building can look like,” said Ashley Katz, Communications Manager at the USGBC, who moved into the USGBC’s new headquarters in November 2006. “People sometimes assume that a green building won’t have the right aesthetics for their organization, but there are a lot of possibilities to explore. These days, green design is very accessible.” The building itself is LEED Gold rated, and the 22,000-square-foot commercial interior earned the coveted Platinum – the highest rating possible. The headquarters boasts 21 percent recycled materials in its construction. USGBC members also contributed products and services to the project – everything from recycled timbers to cork flooring to lighting controls. One of the contributors was the familyowned, East Longmeadow, Mass.-based company Excel Dryer Inc., who donated its new high-speed, energy-efficient XLERATOR hand dryers. Just as the USGBC has shed a new light on green building and design, the XLERATOR has helped to change the way people think about hand dryers. Because of its new patented technology, the XLERATOR works three times faster than conventional dryers while using 80 percent less energy. Excel Dryer is a USGBC member, and is proud of the fact that the XLERATOR hand dryer helps facilities qualify for LEED credits, including EA (Earth and Atmosphere) Credit 1 – Optimizing Energy Performance, which is now a mandatory credit for all LEED certifications. “Most people associate hand dryers with frustration and poor performance, often walking away unsatisfied and with hands that are still not thoroughly dry,” said Denis Gagnon, president of Excel Dryer. “The XLERATOR has raised users’ expectations and is now considered the ‘new industry standard’ for hand dryers. We’re pleased to be a member of the USGBC and join them in proving that green design can be effective and economical, as well as energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.” Each of the USGBC’s restrooms includes an XLERATOR as well as water-free urinals, dualflush toilets and low-flow faucets, resulting in a 40 percent reduction in water use. “Green design is all about the details – cutting back on waste and resource use wherever possible,” said Katz. “Our new headquarters reflect that, from the lobby to the conference rooms to the restrooms. We’re excited to show our clients the best of green building in action.” www.EDCmag.com 25 http://www.EDCmag.com

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Environmental Design + Construction - January 2009 Contents Web TOC Editor's Note Newsline New + Notable Civic Responsibility Readers’ Choice Awards Success Story 2009 Manufacturer Spotlights Feeling Right at Home Marketplace + Classifieds Advertiser's Index Parting Shot

Environmental Design + Construction - January 2009

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