Dalton, GA – USFloors has been awarded the GreenStep Award in the Process category as presented by Floor Covering Weekly for its 144 kw photovoltaic solar array and their newest warehouse in Dalton, GA. The Process Category refers to companies that implement a practice or process improvement that reduces negative environmental impact or promotes sustainability. The awards are selected by an independent panel that includes industry professionals from trade associations, retailers, and environmental experts.

The 144 kw array is currently the largest commercial solar installation in the state of Georgia. The system generates 100% of the power required for the buildings energy needs. This is not the first array for USFloors, a sustainable flooring manufacturer, but for now its largest.

Other manufacturers receiving awards included Mohawk, Interface, Anderson Hardwoods, Crossville, Mannington Commercial, and Mullican. USFloors’ President and CEO Piet Dossche commented, “We are honored to be among the leaders in the flooring industry who are working diligently to accelerate our contributions to sustainability and environmentally responsible practices. We will continue to expand our efforts in promoting sustainable flooring and in clean, renewable solar energy.”

USFloors COO, Philippe Erramuzpe commented, “Having our core products of cork and bamboo flooring be certified to the GREENGUARD Children and Schools standard, exemplifies our on-going commitment to providing the most environmentally responsible flooring products to our customers and consumers.”

The GREENGUARD Children & Schools Program is one of the most stringent and rigorous indoor air quality certification programs in the world. Products certified to this standard have been screened for more than 10,000 different volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and undergo periodic verification processes to remain certified. The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute, an independent, third-party organization dedicated to improving indoor air, oversees the certification program and develops the standards that guide it.

Indoor air quality can have a significant impact on the health of building occupants and is therefore recognized as critical to the creation of healthy, high-performance interior environments by numerous sustainable building programs such as, the United States Green Building Council’s LEED® program and the National Association of Home Builders’

(NAHB) National Green Building Program. Both of these programs, and many others, identify the specification of GREENGUARD Children & Schools Certified products as a strategy to improve indoor air quality and fulfill requirements for low-emitting materials.

GREENGUARD Children & Schools Certified products are approved in all of the following LEED Rating Systems:
• LEED 2009 for Commercial Interiors EQ Credit 4.3 – Low-Emitting Materials: Flooring Systems
• LEED 2009 for New Construction EQ Credit 4.3 – Low-Emitting Materials: Flooring Systems
• LEED 2009 for Homes MR Credit 2.2
• LEED 2009 for Core & Shell EQ Credit 4.3 – Low-Emitting Materials: Flooring Systems
• LEED 2009 Retail for Commercial Interiors EQ Credit 4 Option C: Flooring Systems (in pilot phase)
• LEED 2009 Retail for New Construction EQ Credit 4 Option C: Flooring Systems (in pilot phase)

GREENGUARD Children & Schools Product Certification Program complies with the State of California’s Department of Health Services Standard Practice (CA Section 01350) and Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS).

Visit the USFloors product page at www.greenguard.org to review the complete portfolio of USFloors GREENGUARD certified flooring lines.

About the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute
Founded in 2001, the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI) is an independent, third-party organization that oversees the GREENGUARD Certification programs. The Institute’s mission is to protect human health and quality of life through programs that improve indoor air. As an ANSI Accredited Standards Developer, GEI establishes acceptable indoor air standards for building materials, interior products, electronic equipment, indoor environments and buildings. The more than 200,000 GREENGUARD Certified products represented under the GREENGUARD Certification mark must meet stringent; third-party standards for low chemical emissions based on established health standards and undergo rigorous testing and verification processes on a regular basis. GREENGUARD Certification is broadly recognized and accepted by a number of “green” building programs, including the United States Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED

rating system. For more information and a complete listing of certified products, visit www.greenguard.org.

About USFloors
Based in Dalton, Georgia, USFloors (which is the brand moniker for Unique and Sustainable Floors) is a leading producer of sustainable, eco-friendly floors including cork, bamboo, linoleum and FSC-certified hardwood floors. The company also provides the products to the contract market under the USF Contract brand. USFloors is the ONLY supplier of cork and bamboo flooring with manufacturing facilities operating in the United States. USFloors’ commitment is to provide consumers and specifiers with beautiful and durable floors at a good value, while minimizing the impact on the environment, and enhancing and improving it whenever possible. For more information on USFloors, visit usfloorsllc.com.

The stunning Portugal Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo 2010, which opened on May first, is a showcase for natural cork — and Amorim.

Amorim has supplied 59201 square ft of cork for the pavilion, which boasts a bold architectural design.

Cork is displayed on the building’s facade, as a prominent element of the aesthetic design, as a flooring material and in several technical solutions.

In keeping with the Expo theme of ‘Better City, Better Life’, pavilion organizers selected natural cork as a base and structural material.

Cork demonstrates sustainable construction, shows innovation in harmony with nature and has excellent acoustic, thermal and anti-vibration insulation qualities.

It is also a raw material strongly identified with Portugal as the country has the largest area of cork oak forests in the world.

The 39.180 square ft facade of the Portugal Pavilion is covered with 62 million pounds of insulation corkboard — considered the most environmentally friendly insulation solution in the world.

In terms of technical solutions, 8395 square ft of ACM (Acoustic Core Materials) manufactured by Amorim Cork Composites is utilized in a projection room for sound absorption.

Corticeira Amorim, the world’s largest cork producer and manufacturer, is a major sponsor of the Portugal Pavilion at the exposition.

Expo Shanghai 2010 runs from May first to October 31. About 190 countries and 50 international organizations are participating in the event that is estimated to attract some 70 million visitors.

To view photos of the Portuguese Pavilion, visit USFloors’ Flickr site by clicking here.

Paul is a kitchen and bath residential designer, as well as a free-lance writer, who recently wrote about his first experience with specifying and installing a cork floor in a recent kitchen renovation, which just happened to be a floating cork floor from USFloors’ Natural Cork Earth and Classics Collection. This is the first of 3 projects that he has underway using Natural Cork floors. Paul and his clients are “ecstatic” with the results. Paul is on what he refers to as a “cork kick” and is convincing more and more of his clients to install USFloors’ Natural Cork floors in their kitchen renovations. He wants to promote Natural Cork flooring, not only through this article on www.kitchenandresidentialdesign.com,  but also by recommending it to his existing and potential clients.

You can read Paul’s article and see pictures of the kitchen and it’s beautiful Natural Cork floor by clicking here.

USF Contract is showing at Neocon 2010. You can find us in the Merchandise Mart on the 8th Floor, Space 6054.

Piet Dossche leads YLS members on tour of USFloors manufacturing facility.

Forty-two United Way Young Leaders Society members recently enjoyed a lunch at USFloors, where President/CEO Piet Dossche entertained the group with stories about his personal journey as an entrepreneur. Piet taught the group about the process of making bamboo and cork flooring, shared 21 tips about starting your own business, and reviewed a photo slideshow of his international travels. Then Piet and his team led a tour of their Corporate Dr. manufacturing facility. Melissa Pateritsas, a YLS member, commented, “Piet Dossche is a true entrepreneurial success story. Everyone who attaned his presentation was surely motivated by his hard work and commitment.” James Gordy, another YLS member who attended the luncheon, enjoyed the event as well, “Very interesting to learn about innovative companies in our area! Mr. Dossche did a great job explaining his business and encouraging future entrepreneurs in the community.”

Members of the group learned that USFloors makes cork flooring from the by-products of wine cork manufacturing and that the company has solar panels on two Whitfield County facilities. USFloors is the only supplier of cork and bamboo flooring with manufacturing facilities operating in the United States. Piet and his wife Sabine are generous supporters of United Way, as members of the Alexis de Tocquville Society.

Young Leaders Society is a giving circle with over 120 members who annually contribute over $100,000 to the United Way of Northwest Georgia. For more information visit www.ourunitedway.org.

Click here to view photos from the event.

Royce Epstein of Kling Stubbins

USFContract, the specified commercial division of USFloors Inc., was recently profiled on “REPEAT NO REPEAT” a blog about materials, finishes, and interior design. Royce Epstein, a veteran Resource Specialist at Kling Stubbins, profiles the USFContract product line in her blog, making special note of Corboo, USFC’s exclusive patent-pending strand woven bamboo and cork hybrid plank, and Cork Decor, a heavy commercial cork floor with unique and distinctive visuals. Kling Stubbins, located in Philadelphia, is one of the largest architecture and interior design firms in the country. To read the article in its entirety CLICK HERE. For more information on USF Contract and to view the USFC product line visit usfcontract.com.

The Sun is Shining in Dalton, GA

January 19, 2010- The largest commercial solar array in the state was commissioned today in

USFloors' newest solar array is visible from Interstate 75

Dalton, GA. USFloors, a nationwide leader in sustainable flooring, installed an 144.48 kW solar array on their facilities. USFloors President Piet Dossche explained, “The array is expected to more than cover the energy needs for our green building, producing enough energy to power 10 Georgia homes. As part of USFloors’ ongoing sustainability mission, we have more than quadrupled the amount of solar energy we provide to the community.” The array covers approximately 14,500 square feet, and is visible from I-75.

By producing solar power on site, USFloors is able to take advantage of excellent Government and Utility benefits; a 30% Federal Grant, a 35% State Tax Credit and accelerated depreciation. North Georgia EMC pays USFloors a premium for the solar power that it generates. Ownership of power provides business owners with the opportunity to hedge against dramatic cost increases, and carries strong financial benefits.

The system was installed by Alpharetta based United Renewable Energy, LLC. William Silva, President of United Renewable Energy LLC added that “USFloors continues to show leadership in sustainable manufacturing practices and job growth. This solar power system is impressive in it’s size alone, but more importantly because this is the largest commercial solar photovoltaic installation in Georgia since the 1996 Olympics.”

Installing this solar array is just one of the many sustainable practices of USFloors, a company actively working towards a solar powered future for Whitfield County. “Through our work with the Whitfield County Chamber, we have demonstrated how being sustainability stewards can benefit all local businesses,” said Dossche. This solar array created at least fifteen jobs, and preserved many more by reducing operating costs, developing a new industry and introducing Dalton’s business community to ways to stay sustainable and competitive. 

About USFloors - USFloors’ commitment is to provide consumers and specifiers with beautiful and durable floors at a good value, while minimizing our impact on the environment and enhancing and improving it whenever possible. USFloors is committed to sourcing and utilizing sustainable resources for its flooring products whenever possible and specifying raw materials and processes that meet stringent U.S. and European environmental standards, USFloors NEVER sources from clear cut or unmanaged forests. USFloors continually strives to actively reduce its environmental and energy footprint, creating better indoor air quality and promoting Green Building through renewable energy and LEED initiatives.

About United Renewable Energy, LLC - Alpharetta, Georgia based United Renewable Energy, LLC (URE) delivers practical, economical, renewable energy solutions to businesses and homes throughout the East Coast. URE is  the leading integrator of commercial photovoltaic solar electric power systems in the state of Georgia, and one of the fastest growing renewable energy companies in the country.  URE’s president is a NABCEP Certified PV installer^tm, and as Adjunct Coordinator of Solar Programs at Lanier Technical College, shares best practices with aspiring solar installers. URE is committed to promoting quality solar installations, to educating the public and promoting supportive legislation for renewable energy. 

Photos:

The following press release was distributed by the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute, a third-party organization that administers the GREENGUARD certification programs.

_______________________________________________________________________

Rigorous Indoor Air Quality Certification Augments USFloors’ Sustainability Credentials

ATLANTA (December 10, 2009) – The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI) is proud to announce that USFloors, Inc. has achieved the first-ever GREENGUARD Certification for a complete line of bamboo flooring. Though bamboo flooring has long been considered a sustainable choice because it is a rapidly renewable material, it now helps create healthier indoor environments by meeting the stringent chemical emissions standards of the GREENGUARD Certification Program^SM.

“The level of interest in environmentally responsible and healthier products has never been greater than it is today,” said Dr. Marilyn Black, Founder of GEI. “The GREENGUARD Certification Program attends to the public health component of sustainability and provides consumers and building professionals with an objective resource to minimize chemical exposure in their homes and buildings.”

Indoor air quality can have a significant impact on the health of building occupants and is therefore recognized as critical to the creation of healthy, high-performance interior environments by numerous sustainable building programs such as, the United States Green Building Council’s LEED^® program and the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) National Green Building Program. Both of these programs, and many others, identify the specification of GREENGUARD Children & Schools Certified products as a strategy to improve indoor air quality and fulfill requirements for low-emitting materials.

USFloors is a leading manufacturer of bamboo, cork and other hardwood flooring products for both residential and contract commercial environments. The company markets its contract products under the USF Contract brand. 

The GREENGUARD Children & Schools Program is one of the most stringent and rigorous indoor air quality certification programs in the world. Products certified to this standard have been screened for more than 10,000 different volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and undergo periodic verification processes to remain certified. The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute, an independent, third-party organization dedicated to improving indoor air, oversees the certification program and develops the standards that guide it.    

“USFloors and USF Contract strive to offer beautiful, durable flooring products for both the residential and contract markets that address every element of sustainability,” said Piet Dossche, President and CEO of USFloors. “Achieving GREENGUARD Children & Schools Certification is important to us as a means of demonstrating our commitment to indoor environmental quality and furthering our efforts to provide flooring that makes a difference.”   

About the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute

Founded in 2001, the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI) is an independent, third-party organization that oversees the GREENGUARD Certification programs. The Institute’s mission is to protect human health and quality of life through programs that improve indoor air. As an ANSI Accredited Standards Developer, GEI establishes acceptable indoor air standards for building materials, interior products, electronic equipment, indoor environments and buildings. The more than 200,000 GREENGUARD Certified products represented under the GREENGUARD Certification mark must meet stringent; third-party standards for low chemical emissions based on established health standards and undergo rigorous testing and verification processes on a regular basis. GREENGUARD Certification is broadly recognized and accepted by a number of “green” building programs, including the United States Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED^â rating system.  For more information and a complete listing of certified products, visit www.greenguard.org.

About USFloors

Based in Dalton, Georgia, USFloors (which is the brand moniker for Unique and Sustainable Floors) is a leading producer of sustainable, eco-friendly floors including cork, bamboo, linoleum and FSC-certified hardwood floors. The company also provides the products to the contract market under the USF Contract brand. USFloors is the ONLY supplier of cork and bamboo flooring with manufacturing facilities operating in the United States. USFloors’ commitment is to provide consumers and specifiers with beautiful and durable floors at a good value, while minimizing the impact on the environment, and enhancing and improving it whenever possible.