Owens Corning, a world leader in building materials and glass fiber reinforcements, on October 22 announced that its Gresham, Ore., plant, which manufactures FOAMULAR extruded polystyrene rigid foam insulation, has received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification for new construction from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
Owens Corning's Gresham plant is the only LEED Gold-certified insulation facility in the United States and one of approximately 203 industrial facilities in the U.S. that have been awarded LEED certification. LEED is recognized as one of the nation's pre-eminent green building certification programs to recognize superior achievement in design, construction and operation of green buildings.
Owens Corning's Gresham facility uses 100 percent green renewable energy and a blowing agent that does not deplete the ozone to produce its GREENGUARD-certified FOAMULAR insulation, which conserves energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions of homes and buildings.
Created by Owens Corning, the Gresham plant's revolutionary blowing agent is the first of its kind to be used in a Pacific Northwest facility.
By manufacturing its FOAMULAR insulation closer to its customers, Owens Corning's Gresham plant will prevent emissions of more than 500 tons of carbon dioxide each year – the equivalent of more than 50,000 gallons of gasoline – that would have been expended to transport the insulation from other production facilities.
"We are proud that Owens Corning's Gresham facility has been recognized with LEED Gold certification, and that the FOAMULAR insulation produced there helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and conserve energy," said Frank O'Brien-Bernini, chief sustainability officer, Owens Corning. "This honor highlights Owens Corning's unwavering commitment to its sustainability goals, including greening our operations, greening our products and accelerating energy efficiency improvements in the built environment."
LEED certification is a nationally accepted benchmark for sustainable green building practices. It promotes a comprehensive approach to sustainability by recognizing superior performance in five key areas of environmental health: sustainable site development, water efficiency, energy usage, materials selection and indoor air quality. More than 3,850 buildings in the United States are currently LEED certified.
"Building operations are nearly 40 percent of the solution to the global climate change challenge," said Rick Fedrizzi, president, chief executive officer and founding chair, U.S. Green Building Council. "While climate change is a global problem, innovative companies like Owens Corning are addressing it through local solutions."
About Owens Corning
Owens Corning is a leading global producer of residential and commercial building materials, glass fiber reinforcements and engineered materials for composite systems. A Fortune 500 Company for 55 consecutive years, Owens Corning is committed to driving sustainability through delivering solutions, transforming markets and enhancing lives. Founded in 1938, Owens Corning is a market-leading innovator of glass-fiber technology with sales of $6 billion in 2008 and about 16,000 employees in 30 countries on five continents.
About LEED
The U.S. Green Building Council's LEED green building certification system is the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. More than 35,000 projects are currently participating in the LEED system, comprising more than 6.9 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and 91 countries. By using less energy, LEED-certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community.
About U.S. Green Building Council
The Washington, D.C.,-based U.S. Green Building Council is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for the nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. With a community comprising 78 local affiliates, more than 20,000 member companies and organizations, and more than 100,000 LEED accredited professionals, USGBC is the driving force of an industry that is projected to soar to $60 billion by 2010. The USGBC leads a diverse constituency of builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofit organizations, elected officials and concerned citizens, and teachers and students.
Buildings in the United States are responsible for 39 percent of CO2 emissions, 40 percent of energy consumption, 13 percent water consumption, and 15 percent of gross domestic product per year, making green building a source of significant economic and environmental opportunity. Greater building efficiency can meet 85 percent of future U.S. demand for energy, and a national commitment to green building has the potential to generate 2.5 million American jobs.
USGBC was co-founded by current president and CEO Rick Fedrizzi, who spent 25 years as a Fortune 500 executive. Under his 15-year leadership, the organization has become the pre-eminent green building, membership, policy, standards, influential, education and research organization in the nation. For more information, visit www.usgbc.org.
