Gap invites customers to "Recycle Your Blues" and get 30% off new Gap denim. Cotton Incorporated will be working with Gap to launch the COTTON. FROM BLUE TO GREEN.® denim drive in about 1,000 Gap stores. From March 5 through March 14, consumers can donate old denim at their local Gap, which will then be given a “new life” by being converted into UltraTouch Natural Cotton Fiber Insulation, and donated to communities in need. Consumers who donate their denim will receive a 30% discount off new denim purchases. Since the COTTON. FROM BLUE TO GREEN.® denim drive program began, enough denim has been recycled to create natural cotton fiber insulation for over 540 homes.
The in-store program will be featured on Gap’s online consumer site, www.gap.com, as well as the COTTON. FROM BLUE TO GREEN.® Web site, www.CottonFromBluetoGreen.org.
For more information on UltraTouch Cotton Fiber Insulation and 2010 homeowner tax incentives, contact us.
Plyboo has obtained two important indoor air quality certifications: FloorScore, for its PlybooPure flooring; and Indoor Advantage Gold, for its PlybooPure plywood. While Plyboo has always been a leader in sustainable bamboo products and has met CA 1350 requirements for indoor air quality for over two years, these commonly recognized labels will help specifiers and consumers to have complete confidence that their bamboo products have been third-party tested and have been verified to have been manufacturered with non-toxic adhesives.
FloorScore, developed by the Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI) in conjunction with Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), tests and certifies hard surface flooring and flooring adhesive products for compliance with rigorous indoor air quality emissions requirements. Individual volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including formaldehyde, are evaluated using health-based specifications. Under the FloorScore program, manufacturers must submit a written quality control plan which includes strict requirements for supply chain management. This process strongly encourages the identification of chemical sources, helping manufacturers to develop materials specifications. By purchasing input materials with low concent rations of the target VOCs, manufacturers gain increasing confidence that their products will meet criteria for certification. Products bearing the FloorScore label meet the indoor air emissions criteria of:
-Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS)
-LEED® Green Building Rating Systems
-Green Guide for Health Care
Indoor Advantage Gold is based on a program established by the California Office of Environmental Health and Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) that uses procedures developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that have been subjected to extensive peer review and public comment. In order for a product to qualify for Indoor Advantage Gold certification, modeled concentrations for individual VOCs in classrooms and offices must not exceed one-half of the defined CREL threshold. Given that other (uncertified) products and materials in the building may be sources for the same chemicals, the conservative standard set for Indoor Advantage Gold certification is intended to ensure that individual occupants’ overall exposure to any one of these chemicals does not exceed the CREL.
The Indoor Advantage Gold certification conforms to the criteria of the following standards:
-USGBC LEED criteria for EQ4.4 (composite wood and agri-fiber products)
-ANSI/BIFMA X7.1-2006 Low-emitting office furniture systems and seating
-Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS)
-California 01350 Special Environmental Requirements
-California Department of General Service (DGS) Indoor Air Quality Specifications for Open Panel Office Furniture
For more information on these PlybooPure products, visit our website or request samples.
Local Distributor Hires Sales Manager to Expand in Mid-Atlantic
Carrboro, N.C. (November 17, 2009) – CaraGreen, a distributor of sustainable architectural materials, announced that it has hired Geoff Binnick as Mid-Atlantic Sales Manager. Mr. Binnick’s focus will be building the Mid-Atlantic territory, identifying new customer opportunities, and growing the dealer network. He will work with developers, designers, and contractors to ensure specification and use of CaraGreen products. Geoff’s sales territory will stretch from North Carolina to Maryland.
Prior to joining CaraGreen, Mr. Binnick spent eight years with Shaw Industries, specializing in sales of green materials for all facets of the commercial sector. His experience focuses on building and managing quickly growing markets, developing relationships, and providing training for customers and other sales staff. He is a 2001 graduate of North Carolina State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Textile and Apparel Management. Mr. Binnick serves on the Steering Committee for the Triangle City Center of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA).
“We are excited to have Geoff join our team and help us expand into new markets along the East Coast,” says Stacy Glass, president of CaraGreen. “His experience in growing sales territories combined with his success with green interior materials makes him a terrific asset to our team and our growing customer base.”
CaraGreen provides sustainable products that reduce the environmental impact of materials used in development. Its products also reduce or eliminate traditional toxic chemicals that contribute to poor indoor air quality. Many of CaraGreen’s portfolio products contribute to credits for the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.
On November 10th, the AIA will be offering 3 Continuing Education Seminars on one day in Raleigh, NC: -Building Materials for Sustainable Interiors (updated for LEED 2009) and Life Cycle Assessment -The Business and Professional Risks of Integrated Project Delivery -Don't Let Green Design Cause Red Ink
Stacy Glass from Caragreen will be presenting the Building Materials for Sustainable Interiors and Life Cycle Assessment course from 10AM to 12PM for 2 HSW-SD CEUs.
Course Summary:
Once energy and water efficiencies have been achieved in a project, attention turns to the interior finishes. Carefully considering material selection can help optimize LEED credits in the areas of Materials & Reuse as well as Indoor Environmental Quality and may make the difference between silver and gold or gold and platinum ratings. Even more importantly, careful material section can help to engage tenants in the sustainable intents of the building. This course will examine what material credits are available in LEED-NC and how to choose the right interior products to optimize LEED credits. This course considers a range of new materials being used for building products, including rapidly renewable, high recycled content, local, reclaimed and reused building products available for architects to specify in new projects focused on sustainable design. Actual product samples will be demonstrated.
AND....With so many options and ‘green’ messages in the marketplace, how do you know what is really green and what is green washed? This course is designed to provide architects and designers with a toolkit of options to truly evaluate the sustainability of interior products based on Life Cycle Analysis. Several existing tools are considered, including BEES 4.0, Pharos lens and many of the certification bodies that evaluate green products including SCAQMD, GreenSpec, GreenSeal, GreenGuard and others. Participants are provided with guidelines for evaluating products, an interview guide to truly assess sustainability, and a listing of resources to assist in Life Cycle Analysis of interior building products.
Stacy Glass, President at CaraGreen, has her BA from the University of Minnesota and MBA from Duke University. Stacy has worked on an international level developing and executing start-up strategies for businesses and social enterprises, as well as contributing to rapid growth and expansion by developing new markets and managing multi-million dollar projects.
CaraGreen is heading to Baltimore October 28th and 29th where we’ll be exhibiting at NeoCon East. NeoCon East is the premier design exposition and conference for the mid-atlantic design community and we are excited to be part of this show!
The CaraGreen booth has installations of Durat, Meld, TorZo, and Turning House Millworks, so designers can see these sustainable products in action. Durat will have a vibrant and playful lime green tub and kelly green sink on display. Meld will have two stunning ecoX countertops, one of which shows their new micro glass option, which uses finely ground glass as the aggregate. TorZo Indure, Tiikeri, and Orient will be featured as wall coverings and shelving in the booth, which adds texture and warmth to the space. And, Turning House Millworks will cover the floor with their reclaimed multi-plank (engineered) wood flooring.
If you are heading to the show, we hope to see you there! Otherwise, look for a recap of the event on our blog next month.
CaraGreen will be exhibiting and presenting at the AIA South Atlantic Regional (SAR) Conference in Greenville, SC, October 1st-2nd. We will be showcasing our products in a newly designed booth, which will feature both samples and installations of our goods. Stop by booth #146 to see our latest offerings!
In addition to exhibiting, Stacy Glass from CaraGreen will be teaching a seminar on Friday Oct. 2nd 10:15 – 11:30, titled “Selecting and Optimizing Materials for LEED Projects”.
The 2009 Women’s Leadership Summit at Meredith College will include an opportunity to explore the leadership lessons offered by women at the forefront of environmental change in their communities, businesses, and organizations.
CaraGreen will be taking our showroom on the road and exhibiting at the 5th annual GreenNC tradeshow next week. The show is being held at the Raleigh Convention Center Wednesday, September 9th, 9AM-5PM. CaraGreen's Booth is #310, so stop by and say hello!
CaraGreen is heading to Baltimore October 28th and 29th where we’ll be exhibiting at 
CaraGreen will be exhibiting and presenting at the 
CaraGreen will be taking our showroom on the road and exhibiting at the 5th annual 
CaraGreen now offers a course that is accredited through the