By Sarah Zimmerman
Lancaster, Pa.—Armstrong’s corporate headquarters here were presented with the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Platinum Certification from its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System for existing buildings (LEED-EB). Building 701 is the sixth to receive the organization’s highest building recognition nationally and the first to come from outside the state of California.

“Armstrong is committed to environmental sustainability,” said Michael Lockhart, chairman and CEO. “Modifying our headquarters [originally built in 1998] to enable it to be Platinum Certified is a concrete manifestation of that commitment.” He urged that green practices can be affordable and practical so everyone benefits, but it requires collaboration. “The Armstrong team that conceived and executed this project demonstrated we can significantly reduce our impact on the environment by changing the way buildings are designed, built and used.”

Achieving the top level of certification in the LEED-EB sector means managing and accomplishing specific performance goals in categories such as sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality and innovation in upgrades, operation and maintenance, according to Richard Fedrizzi, president and CEO of the USGBC.

And, the array of environmentally friendly practices, materials and initiatives throughout Armstrong’s corporate headquarters have been deemed platinum-worthy. The characteristics that contribute to the existing building’s overall green performance include:

• Landscaping—Eliminates irrigation and provides erosion control and measured storm water run-off into adjoining wetlands.

• Improved acoustics—Armstrong acoustic ceilings and sound-absorbing surfaces are used throughout the building.

• Maintenance—Environmentally responsible, Green Seal-certified cleaning products are used.

• Recycling program—60% of the building’s waste is recycled.

• Reduced water use—The building reduced water use from 800,000 gallons to 420,000 gallons per year.

• Reduced energy use—Armstrong’s headquarters uses less than 1.5 watts per square foot, half the nationwide average for comparable buildings.

• Use of clean, renewable energy—75% of the building’s power is supplied by wind energy, the equivalent of planting 149,000 trees or removing 300 automobiles from the road.

• Transportation efficiencies—Employees are encouraged to carpool and ride their bikes to work. A covered bicycle storage area has been provided, and there is preferred parking for carpool and hybrid cars.

Fedrizzi presented Armstrong with the Platinum award on June 21, noting the company’s “unwavering commitment to the environment” and calling building 701 a model for companies seeking to introduce sustainable, environmentally friendly practices into their facilities. He also thanked Armstrong for its commitment and hard work in this arena, noting design must work with performance to create a healthy, energized, environmentally friendly workplace. “This is how buildings should treat us; you just feel good here.”

Along with the award presentation, Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection spoke with the USGBC and Armstrong on the importance and effects of environmental building. “Green buildings are a win for our environment and a win for the bottom line,” said Kathleen McGinty, secretary. “By cutting utility costs and providing a healthy workplace for employees, green buildings offer a strong competitive edge.”

Daniel Desmond, deputy secretary for pollution, added that companies with the foresight to think and invest in green terms have an edge because environmental building advantages will become more and more apparent in the bottom line over the next few years. “The past cannot be prolonged. This will be the difference between surviving and struggling.”