On The Floor

The new Washington, D.C. headquarters of USGBC, the original developer of LEED^®—the nationally accepted benchmark for the sustainable design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings—is the epitome of environmental responsibility, recently achieving Platinum-level certification according to LEED^® for commercial interiors standards. After all, it seems only natural that the USGBC office stands as a monument to the sustainable movement that it helps advance. Floor to ceiling, every aspect of the new space features advanced, innovative and truly sustainable design elements, including carpeting from The Mohawk Group.

Hurricane Katrina of 2005 is reputed to be the largest natural disaster in the history of the U.S., costing nearly 2,000 lives and billions of dollars in recovery and rebuilding efforts. However, the silver—or "Platinum"—lining in an otherwise tragic story is the dedicated commitment of Global Green USA and various sponsors, including Mohawk Industries, to sustainable [re]building in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. The Holy Cross Project in the region's Lower 9th Ward consists of five single homes, a multi-unit apartment building and a community center—all designed to achieve the highest of environmental standards: LEED^® Platinum certification. Helping the project reach its goals, Mohawk's FSC-certified hard surface wood flooring covers the ground of the first completed home and will soon grace the ground of the completed single family homes.

A construction management firm specializing in sustainable interiors, renewable energy and building performance, Chapman Construction knows its "green" stuff. So when it underwent a complete office renovation, designed to LEED^® Platinum-level standards, the firm specified carpet from not not one, but all three of The Mohawk Group's brands—Karastan, Lees and Bigelow—to help achieve its "green" goals. While recycled content was an important consideration, the design team ultimately chose carpet tiles that would provide a longer and higher performing life—saving money, time and reducing waste. Chapman Construction is the third LEED^® Platinum-level certified commercial interior in Massachusetts.

On May 4, 2007, the town of Greensburg, Kansas was devastated by a tornado that swept through its town, leaving no building untouched. The community has since united and turned natural disaster into "green" glory—incorporating sustainable technology and products into the rebuilding efforts of its homes, schools and government buildings. Moved by the town's commitment to "go green," The Mohawk Group has donated carpeting to Greensburg's Art Center and school, and Mohawk Residential has donated flooring to homes through Habitat for Humanity. A model to emulate as the first LEED^® Platinum building in the state of Kansas, the Arts Center is also a beacon for the community and a motivator for its ambitious rebuilding efforts that still continue today.

Eco-conscious travelers are following the Platinum brick road to Proximity^® Hotel—the "greenest" hotel in the U.S. The Greensboro, N.C., hotel recently received LEED^® Platinum-level certification from the USGBC for its sustainable design and the over 70-plus sustainable practices, including solar panels, natural lighting, energy recovery, and regional vendors it employs. CRI Green Label Plus^™ Merit Custom carpeting from The Mohawk Group's Durkan brand contributed to Proximity's LEED^® Platinum rating with its pre- and post-consumer content and recommended adhesives that meet the most stringent rules for VOC emissions.

The Mohawk Group's commitment to "green" got a boost of gold with the LEED^® Gold-level certification of its Chicago showroom. One of an impressive few Merchandise Mart showrooms to boast the coveted LEED recognition, the recently renovated and expanded space was designed by Ken Wilson, founder and principal of Washington, D.C.-based environmental firm Envision Design. "The Mohawk Group strives to be an environmentally responsible organization inside and out, and our showroom is just one more way we are driving this mission forward," said Al Kabus, President.