Energy efficient restrooms by Aladdin Onsite Cleaning Services in the USGBC
The USGBC's new headquarters include energy efficient restrooms
and feature the XLERATOR industry standard hand dryer.
East Longmeadow, MA, Feb 18 2008 - /Flierwire/ - There's no doubt about it:
"green" is red hot. Environmental concerns and regulations are driving more and
more companies to rethink the concept of "business as usual" and as sustainable
building continues to rapidly increase in popularity, building owners around the
country turn to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for the certification
needed to obtain or improve the environmental ratings of their facilities. The
present demand for LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
certification for building projects is so high that the USGBC has expanded
significantly in recent years to accommodate their clients. As a result, they
quickly outgrew their former offices - and decided to build new headquarters
that would embody the founding principles of the organization.
"We knew that this was an opportunity to show our clients what a green building
can look like," said Ashley Katz, Communications Coordinator at the USGBC, who
moved into the USGBC's new headquarters, located in Dupont Circle, Washington,
D.C., in November 2006. "People sometimes assume that a green building won't
have the right aesthetics for their organization, but there are a lot of
possibilities to explore. These days, green design is very accessible."
The building itself is LEED Gold rated, and the 22,000 square foot commercial
interior earns the coveted Platinum - the highest rating possible. The headquarters
was designed by LEED-accredited architects at Perkins+Will and contracted by the
James G. Davis Construction Corporation, and boasts 21% recycled materials in its
construction. USGBC members also contributed products and services to the project -
everything from recycled timbers to cork flooring to lighting controls.
One of the contributors was the family-owned, East Longmeadow, MA-based company
Excel Dryer Inc., who donated their new high speed, energy efficient XLERATOR®
hand dryers. Just as the USGBC has shed a new light on green building and design,
the XLERATOR has helped to change the way people think about hand dryers. Because
of its new patented technology, the XLERATOR works three times faster than
conventional dryers while using 80% less energy. Excel Dryer is a USGBC member and
proud of the fact that the XLERATOR hand dryer helps facilities qualify for LEED
credits, including EA (Earth and Atmosphere) Credit 1 - Optimizing Energy
Performance, which is now a mandatory credit for all LEED certifications.
"Most people associate hand dryers with frustration and poor performance, often
walking away unsatisfied and with hands that are still not thoroughly dry," said
Denis Gagnon, President of Excel Dryer. "The XLERATOR has raised users' expectations
and is now considered the 'new industry standard' for hand dryers. We're pleased to
be a member of the USGBC and join them in proving that green design can be effective
and economical, as well as energy-efficient and environmentally friendly."
"The XLERATOR, with its new patented technology, was a natural choice for us," said
Katz. "We wanted dryers that would limit paper towel use and minimize energy
consumption, but we also wanted them to work quickly and thoroughly. Not many hand
dryers can make that claim."
Each of the USGBC's restrooms includes an XLERATOR as well as water-free urinals,
dual-flush toilets and low-flow faucets, resulting in a 40% reduction in water use.
"Green design is all about the details - cutting back on waste and resource use
wherever possible," said Katz. "Our new headquarters reflect that, from the lobby
to the conference rooms to the restrooms. We're excited to show our clients the
For further information contact:
Aladdin Onsite Cleaning Services Pty Ltd
phone: 1300 781 277
fax: 02 9630 7664
web: www.exceldryer.com.au
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