TOLEDO, Ohio, April 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The global
headquarters of Owens Corning (NYSE: OC) in Toledo, Ohio, has become the third existing
building in Ohio to earn the
prestigious gold certification under the U.S. Green Building
Council's (USGBC) Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design
(LEED) Existing Building (EB) program.
To achieve the award, the building's design and operation has
met stringent standards as an energy-efficient, environmentally
responsible and healthy place to live and work. The building
was first recognized for silver certification under the LEED-EB
program in 2007.
The LEED certification of an existing building is a significant
achievement because it is generally easier to design these features
in new construction. The Owens Corning global headquarters
building has already earned an Energy Star rating, which ranks it
among the top 25 percent of energy-efficient buildings in
the United States.
"The gold-certified LEED-EB status of our global headquarters
building in Ohio is an iconic
representation of Owens Corning's deep commitment to sustainability
and energy efficiency," said Chief Sustainability Officer Frank
O'Brien-Bernini. "It's also an example of the operating cost
advantages that are achievable through sustainable building
practices. There are significant economic and environmental
benefits to ensuring that new and existing buildings exceed today's
energy efficiency standards through the use of insulation,
air-sealing solutions, and many other energy-saving
technologies."
Built in 1996, the Owens Corning world headquarters was designed
by Cesar Pelli, a renowned
architect. Pelli's design of Owens Corning's global
headquarters included numerous advanced environmentally focused
features including under-floor ventilation for energy-efficient air
delivery, optimal use of daylight, the reuse of office partitions,
recycling of carpet, and 55 percent of the site restored to a
natural environment with plantings of low-maintenance native
vegetation.
"Building operations are nearly 40 percent of the solution to
the global climate change challenge," said President, CEO and
Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council, Rick Fedrizzi. "While climate change is a
global problem, innovative companies like Owens Corning are
addressing it through local solutions."
Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in 1998,
LEED promotes a national standard for developing high-performance,
sustainable buildings that protect the environment. LEED
certification recognizes innovative building designs that are
environmentally responsible business models for energy efficiency
and resource conservation. For more information about LEED
certification, visit www.usgbc.org.
About Owens Corning
Owens Corning (NYSE: OC) 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 56 consecutive years, Owens Corning
is committed to driving sustainability by delivering solutions,
transforming markets and enhancing lives. Founded in 1938,
Owens Corning is a market-leading innovator of glass-fiber
technology with sales of $5.0 billion
in 2010 and about 15,000 employees in 28 countries on five
continents. Additional information is available at
www.owenscorning.com.
SOURCE Owens Corning