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ALL ABOUT GREEN (ECO-FRIENDLY, SUSTAINABLE) HARDWARE
It is hard for many people to imagine hardware being GREEN, just relax,
here you will learn how door and cabinet hardware is becoming GREEN.
THE BASICS OF OUR GREEN PRACTICES:
The GREEN movement has certainly swept our nation, not only as a
“trend” but as a necessity for the sustaining of life. At Rustica
Hardware.com we are very passionate about the environment and would
like to be contributors to this good cause. We feel that education is
one of the best ways to do this. As a company, all of our business
practices are GREEN. Our employees business cards are all printed on
100% post consumer recycled paper, using only Soy based inks and were
printed using 100% wind power. Our offices recycle every cardboard box,
paper and letter that we are sent. You can be sure that when you order
door hardware or cabinet hardware from rusticahardware.com you are
contributing to a GREEN cause.
THE BASICS OF LEED®:
What is LEED®?
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building
Rating System™ encourages and accelerates global adoption of
sustainable green building and development practices through the
creation and implementation of universally understood and accepted
tools and performance criteria.
LEED is a third party certification program and the nationally accepted
benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high
performance green buildings. LEED gives building owners and operators
the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their
buildings’ performance. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to
sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human
and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings,
energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.
Who uses LEED?
Architects, real estate professionals, facility managers, engineers,
interior designers, landscape architects, construction managers,
lenders and government officials all use LEED to help transform the
built environment to sustainability. State and local governments across
the country are adopting LEED for public-owned and public-funded
buildings; there are LEED initiatives in federal agencies, including
the Departments of Defense, Agriculture, Energy, and State; and LEED
projects are in progress in 41 different countries, including Canada,
Brazil, Mexico and India.
How is LEED Developed?
LEED Rating Systems are developed through an open, consensus-based
process led by LEED committees. Each volunteer committee is composed of
a diverse group of practitioners and experts representing a
cross-section of the building and construction industry. The key
elements of USGBC's consensus process include a balanced and
transparent committee structure, technical advisory groups that ensure
scientific consistency and rigor, opportunities for stakeholder comment
and review, member ballot of new rating systems, and a fair and open
appeals process.
What are Sustainable Products?
Sustainable products are those products providing environmental, social
and economic benefits while protecting public health, welfare, and
environment over their full commercial cycle, from the extraction of
raw materials to final disposition.
Who needs to know about sustainable products?
Professionals dealing with purchasing, marketing, specifying, designing, manufacturing, or communicating about products.
What products do "sustainable products" cover?
All products made because they are now being evaluated to determine
what burden they place upon global health, welfare, and environment.
Those that are sustainable have the least or no health or environmental
degradation on humans and our planet, and promote social welfare.
GREEN DOOR AND CABINET HARDWARE LINES:
Rocky Mountain Hardware- “Our Green Philosophy: At Rocky Mountain
Hardware we believe that being environmentally responsible is part of
our job. To be successful in this means that we must meet the needs of
the present without compromising the welfare of future generations. We
are committed to developing sustainable business practices by making
changes for the better — continuing to improve our products, our
facilities and our processes.
Rocky Mountain Hardware is a family owned and operated business, with
all of our manufacturing taking place in our home state of Idaho. We
are based here because we appreciate our remarkable surroundings:
endless mountain ranges, alpine lakes and crisp, clean air. We take our
responsibility seriously to reduce our impact on the environment. It's
simply the right thing to do.
We always have and will continue to use the highest quality, recycled
material to create all of our bronze products. Because of this, Rocky
Mountain Hardware can contribute toward achieving LEED® points for your
project. (Applicable for MR Credit 4.1 / 4.2, Recycled Content)
Our commitment extends not only to how we make our product, but also to
where we make it. When we decided to expand our headquarters in Hailey,
Idaho we turned to the LEED certification standards as our guide to
building a green facility. By following these nationally recognized
principals, we designed a building which balances our environmental
responsibilities, resource efficiencies and the well-being of our
employees. Our facility is on track to receive LEED Gold certification
upon completion in Spring, 2007. " -www.rockymountainhardware.com
Spectra Decor- “Green is Beautiful™. SpectraDécor contemporary cabinet
hardware, door pulls and tile. Recycled glass and aluminum, cork,
eco-resin, fused glass, lead-free pewter and stainless steel. American
made. Environmentally friendly. Sustainable.” -www.spectradecor.com
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS- SPECTRA DECOR GREEN HARDWARE:
What kind of metal do you use?
Our metal bases with the exception of FUSION 2, are cast from food
quality, lead free pewter at a small, family-run foundry in Northern
California. Pewter is a transitional, rustproof metal that is produced
with low energy usage.
What is recycled aluminum?
FUSION 2 bases are made at a Seattle foundry from material that comes
from old window frames, hubcaps and things like that. This exciting new
ultra green hardware line is manufactured and finished entirely in the
Seattle area.
What is recycled glass?
The LUMINOUS, FUSION, FUSION 2 and BEACH PEBBLE lines feature recycled
glass that is handmade by Bedrock Industries. Classic colors are 100%
recycled with post-consumer content. Watercolors are 100%
post-industrial. Many of our customers also select Bedrock title for
their green projects.
What is Varia?
The 3-Form Company produces Varia eco-resin from non-toxic polyester
resin that stems from and is compatible with the PET family of
materials. Varia is 40% post-industrial reclaimed material, does not
contain any hazardous materials and is GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality
Certified. We like it for all those reasons, plus the fact that it’s
really beautiful as a decorative element in our hardware.
What is Cork Inlay?
We use cork floor covering as a decorative element in both the FUSION
and FUSION2 lines. We offer severn cork colors, ranging from Vanilla to
Chocolate Bamboo. The material has been prepared for use on floors, so
it is durable and wip-able.
What is Fused Glass?
Handmade glass panels are created in the SpectraDecor studio by firing
layers of opaque and transparent glass multiple times in the kiln. The
glass is then fashioned into HUE tile and HUE hardware. In addition to
the standard combinations we offer we have the ability to create custom
combinations, colors and patterns.
What is hand-pigmented resin?
LuLu knobs and pulls are made by hand mixing pigments with resin. Two
or more colors are combined to make patterns. Please ask about custom
colors and custom matching.
INTERESTING GREEN FACTS:
The Acacia Tree in Tanzania's Serengeti Plain is symbolic of
sustainability. It is referenced in the Bible as the wood used for the
Ark of the Covenant. With its deep roots, it survives drought, provides
shelter for animals, and represents stability and resilience.
http://www.usgbc.org
http://www.spectradecor.com
http://www.sustainableproducts.com
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