Preserving Natural Resources

More than half of the wood in our building is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified. The boardroom and other meeting areas feature Vermont-made furniture using FSC-certified wood. FSC wood is sustainably grown and harvested, helping to protect and improve the quality of our forests. Purchasing locally-made furniture and using local vendors and artisans not only help support our local economy but also minimize transportation and other environmental impacts.

We chose natural wheat board in place of plywood interiors in our kitchen cabinetry. Wheat board uses wheat straw, a recycled, rapidly renewable resource in place of wood fiber so it does not deplete hardwood forest growth. The glues used in wheat board do not contain formaldehydes. The kitchen cabinet wood is also FSC-certified.

Using renewable energy resources to power our building also preserves our natural resources. By relying on Mother Nature, we are avoiding the production of harmful air emissions and reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. Even our cleaning service, Healthy Habitat, helps preserve our natural resources by using non-petroleum-based, environmentally friendly cleaning products.

Reuse and Recycle

All green buildings try to reuse materials or use materials with high recycled content in their construction. Ours is no exception. The building’s steel structure is made from recycled cans, cars and appliances—90% recycled content. The tiles in our bathroom are made from recycled automobile windshields and secured with environmentally friendly adhesives. More than 85% of the construction waste was recycled and more than 10% of the building materials have high recycled content. Our first-floor mailroom features beautiful antique mailboxes reclaimed from a post office by a retired Postmaster who reconditions and resells them.

The natural wheat board in our kitchen cabinetry interiors uses wheat straw, a recycled, rapidly renewable resource, in place of wood fiber so it does not deplete hardwood forest growth.

Even our heating system relies on recycled materials. Wood waste from lumber milling and other sources is compressed into wood pellets, which are used to fuel two home-sized boilers in our radiant heating system.

Flooring and Finishes

The flooring and finishes we chose for our building tread lightly on the environment and help protect our employees’ health. Stained concrete flooring has a long lifespan, which means it requires minimal upkeep and won’t need to be replaced as often as carpeting and other flooring material does. Carpeting and other flooring often ends up in our landfills where they present environmental challenges. By using wood products free of urea formaldehyde and low- or no-VOC stains, paints, finishes and sealants, we’re protecting the air quality in our building and the health of our employees.