What Is A Lifestyle Showroom?
August 11, 2010Featured Green Company of the Week: Wood-Mode
September 10, 2010This month, we’re dedicating our blogs to the Earth. In September, we’re all about going green and celebrating the products committed to the environment. We’re starting with one of our favorite products, Silestone by Cosentino. Silestone products qualify for points toward Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for builders, companies and individuals. In addition, Cosentino has a long history of environmental responsibility. Both you and your builder can feel good about using Silestone Quartz in your home.
According to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), “LEED is an internationally recognized green building certification system, providing third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.”
Many Silestone products qualify for LEED points in three areas: recycled content 10%, recycled content 20%, and emitting materials. There is 35% post consumer recycled content in several Silestone colors. Furthermore, the color Dali is made of 70% recycled material. During installation, DAP caulk is used because its VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) content is lower than current regulations prescribe.
If that’s not enough, Silestone introduced its ECO line of countertops. It is made from 75% post industrial or consumer recycled materials. Additionally, it is bound by an eco-friendly resin made in part from corn oil. Most of the raw materials used to produce the eco line are porcelain, glass, mirror, stone scraps, crystallized ash, and the afore mentioned corn based resin.
As a company, Cosentino is committed to the environment in many ways. Over the last five years, it has invested over 20 million dollars to ensure its environmental stewardship. They have facilities for VOC purification using thermal oxidation which have allowed 99% purification of the emissions generated by the factories. Cosentino uses 98% recycled water in their manufacturing. The company also participates in the restoration of the quarries they use, stabilizing and beautifying the surrounding areas.
Cosentino and its Silestone products exceed industry requirements for environmental standards; and they strive to exceed yours. For more information on Cosentino and their products, click here.
