LEED Gold Ultra-Luxury Hotel – Montage Beverly Hills

Does this look ultra eco-friendly to you?

I’ve been convinced for years that to be green does not mean you have to fit any “granola” stereotype (although there is nothing wrong with Birks and bio-diesel).  This hotel is just one more feather in the green-is-for-everyone cap. I’ve been seeing it in our clients’ requests for green luxury flooring and, as a LEED AP, am heartened by it.
But this is downright dreamy!
Pardon me whilst I swoon…

Here is a short breakdown of the credits achieved by the Montage team that led them to the project’s Gold certification:

Each project certified under LEED for New Construction V2.2 rating system earns credits for factors that are assessed by the USGBC against desired performance goals in six environmental categories.

Montage Beverly Hills earned a total of 39 credits in these environmental categories:
8 credits for Sustainable Sites, including offering public transportation access, bicycle storage and carpooling van parking for employees
1 credit for Water Efficient Landscape, installing an irrigation system that reduces potable water consumption by 54%
12 credits for Energy & Atmosphere, including selection of highly efficient heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration systems that minimize or eliminate emission of compounds that deplete ozone or contribute to global warming
5 credits for Materials & Resources, including effective construction waste management, use of recycled building materials and use of materials from within 500 miles of the project site
8 credits for Indoor Environmental Quality, including use of eco-friendly and low-VOC paints, sealants and adhesives; efficient lighting systems, and specific seasonal temperature and humidity controls that ensure personal comfort
5 credits for Innovation in Design, including adopting an Environmentally Preferred Purchasing Plan, locating all parking underground and developing a Green Housekeeping Program

And when you look at their website, the LEED information is quietly tucked away under the “Hotel Overview” tab. It’s not in-your-face, it’s quite classy as one would expect.

Christopher Moline, LEED AP
Residential Group Manager
Commercial Carpets of America
703-370-0000
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CRI Green Label Carpet

Green Label / Green Label Plus

Helping Improve Indoor Air Quality
By Chris Moline, LEED AP (CI)

The Carpet and Rug Institute’s Green Label and Green Label Plus standards are specifically referenced in the LEED rating system for Commercial Interiors certification by the US Green Building Council.  But, even if you are a homeowner not going for “Platinum”, you can benefit from the knowledge that these CRI standards mean you are getting the best for your indoor air quality dollar investment.Anyone who has gone for certification (Certified, Silver, Gold or Platinum) of a tenant space under the LEED CI track has more than likely considered how carpet, carpet cushion, and any adhesives used impact credits.

In order to be considered for credit under EQ 4.3 – Indoor Environmental Quality 4.3 – Carpet Materials, carpet must meet the CRI Green Label Plus standard. Carpet cushion must meet CRI Green Label standards.  Any adhesives used should be referenced under EQ 4.1, Adhesives and Sealants, and meet SCAQMD 1168 standards (GS-36 if aerosol adhesives are used).

FOLLOWING IS AN EXCERPT FROM THE CARPET AND RUG INSTITUTE’S WEBSITE:
Carpet can be wrongly blamed for contributing to asthma and allergy and for emitting high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Studies have shown that carpet is better at trapping allergens than hard surface, such as tile or hardwood, because carpet fibers catch particles and allergens that fall to the floor. When allergens are trapped in the carpet, they cannot circulate in the air for you to breathe. Proper cleaning with a CRI-tested and approved vacuum effectively sucks up the dirt and dust from the carpet, locks it in the machine and keeps it out of the air.

New carpet may also have a “new carpet smell.” Scientific studies show that new carpet is one of the lowest emitters of VOCs into the indoor environment. In fact, carpet emits less VOCs than other products such as paint. Further, these emissions clear very quickly. The low-level VOC emissions and the harmless odor from new carpet dissipate within the first 48 to 72 hours after installation — even sooner with open windows or doors.

CRI offers Green Label and Green Label Plus testing and certification to indicate carpet, carpet backings, cushions and adhesives that emit low VOCs. In fact, Green Label carpet program has such a positive impact on the indoor environment that the American Lung Association approves its use in its Healthy Homes programs. Additionally, the Green Label Plus program tough standards exceeds the green building requirements dictated by California schools.
So if you are concerned about asthma, allergies or VOCs, be sure to ask about Green Label and Green Label Plus carpet, cushion and adhesive options.

Eco-Friendly, Dustless/Dust-Free Hardwood Refinishing in Northern Virgina, Maryland and DC

by Chris Moline, LEED AP

We are proud to be Magnus Anderson Master Floor Refinishers.
Dust Free
Fast
Environmentally Safe
20 Year Warranty and Guarantee
Experts in Wood Flooring

At Magnus Anderson, our goal is to be America’s #1 choice for hardwood floor refinishing. Our unique dust-free, virtually toxin-free refinishing process, performed by highly-trained, certified Master Craftsmen exemplifies our commitment to providing you, our customer, with the best experience and results. Our intensive training programs, attention to detail, and unparalleled 20-year warranty mean you’re getting the best in the business.

You can relax knowing that at Magnus Anderson, we’re not just refinishers – we’re Master Craftsmen.
Magnus Anderson Points of DifferenceDust Free
Dust Containment System
Environmentally safe
Waterborne, toxin-free finish & cleaner
20 yr. No Dulling Guarantee
Certified Master Craftsmen Magnus Anderson Institute
No need to leave the house
Walk on 3-4 hours
Furniture 48 hours
Affordable Rates
Nationwide
Residential & Commercial

Keep Your Floor Looking Beautiful

At Magnus Anderson, we want to keep your floors looking beautiful for as long as possible. With proper care and cleaning, your floors can look as good as new for years to come.
Floor Care TipsVacuum or sweep your floor regularly to prevent scratching. We recommend general cleaning once a week.
Clean up spills promptly using a clean cloth and Magnus Anderson Hardwood Floor Cleaner.
Use floor mats at exterior doors to catch most dirt and grit. Use area rugs in high-traffic areas, at the ends of steps, and near doorways. Avoid rubber backing or non-ventilated rugs.
Use protective pads or caps under furniture.
Examine your floor’s finish so wear is caught early, before complete refinishing is necessary.
Maintain a consistent humidity level year-round in all areas with hardwood flooring. Excessive variations in humidity levels can cause hardwood to swell, shrink, cup, crack, and show gaps between boards. We recommend the use of humidifiers or dehumidifiers in areas where humidity is inconsistent.

Email for a quote
703-370-0000

Refinishing gives new life to your hardwood floors, bringing back the luster and beauty they once had. Traditionally, refinishing your floors meant leaving your home for 2-3 days and coming home to a house covered in dust left from the sanding process. At Magnus Anderson, we care about you, the environment, and your floors. We feature waterborne treatments that are specially formulated to be environmentally friendly, so you don’t have to leave your home while we work. Our finishing treatments can be walked on in as little as 3 to 4 hours. The Magnus Anderson Dust Containment System guarantees you’ll have beautiful floors without the nightmare of airborne dust in your air ducts and throughout your home. With a treatment from Magnus Anderson, you can relax and breathe freely knowing that you, your family, and your home are safe.
Real Craftsmen Don’t Leave a Mess

Refinishing your hardwood floors shouldn’t be a battle with dust. There is a cleaner, healthier, and faster process for restoring your hardwood floor’s natural beauty. The Magnus Anderson Dust Containment System eliminates airborne dust from the sanding process, leaving you with beautiful hardwood floors without the mess. We use the most advanced, most powerful dust containment technology on the market.

The Magnus Anderson Dust Containment System uses high-powered vacuum hoses connected directly to the sanding equipment to remove dust generated from the sanding process from your home before it can escape into your home. The dust is collected outside, leaving you with beautiful, newly-finished floors – and no mess.
Magnus Anderson Waterborne Classic Finish
Magnus Anderson Cares

Traditionally, refinishing your floors meant leaving your home for 2 to 3 days to avoid the toxic fumes produced as the finish was applied. At Magnus Anderson, we care about you, the environment, and your floors. Our Swedish waterborne finish, Classic Finish, sets the standard for environmentally-responsible hardwood floor finishes. Classic Finish is specially formulated to be environmentally friendly, so you don’t have to leave your home while we work. It uses water – not toxic solvents – so there are no toxic fumes putting your family at risk.
Quality Finish, Beautiful Results

Magnus Anderson Classic Finish brings out the true beauty and richness of your hardwood floors. It is the most durable hardwood floor finish of any kind – waterborne or solvent-based. Classic Finish is fast-drying, long-lasting, non-yellowing, and will not change color over time. In just 3 to 4 hours after a Magnus Anderson treatment, our finish is dry enough to be walked on with stocking feet. After 48 hours, you can place (not drag) furniture back on your floor.
We’re Not Just Refinishers, We’re Master Craftsmen

Every refinisher at Magnus Anderson is trained and certified through the Magnus Anderson Institute for Master Floor Refinishers. This highly specialized training program certifies that all craftsmen have an advanced understanding of the Magnus Anderson process of refinishing. Ultimately, it is through this hands-on training of the Magnus Anderson process and its products that we are able to pledge the highest level of professional service available.
Email for a quote
703-370-0000

Indoor Air Quality, Allergies & Flooring

Get ready for a shocker!

by Chris Moline, LEED AP
Darn, I blew it right off the bat.
Now you’re going to know something out-of-the-ordinary is about to come when I ask the question – Which floor type is better for people with allergies… carpet or hard-surface?
Well, a study by the German Allergy and Asthma Society appears to prove that levels of airborne fine dust are reduced (in places dramatically) by the use of carpeting.
In fact, according to the study, the average fine-dust concentration in hard-surfaced rooms is twice as high as in wall-to-wall carpeted rooms.
Hooey, you say? Me, too, until I dug deeper.
Because that’s when the engineers spelled it out. Carpet, apparently, binds dust in the fibers and backing, trapping it and preventing re-release into the air.
From my early years in the business I can attest to the fact that every time I pulled up carpet, I could see the dust fly… dust that would normally have remained on top of a hard-surface floor to be re-released into the air by foot traffic or the opening of a door.
“…the average fine-dust concentration in
hard-surfaced rooms is twice as high as in
wall-to-wall carpeted rooms.”
And that’s not accounting for the “filtration” effect evidenced by the presence of very-fine dust particles on the subfloor that had migrated through the carpet backing and pad.
I’m still a bit hesitant to completely say “amen”, but it really does make sense.
The study, or at least what portion of mind-numbing statistcs I’d read, didn’t mention IAQ in regards to VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds) and off-gassing. No one will ever convince me that vinyl is a healthy floor for someone with chemical sensitivities, but that’s another story.
I’ve told you what’s on my mind, now let me know what you think!
We have a complete section of our showroom dedicated to “green” flooring I’m sure you would find interesting. In fact, we have natural, undyed wool carpet with natural latex and jute backing, along with cork, bamboo, marmoleum… and that’s just the beginning!

Chris Moline, LEED AP
703-370-0000
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Not ashamed to be a tree-hugger!