Calhoun, Ga. November 12, 2015 – Mohawk Flooring announced today that it has been awarded LEED® Gold certification for its Mohawk Flooring Center in Calhoun, Georgia. The LEED rating system, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the most recognizable program for buildings, homes and communities that are designed, constructed, maintained and operated for improved environmental and human health performance.

“Obtaining LEED certification for the Mohawk Flooring Center is a stepping stone in our sustainability journey,” said Rochelle Routman, Mohawk’s vice president of sustainability. “Mohawk is always looking for the next opportunity - whether it be a product, process or technology - that will push sustainability forward for us, for the flooring industry, and for the manufacturing sector in general.” 

The Mohawk Flooring Center currently houses a large team of employees in various functions supporting Mohawk’s Flooring North America business unit. The facility achieved LEED certification for implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions aimed at achieving high performance in sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

LEED is the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. More than 53,908 commercial and institutional projects are currently participating in LEED, comprising more than 727.34 million square feet of construction space in all 50 states.

“The Mohawk Flooring Center’s LEED certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership,” said Rick Fedrizzi, CEO and founding chair, USGBC. “The urgency of USGBC’s mission has challenged the industry to move faster and reach further than ever before, and Mohawk serves as a prime example of just how much we can accomplish.”

Mohawk’s management team, led by Routman, implemented a number of strategic operations in design and construction, including the following: 

• The project site was restored during the construction process to a more natural landscape than what existed. Native grasses were allowed to grow along with shrubbery and trees to create a natural stream habitat. The National Wildlife Federation designated the project a Certified Wildlife Habitat for the efforts.
• A combination of high efficiency toilets, urinals, hand faucets, and showerheads resulted in a greater than 30 percent reduction in building water usage on an annual basis.
• Strategic measures were implemented in lighting design including use of occupancy sensors, skylights, and high efficiency fixtures that resulted in an overall 30 percent reduction in lighting power.
• An extensive recycling system was established throughout the office and common spaces at the Mohawk Flooring Center. Staff and visitors are able to recycle anything that typically comes from an office environment right at their desks or in common areas located at junctures throughout the space.
• Over 70 percent of the Flooring Center’s furniture as well as building components such as pillars were repurposed from other Mohawk locations.
• All of the Mohawk carpet used in the building was installed with low VOC adhesives.
• During construction, the contractors followed a strict indoor air quality policy to ensure materials were not contaminated by construction activities before their installation. 

For more information on Mohawk’s commitment to sustainability initiatives, visit mohawksustainability.com.

Mohawk Industries is a leading global flooring manufacturer that creates products to enhance residential and commercial spaces around the world. Mohawk’s vertically integrated manufacturing and distribution processes provide competitive advantages in the production of carpet, rugs, ceramic tile, laminate, hardwood, stone, and vinyl flooring. Our industry-leading innovation has yielded products and technologies that differentiate our brands in the marketplace and satisfy all remodeling and new construction requirements. Our brands are among the most recognized in the industry and include American Olean, Bigelow, Daltile, Durkan, IVC, Karastan, Lees, Marazzi, Mohawk, Pergo, Unilin, and Quick-Step. During the past decade, Mohawk has transformed its business from an American carpet manufacturer into the world’s largest flooring company with operations in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Europe, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Russia and the United States.