Canada Green Building Council
Armstrong is a member of the Canada Green Building Council. CaGBC is the developer and administrator of LEED in Canada.

The Climate Registry
In 2008, Armstrong joined The Climate Registry, a nonprofit organization that establishes consistent, transparent standards throughout North America for businesses and governments to calculate, verify and publicly report their carbon footprints in a single, unified registry. The Registry is committed to:

• Utilizing best practices in greenhouse gas emissions reporting;
• Establishing a common data infrastructure for voluntary and mandatory reporting and emissions reduction programs;
• Minimizing the burden on Members, Directors and Native Sovereign Nations;
• Providing an opportunity for Members to establish an emissions baseline and document early action;
• Developing a recognized platform for credible and consistent greenhouse gas emissions reporting;
• Promoting full and public disclosure of greenhouse gas emissions while respecting business confidentiality.

Collaborative of High Performance Schools
Armstrong is a member of the Collaborative of High Performance Schools. This organization facilitates the design of high performance schools: environments that are not only energy efficient, but also healthy, comfortable, well lit, and containing the amenities needed for a quality education.

Design Futures Council
Armstrong is a research partner and corporate member of the Design Futures Council, an interdisciplinary network of design, product and construction leaders exploring global trends, challenges and opportunities to advance innovation, and shape the future of the industry and the environment. Since 2004, Armstrong has supported the Design Futures Council Leadership Summit on Sustainable Design at the highest level as a Platinum sponsor, the only manufacturer to do so

EMerge™ Alliance
Armstrong is a founding governing member of EMerge Alliance. Brian Patterson, general manager, New Business Development for Armstrong’s ceiling division, is chairman of the Alliance and John Lamprinakos, president and CEO of the Armstrong-Worthington Joint Venture (WAVE), is treasurer.

EMerge Alliance was created in 2008 to promote the rapid adoption of the EMerge standard. This standard provides an efficient way to distribute safe, low-voltage direct current (DC) power in interior building systems via conductors like our new DC FlexZone™ commercial ceiling grid system. DC FlexZone allows the use of DC power for lighting fixtures, sensors and other electrical devices in the ceiling significantly improving the flexibility and reuse of interior spaces through “plug and play” modularity. Want to repurpose or reconfigure a space? There’s no need to rewire with DC FlexZone.

Commercial buildings use between a third and one half of the alternating current (AC) electricity produced and distributed by public utilities in the U.S. But companies today use more digital electronic devices that are inherently DC power. This demands that even more AC power be converted to DC (direct current) to make equipment like electronic lighting ballasts, solid state lighting (i.e. LEDs), HVAC controls and actuators, and assorted computer/IT equipment work. Similarly, DC power from renewable energy sources like solar or wind must be converted to AC to be compatible with public utility supplied power. These conversions result in a significant loss of electricity. EMerge Alliance advocates distributing power in commercial buildings as DC, which permits fewer and/or more efficient conversions.

The EMerge standard is focused on direct use of DC power, including sustainable energy sources like wind and solar. It also facilitates use of more sustainable devices like dimmable electronic ballasts, LED lighting and digital controls.

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EPA Green Power Partner
Armstrong is a certified Green Power Partner of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  We purchase 2.2 million kilowatt hours of wind-generated energy, the equivalent of 75% of the power for our Corporate Headquarters Building 701.  By using clean, renewable wind power at this rate, it’s as if Armstrong planted 149,000 trees or removed 300 automobiles from the road.

The Green Power Partnership encourages organizations to purchase green power—solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, biomass and low-impact hydro—as a way to reduce the risk of climate change and the environmental impacts associated with conventional electricity use.

Energy Star
In 2007, Armstrong became an Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star Partner, reinforcing our fundamental commitment for continuous energy performance improvement. As an Energy Star Partner, we are committed to:

• measuring, tracking and benchmarking global energy performance;
• developing and implementing plans to improve energy performance, adopting Energy Star’s strategy; and
• educating staff, stakeholders and the public about the partnership and achievements with Energy Star.

Using Energy Star’s Portfolio Manager, a National Energy Performance Rating system for buildings, Armstrong achieved the Energy Star label for its Lancaster Corporate Headquarters facility in 2006 and 2008.

Dave Eberly, a principal engineer at Armstrong’s corporate headquarters, says, “Building 701’s 93 rating is about as good as any building can get. However, we’ll continue to look at how we operate and make improvements when they make sense.”  

Energy Star rating, Building 701 meets or exceeds American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) standards for thermal comfort (ASHRAE standard 55), indoor air quality (ASHRAE standard 62) and Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) recommended lighting levels for a comfortable work environment.

Jim Baker, director, facilities management, says, “The Energy Star Award is meaningful in a number of ways. It reinforces our company’s commitment to reduce water and electrical consumption, and proves that we’re performing against Our Sustainability Initiatives. Plus, hitting these milestones provides a good benchmark to follow as we review our other building operations. We hope achievements like the Energy Star designation inspire Armstrong employees to be more sustainable at home, too.”

Building Features Advanced HVAC System

Armstrong headquarters building uses an advanced heating, ventilating and air conditioning system that includes energy efficient motors for all air handlers and pumps in the building, along with an Energy Management Control System to control the motor systems and space temperatures. 

The system also features variable speed drives on all fans and pumps to reduce energy usage during part load/non-occupied periods.  All HVAC equipment uses CFC-free refrigeration and is zoned to create smaller areas for climate control. 

Combination of Natural and Artificial Light

The building’s design allows natural light to penetrate deep into the building.  Exterior sunshades ensure that summer sun does not overheat the interior and drive up cooling requirements.  Integrated control systems interface with lighting systems through outdoor photocells and timer functions to reduce energy consumption. 

Inside the building, occupancy sensors control lighting when spaces are occupied.  Dual level lighting further minimizes the use of artificial light and related heat gains.  The uplighting applications take advantage of the Armstrong high light reflectance ceiling panels used throughout the workspaces.

Measurement Devices Provide Feedback

The application of energy measurement devices provides continuous feedback on building performance compared to building specifications. The EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy introduced the Energy Star program in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. The Energy Star is awarded to facilities that achieve energy performance ratings of 75 or better, on a scale of 1 to 100. Ratings are calculated by comparing buildings of similar square footage on factors such as location, energy consumption, number of occupants, number of computers and other equipment and hours of operation. Buildings must also conform to industry standard for thermal comfort, air ventilation, control of indoor air pollutants and illumination.