AVI Achieves EarthCraft Light Commercial Certification
By: Architectural Visions
Alpharetta, GA – February, 17 2009
– AVI’s Marvin Design Gallery, at 3150 Piedmont Road NE, in the Buckhead area of Atlanta, has achieved Southface’s EarthCraft Light Commercial certification. This certification, based on the EarthCraft program of the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association and Southface, recognizes design and construction practices that contribute to energy-, water- and resource-efficient commercial development in the Southeast.
AVI Showroom
“We’re also pleased to announce that AVI was awarded two green accolades: EarthCraft Project of the Year 2010 for our Buckhead showroom and EarthCraft Sponsor of the Year 2010,” said Peter Morrison, President of AVI. EarthCraft’s Sponsor of the Year recognizes AVI’s assistance in funding promotions and administration of EarthCraft’s green building programs.
“AVI helps those who want to build or renovate homes for sustainability and energy efficiency. Making our own building as green as possible was a great place to start. Rather than just selling green, we’re living green,” said Peter Morrison, President of AVI.
As one of the first small commercial facilities to be certified under the EarthCraft Light Commercial program, AVI is also the first major building renovation in the program. Partnering with General Contractor David Moore of Structures, Inc. and Denise Grimm, Commercial Green Building Services Project Manager for Southface, the renovation started with a set of environmental goals.
The existing building went through a dramatic transformation to seal the exterior “shell,” addressing the significant and costly energy losses it was experiencing. Other measures taken to meet the environmental goals included high-efficiency interior lighting and Solatube Daylighting Systems, high-efficiency HVAC systems, and Icynene® spray foam insulation. To ensure indoor air quality, low-emitting products were chosen and ductwork was protected during construction. David Moore was able to divert 75 percent of the renovation’s construction waste from the landfill by recycling some materials and by reusing drywall and wood remnants as a soil amendments for off-site projects.
“Heating and cooling buildings uses more energy than anything else in the country. AVI shares Marvin’s vision for a greener future, and we’re excited about making a difference with our very own showroom,” said Peter Morrison. “Our customers want to see that green building is possible, and we’re showing them it can be done.”