Tri-North Builders Hosts Sustainability Seminar

Sustainability in building practices will be the subject of a free seminar hosted by Wisconsin-based Tri-North Builders, February 10th, 2010. Featured speakers will be international sustainabilty expert Melissa Vernon and Steve Jende of InterfaceFLOR. Those unable to attend in person may take part live via the internet.

Vernon is director of sustainable strategy for InterfaceFLOR, the world’s largest manufacturer of modular carpet and an international leader in green building practices, based in LaGrange, Ga. As a recognized sustainability expert, Vernon researches trends and opportunities in the green product market, and is a frequent guest at environmental conferences.

"You can't get a 'green' product from a polluting factory," says Vernon. "The companies that really get sustainability have made changes to their whole operation, up and down their supply chain, and into R&D. We have to think beyond the product."
That’s just what InterfaceFLOR does. In 2006, the company announced its "Mission Zero" plan to eliminate any negative impact the company might have on the environment by 2020. Its headquarters are powered by methane taken from landfills. Part of its ambitious program is to create a green business model, as a demonstration of sustainability-based commerce to industry in general.

InterfaceFLOR’s sustainability goals include:

* Elimination of all forms of waste in every area of business.

* Elimination of all toxic emissions from products, vehicles and facilities, including air, water and material waste.

* Operation of facilities with renewable energy sources solar, wind, landfill gas, biomass, geothermal, tidal and low-impact/small-scale hydroelectric or non-petroleum based hydrogen.

* Redesigning processes and products to create a cyclical flow of materials -- a closed-loop system -- including careful recycling of synthetic materials and ensuring that organic materials return uncontaminated to their natural systems.

* Transporting people and products efficiently to reduce waste and emissions.

* Sensitizing stakeholders: Creation of a culture that integrates sustainability principles and improves the lives of everyone with whom InterfaceFLOR interacts, including employees, associates and their families, the communities in which they operate, as well as customers, vendors, suppliers, stockholders and contractors.

Tri-North Builders is a leader in sustainable building practices and one of the nation’s largest construction companies, with projects in all 50 states and Canada. As the "Green Building Leader," Tri-North Builders prides itself on staying on top of cutting edge technology. Tri-North Builders recently completed work on its own state of the art Gold LEED Certified corporate headquarters.

Registration for the Sustainability seminar and a complimentary breakfast will begin at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 10th, at Tri-North Builders, 2625 Research Park Drive, Fitchburg. The presentation will be held from 7:45 to 9 a.m. The event is free and open to the public. Those unable to attend may also register to view the seminar live on-line. For more information or to register, email Robert at rthayer@tri-north.com or phone (608) 271-8717.

About Tri-North Builders
Founded in 1981 in Madison as a General Contracting firm, Tri-North Builders has grown to become one of the largest construction companies in the United States. With a focus in Commercial, Healthcare, Hospitality, Institutional, and Retail Construction, Tri-North Builders currently works throughout the US and Canada. They are a “Green Building Leader” in their industry, with offices in Madison, Milwaukee, Dallas and San Francisco.

To learn more about Tri-North Builders, visit www.Tri-North.com or contact Robert Thayer at (608) 271-8717.