Shaw Receives LEED Silver Certification for Carpet-to-Energy Facility

BURLINGTON, Mass., May 10, 2013 — While many carpet manufacturers are finding ways to incorporate more sustainable materials into their products, Shaw Floors is going so far as to turn reclaimed carpet into energy. The company's new Reclaim to Energy (Re2E) process building in Dalton, Ga., recently received a prestigious LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for its energy-saving infrastructure.

By converting carpet into steam energy through a heating process, Shaw's Re2E facility creates a reliable alternative power supply for two other buildings on the premises, and it is expected to eventually co-generate enough electricity to sustain its own operations. Using a projected 84 million pounds of reclaimed carpet annually, the Re2E process creates 50,000 pounds of steam energy per hour, saving enough fossil fuel to power the equivalent of about 7,500 homes each year.

"It seems that every carpet brand is offering some sort of green product these days, but customers that take home a product from Shaw can be confident that it has been produced with the environment in mind from start to finish," said Barry Greenberg, sales manager of A.J. Rose Carpets & Flooring, a Greater Boston carpet dealer. "The most impressive thing is that Shaw manages to create sustainable carpeting that is both incredibly stylish and highly durable."

Shaw Floors offers several Cradle to Cradle certified products that can be broken down and recycled back into their original materials after they are no longer used in a home. A prime example is the company's Anso Type 6 Nylon fiber, which is SCS certified to be made with 25 percent post-consumer recycled content, yet it is 20 percent tougher than other fibers. As the exclusive flooring provider of the 2013 HGTV Smart Home Giveaway, Shaw has donated its Signature Style Anso nylon carpet to outfit a high-tech, energy-saving home that will be given away after the contest ends on May 31.

Those interested in winning the roughly 2,400-square-foot home in the Paradise Key South Beach community in Jacksonville Beach, Fla., can enter the giveaway at http://www.hgtv.com/smart-home/. Other Shaw products featured in the HGTV Smart Home include Pemberton engineered hardwood, area rugs like Nirvana and Venezia, and tile and stone products like Bangle glass block, Elements, Glass Essentials and Mixed Up.

"The HGTV Smart Home isn't just about green living; it's about using the latest materials and technology to make living easier and more stylish," added Greenberg. "That makes Shaw flooring an ideal fit, and our customers can refresh their own homes just the same by starting with something as simple as an EcoMade rug from the brand."

About A.J. Rose Carpets & Flooring:
Serving Massachusetts homeowners and commercial customers since 1977, A.J. Rose Carpets & Flooring specializes in flooring products and installation, offering a broad selection of carpets, area rugs and vinyl, hardwood and laminate flooring. Family owned and operated from the beginning, A.J. Rose also offers professional carpet and upholstery cleaning with the latest equipment to ensure a quality job. Visit one of their showrooms, located at 136 Cambridge Street (Route 3A) in Burlington and 599 Worcester Road (Route 9 West) in Natick, or find them online at www.ajrosecarpets.com. They can also be liked on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AJRoseCarpeting or reached by phone at 781-272-7600 in Burlington or 508-652-0770 in Natick.