Philadelphia Mayor Nutter Receives Sustainable Leadership Award

The Portland Cement Association this week presented Philadelphia's Mayor Nutter with the prestigious Sustainable Leadership Award, at the BuildGreen 2009 conference.

ARXX Corporation shared the stage, in recognition of the leading role that ARXX energy-saving ICF products had in enabling Philadelphia to meet its environmental and economic goals.

The award recognizes sustainable building practices to provide environmental and cost-saving benefits for their communities. Philadelphia is the largest city honored in the awards this year.

The first project supported by Mayor Nutter was seven three-story units built by Habitat for Humanity, to begin a green, affordable housing renaissance in the historic East Parkside neighborhood.

The project team set - and met - goals of: attaining the prestigious Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Silver certification, with dramatic reductions in energy use; a tangible demonstration of affordable housing solutions; and the practicality of building green.

ARXX ICF products (Insulating Concrete Forms) were chosen to build the foundations and walls.

The ARXX building system demonstrated greater energy savings, more occupant comfort and quiet, greater strength and durability, and a faster build than conventional wood frame construction, or newer techniques like SIPs.

The January 2009 utility bill for one of the families was just $50. Along with other efficiency measures, homeowners are seeing a 65 percent reduction in total utility costs.

According to Mayor Nutter: 'This project proved you can be green and save money. ARXX was an important part of that.'

"This project shows how we can redefine building," said Gael Mourant, CEO of ARXX. "Smart green building practices save energy and put money back in the pockets of homeowners and business owners. At the same time we all help the environment. We will eagerly continue to assist cities as they revitalize their homes and office buildings to new standards of energy efficiency and sustainable development."