According to the U.S. Green Building Council’s Houston chapter, there are currently less than 15 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified buildings in the area. The new CEMEX USA headquarters will be the largest green building of its kind in Houston, and CEMEX’s concrete will help make it green. Much of the concrete will reflect more of the sun’s energy during the day and does not radiate as much stored heat at night. This reduces the urban heat island effect, as it decreases the building’s energy usage and the demand on air conditioning systems, especially in the summertime. In addition, the CEMEX concrete mixes also employ recycled alternative materials, such as fly ash. Instead of land-filling fly ash, a byproduct of coal burned at power plants, using it in concrete improves the workability of the concrete, reduces the amount of water needed, and makes it a stronger concrete.
“CEMEX continuously looks for ways to reduce its footprint and produce environmentally friendly products,” said Andy Miller, CEMEX USA’s Executive Vice President of Human Resources. “We are excited to provide our Houston employees a healthy and safe workplace that will also be green.”
Green buildings often incorporate the most efficient heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, use state-of-the-art lighting and optimize daylight, use recycled content for outside and interior construction, conserve energy and water, reduce waste sent to landfills, and are designed to be healthy work environments for their occupants. The average LEED certified building uses 32 percent less electricity and saves 350 metric tons of CO2 emissions annually.
The new facility is currently being constructed at the corner of Gaylord and Memorial City Way near the Memorial City Mall in west Houston. CEMEX will occupy 170,000 square feet of the 325,000 square foot office building. The construction is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2009.
Kevin Snodgrass of Cushman & Wakefield represented CEMEX in the lease negotiations. The new facility is currently being constructed at the corner of Gaylord and Memorial City Way near the Memorial City Mall in west Houston. CEMEX will occupy 170,000 square feet of the 325,000 square foot office building. The construction is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2009.
CEMEX USA operations have received numerous awards in recognition of high safety standards and environmental accomplishments. Its U.S. network consists of 14 cement manufacturing facilities, more than 370 ready-mix concrete plants, more than 115 aggregate quarries, and approximately 30 fly ash, 60 block and 50 concrete pipe plants.
CEMEX is a growing global building materials company that provides high quality products and reliable service to customers and communities in more than 50 countries throughout the world. The company has a rich history of improving the well-being of those it serves through its efforts to pursue innovative industry solutions and efficiency
advancements and to promote a sustainable future. For more information, visit www.cemexusa.com.
To learn more about the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED certification and green buildings, visit www.usgbc.org.
Jennifer Borgen, Director, External Communications
713-650-6200
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