Southeast Leader in Brick Construction Selects “Green,” Energy-Efficient Brick Created by California Firm CalStar Products

JULY 8, 2010, TALLAHASSEE – A brick building like no other in the southeast is being constructed in Tallahassee by Culpepper Construction using unique “green,” low-energy bricks made from fly ash by CalStar Products of Silicon Valley.

Another Broken Egg restaurant will occupy the new building, located in the Evening Rose community off Capital Circle NE. Evening Rose is known throughout the region as an award winning, environmentally designed, energy-efficient residential-commercial development.

“The green building sector continues to hold steady even in today’s economy,” said Culpepper President O.J. Knox. “It makes for smart building. We continue to look to introduce innovative products and practices here at our Evening Rose project. This CalStar brick is our latest, and one of our smartest, moves to set new standards in sustainable construction.”

Evening Rose is known for its use of cutting-edge green building techniques and materials. It’s Carabelle Beauty home was the first LEED for homes project in the state to receive a U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)  Silver Certification. The traditional neighborhood development continues to shine as a Florida pacesetter in sustainable residential and commercial construction practices.

The Culpepper and CalStar project not only introduces a green building material with a great future, the project also is at the forefront of an important jobs-producing trend.

In spite of the current recession, the USGBC predicts the green building market (non-residential and residential) will more than double in size from between $36-$49 billion in 2009 to $96-$140 billion by 2013.

Culpepper Construction, in addition to being a partner in the Evening Rose project, is one of the southeast’s leading masonry builders. The company’s projects include many prominent education, medical and government buildings across North Florida and South Georgia.

“As an established leader in masonry construction, Culpepper is a perfect partner for CalStar,” said Tom Pounds, CalStar’s CEO. “Together we’ll be setting a new benchmark in green building practices by putting in place our new, greener bricks.”

CalStar got its start in Silicon Valley, California, the birthplace of Google, Apple, and eBay, and now a hub for innovation in “clean” technology.  The bricks are manufactured in Racine, WI, and are made from 40 percent recycled fly ash, the by-product of coal fire electricity generation. Unlike traditional clay bricks, CalStar’s are not fired in a kiln at high temperatures. As a result, they use only 15 percent of the energy required to produce their clay counterparts, and produce 85 percent less CO2 (a greenhouse gas).

Compared to using traditional clay bricks, a 100,000-brick project using CalStar’s products reduces CO2 emissions by 40 tons – the equivalent of taking seven cars off the road for a year. In addition, that single project represents a 500 million BTU reduction in energy consumption, avoids the mining of 200 tons of virgin raw material, and keeps 70 tons of by-product out of a landfill.

“CalStar’s brick is a superior product, and sets a new standard for sustainability in brick masonry,” said Dean Brodley of Culpepper. “Based on our experience on this project, I have complete confidence in CalStar’s product.  I won’t be surprised to see it adopted broadly in brick construction nationwide – and frankly, we should all hope it is.”

CalStar Products, Inc. develops and manufactures sustainable building products that allow green architects and specifiers to dramatically reduce the energy and CO2 footprint of their projects and incorporate significant recycled materials without compromising building performance or budgets. CalStar’s fly-ash bricks and pavers have been recognized by Architectural Record as one of the outstanding new building products of the year and Editor’s Pick in the Concrete, Masonry, and Exterior Improvements category.

Headquartered in Silicon Valley with a manufacturing plant in Wisconsin, CalStar’s mission encompasses national priorities of supporting energy independence, mitigating climate change, preserving natural resources, recycling industrial by-products, and creating green jobs.

Culpepper Construction Company has a long established record of consistently providing quality work to project owners and partners. Consistency and reliability speaks beyond the bricks and concrete – the company also understands the importance of providing a quality work environment for employees, subcontractors and vendors. Culpepper understands that work performance and staff are synonymous, which is why the company is proud of the consistent level of integrity it’s been able to provide with every job.

Headquartered in Tallahassee, Culpepper has been serving the North Florida and South Georgia communities for the life of the company; the staff’s investment in each job is personal. The company is well known for its staff’s involvement in industry and non-profit organizations. This not only creates stronger communities but also provides the staff with a more balanced work environment.