Standard Companies President Announces the ECO-CONNECTION; The First Lumber and Building Materials Store in Michigan to Exclusively Sell Certified Wood Products. February 18, 2008  Tim Rottschafer, President of Standard Lumber and Standard Kitchens, announced today that the company is in the process of converting its Grand Valley/Standale operation on Lake Michigan Drive into a Green building specialty store. The showroom will be identified as “Standard Lumber/Standard Kitchens – Eco-Connection” The company has been awarded Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain of Custody certification for this location and will be able to supply LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) building projects with FSC certified wood. The LEED Green Building Rating System is the nationally accepted benchmark for green buildings developed by the USGBC (US Green Building Council) membership. The Eco-Connection location will exclusively stock and supply FSC certified wood products.“We are committing our company to the goals of the LEED green building rating system”, Rottschafer noted. “We are excited to become partners with our builder customers in design and construction practices that contribute to the reduction of negative environmental impact while improving the overall quality of life for all of us. A big part of our effort,” Rottschafer continued, “will be to demonstrate that green buildings also offer sustainable economic advantages by paying for themselves immediately or within a very short time frame.” The showroom, the first of its kind in West Michigan, will provide a place where architects, specifiers, designers and others who are interested or active in a LEED or Green Built project can meet to see products, gather specifications and have their questions answered in one convenient location.The showroom will feature carbon-neutral “Green Products” such as adhesives with lower VOCs, (Volatile Organic Compounds are organic chemical compounds that have high enough vapor pressures under normal conditions to significantly vaporize and enter the atmosphere).Other building products such as Energy Star windows, decking made from recycled products, and wall panel and flooring products that meet LEED specifications will be offered by the store.The Standard Kitchens showroom located in the same building features Energy Star appliances, kitchen and bath cabinets from manufacturers who have made a commitment to environmentally friendly products and production methods, and countertops that meet LEED specifications. The Eco-Connection Showroom is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to take on a green project whether it is a small remodeling project, a new home, or a commercial development. Everyone on the staff at Standard’s Grand Valley/Standale branch is going through a comprehensive training program covering not only the products but everything involved in planning and executing a green project. Kurt Geoghegan, the manager of the location will be LEED accredited. The location also features a home designer on staff, field sales representatives for both lumber and kitchens, as well as an experienced inside support staff to ensure the customer’s project is a success.Standard is a member of Greenbuilt West Michigan and the West Michigan Chapter of USGBC (United States Green Built Council)Standard Supply and Lumber 0-377 Lake Michigan Dr. N.W.Kitchens: 616-453-6588 • 1-800-395-0878Lumber: 616-453-1003 • 1-800-395-0872For further information, Contact Timothy Rottschafer President Standard Companies616-243-1848 or email to tim_rottschafer@standardcompanies.com 

Even if you have been building Energy Star® homes for 10-years you may not qualify after July 1, 2006.On that date, several changes to the Energy Star® Homes Program were implemented. These changes affect the way homes are scored. Builders who qualified under the old program may no longer qualify under the new system. yeah