New Resource Launched for Environmental Builders,

Portland OR, November 11--With forward-thinking builders and architects striving for Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) certified development, and their clients seeking one-of-a-kind alternatives in their homes and commercial buildings, two Oregon entrepreneurs, Ann Goldsmith Barr and Dan Nelson, are launching Canopy. The new company specializes in channel development of environmentally conscious building materials. Canopy formally introduced its services and product line at the U.S. Green Building Council’s Greenbuild conference. "As building green becomes a competitive advantage in the marketplace, Canopy is targeting the wholesale construction market by introducing highly designed, sustainable building materials and interior products to builders, developers, architects and interior designers," says president Ann Goldsmith Barr. "With the advent of markets fueled by lifestyle publications such as Organic Style and Dwell, savvy consumers are demanding products that are fashion forward and environmentally sound." The market for green building products is rapidly moving out of its niche and into the mainstream. Canopy's goal is to introduce builders, designers and architects to hard-to-source green materials and to be a resource for industry professionals who are mining the market for green alternatives. "Canopy is an asset for manufacturers in the sustainable building space," said Dan Harrington, director of architectural sales for EcoTimber. "Our products fit perfectly within their portfolio of impressive sustainably made products." In addition to representing green building materials, Canopy also will manufacture a line of custom cabinets and tabletops for the restaurant industry using the green materials it distributes. Nationally renowned cabinetmaker Neil Kelly Cabinets is working with Canopy to manufacture the Canopy Cabinet Collection under a private label. Canopy handpicks highly designed products that are winners among consumers looking for style and sustainability. Canopy's initial portfolio includes a recycled paper-based countertop material called Paperstone, made by Puyallup, Wash.-based KlipTech Composites; Durat, a stylish, durable solid-surface product from Finland, made from 50% recycled plastic; Kirei, a stunning, alternative wood product made from pressed sorghum; and flooring from EcoTimber, North America's premier supplier of FSC certified, reclaimed and bamboo flooring. Canopy is also a source for sustainably manufactured finished goods, including 100% recycled aluminum cast metal tiles, sinks and light fixtures from Portland, Ore.-based Eleek, hand-forged, architectural hardware from Rocky Mountain Hardware, and 100% recycled copper sinks from Native Trails. Installations include hotels, restaurants, multi-use commercial buildings, and private homes.

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