An Array of Sustainable Solutions
Most of us equate Los Angeles with intense smog and dense traffic, hardly a model
for sustainability. But in 2007 Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa declared
that he was going to transform his city into "the greenest big city in America."
One of the ways he planned to accomplish this was to embrace green building practices.
Los Angeles now requires all new public buildings to meet LEED® (Leadership
in Energy and Environmental Design) standards provided by the US Green Building
Council. And the city is going even further, by working with private developers
by providing resources and incentives to build green in the area.
Eric Fitucci, owner of Fitucci Custom Cabinets, learned of this and there were no
questions, he knew which way to steer his third generation family cabinetry business.
They were going to go green. Because Los Angeles was seeking LEED certification
Fitucci knew that he could not just say that products were sustainable, he would
have to provide documents to prove it. This inspired him and his company to extensively
research all materials and practices.
"Today there is more awareness of environmental issues and in turn there is more
demand for solutions," says Fitucci. "We work with many different materials and
products which are certified green." From reclaimed and recycled metal hardware
to FSC-certified wood and hardwood plywood made with formaldehyde-free PureBond®
technology to using no VOC finishes, Fitucci now carries an array of sustainable
solutions.
One of the more unique materials Fitucci uses is solid Lyptus® which is a fast-growing,
eucalyptus hybrid. Eric explains "Eucalyptus is a dense and hard wood commonly used
for flooring. It is very durable. We use it for cabinets because we want our products
to be as hard-wearing and long-lasting as possible." Fitucci sees durability as
another important aspect of sustainability and they consider this with each design
and selection of materials.
Fitucci has a remarkable showroom which features more than 100 cabinet options.
They are proficient in all types of design styles spanning the gamut from contemporary
to traditional. The company prides itself in their close working relationship with
their customers. "Every job is unique to us," explains Eric.
Fitucci is considered one of Southern California's premier green cabinet providers
and their work has been praised by the Los Angeles Green Design Network, Greenfolio.com
and Luxe Publishers.