Nusta Spa Shows It is Easy Being Green

Washington D.C. (April 2, 2004) Nusta Spa, (www.nustaspa.com) a new addition to the vibrant Dupont Circle area of Washington DC, is pioneering a new concept in day spa design—“green” design!

Nusta Spa is the first day spa in the United States to apply for and be accepted into the LEED for Commercial Interiors Pilot Program. LEED (“Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design”), created by the U.S. Green Building Council, is a consensus-based, voluntary rating system created to define and measure the standard for green building. LEED evaluates the sustainability of buildings based on criteria outlined under five focused areas: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy & Atmosphere, Materials & Resources, and Indoor Environmental Quality.

Elizabeth Snowdon, founder and president of Nusta Spa, became interested in “green” design when she began working with the Washington, DC-based architecture firm Envision Design, an award-winning multidisciplinary design firm with a focus on sustainable design. Envision partner Kendall Wilson, a leader in sustainable design and long active with the U.S. Green Building Council, pointed out the many advantages to sustainable designcreating a green space and the myriad materials available to make it a reality. And this wasn no’t just just an idea. Wilson and Envision had have pioneered the concept with in their work with such organizations as Greenpeace and World Wildlife Fund.

Said Wilson, “Our vision for Nusta Spa was to marry a sophisticated design concept with the highest standards of sustainability – to demonstrate that being ‘green’ no longer means doing without. Believe it or not, the average American spends 90% of his or her time indoors – that is what makes green interiors so important. In creating Nusta Spa, we used rapidly renewable and recycled materials that are manufactured in an environmentally friendly way and that do not use off-gas harmful chemicals or volatile organic compounds; the result is high-performance design and a healthier-built environment for Nusta’s clients and employees.”

Among the highlights of s a result, Nusta Spa’s cutting- edge sustainable design are:

· Furnishings from Knoll International and Herman Miller, companies at the forefront of environmentally friendly furnishings;

· A wooden wall made from the salvaged beams of an old barn;

· Carpeting containing over 50% recycled content specially designed by Envision for Lees Carpets;

· An energy efficient heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system with controls for individual adjustment throughout the space;

· A sophisticated air filtration system for superior indoor air quality;

· An energy efficient lighting design that incorporates ultra-high-efficiency adjustable colored LED lights.

This Nusta Spa’s commitment to environmental sustainability does not stop with the design of the space; impact on the environment has been an important factor in every decision founder Snowdon has made. From the choice of product lines and packaging to the paper and ink used for printed materials, an all-encompassing approach is a top priority at Nusta Spa.

Opening in May 2004, Nusta Spa is a 5,000 square-foot day spa for women and men located in the Dupont Circle area of Washington DC at 1129 20th Street, NW. Nusta, from the indigenous South American language Quecha, means “royalty.” As the name suggests, Nusta Spa’s vision is to treat its guests, its staff and the environment with the greatest respect and care. Nusta Spa will offer a full range of spa services customized to each guest according to his or her specific needs and preferences.