Spa Places in the News

Nusta Spa: Green Spa Gets the Gold - Washington DC Spa First Ever to Achieve LEED Certification

Washington D.C. (April 18, 2005) Nusta Spa, (www.nustaspa.com), the first day spa in the United States to apply for and be accepted into the LEED for Commercial Interiors Pilot Program, has been awarded Gold Certification. LEED ("Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design") created by the U.S. Green Building Council ("USGBC"), is a third-party rating system created to define and measure the standard for green building. Nusta Spa is the first and only Washington D.C. project and the first spa ever to achieve the Gold level of certification under any of the USGBC's LEED rating systems.

Nusta Spa was evaluated for sustainability based upon criteria outlined under five focused areas: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy & Atmosphere, Materials & Resources, and Indoor Environmental Quality. Nusta Spa received 34 credits for achievement in these areas, out of a possible 36.

Environmental sustainability was one of the guiding principles in every aspect of the creation of Nusta Spa. From the design of the space to the choice of product lines and packing to the paper and ink used for all printed materials, Nusta Spa's commitment to sustainability and eco-friendliness is all-encompassing.

Elizabeth Snowdon, founder and president of Nusta Spa, is thrilled with the USGBC's recognition of this commitment. "Our goal was to create a spa that was respectful of our clients, our employees and our community. Green design seemed like a natural extension of this goal. The USGBC's acknowledgement of our efforts is the icing on the cake."

Washington D.C.-based Envision Design, a leader in sustainable design and long active with the USGBC and its LEED programs, was the architecture and design firm behind the creation of Nusta Spa. Envision partner Kendall Wilson and his team guided its client through every step of the LEED certification process, pointing out the many advantages to creating a green space and the myriad materials available to make it a reality. Wilson, named Designer of the Year by Contract Magazine, and his firm are pioneers in sustainable design, having spearheaded such notable projects as the headquarters for Greenpeace and the Environmental Defense Fund, the latter of which obtained a silver rating in the LEED for Commercial Interiors Pilot Program.

Open since 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 offers a full range of spa services customized to each guest according to his or her specific needs and preferences.

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