YouthBuild programs help low-income young people work towards high school diplomas and learn job skills by building affordable and sustainable housing in their communities. Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics’ new contributions add to the existing over-arching national partnership between Saint-Gobain and YouthBuild USA.

“YouthBuild is a great program rooted in teaching students life-long skills that will help them thrive in the business world and its mission aligns with our commitment to provide sustainable products that support energy-efficient buildings,” said Diana Ohl, Product Manager Engineered Stone at Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics. “This program helps students gain invaluable experience as they work towards developing the necessary skills to be successful.”

YouthBuild Philadelphia is rehabilitating a formerly vacant property into a two-family home, which will be seeking LEED® certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Grenite, in the color Birch Prada, was installed in both kitchens for the countertops and an island that can function as a breakfast nook or serving area. “It’s wonderful to have our students learn about the strategies, materials and products that lead to sustainable building. Grenite is the perfect fit for this project as it is easy to install, manmade and has up to 85% recycled content,” said Don Pinkney, construction manager of YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School. 

In addition, Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics is donating countertops to a current ASCA rehab project, a split-level five-bedroom home, which is also seeking a Platinum LEED certification from the USGBC. As part of the company’s commitment to educating YouthBuild students on the latest in sustainability, Ohl presented at a green education session to the Akron YouthBuild students. Following the session, 14 students toured Saint-Gobain’s Ravenna, OH, factory and learned how the Grenite product is made.

With one of the highest abrasion resistance of all countertop materials, Grenite is ideal for high-traffic horizontal and vertical applications in the retail, hospitality, banking, education, healthcare, entertainment and restaurant industries. Manufactured entirely in the United States, Grenite is also flame-retardant, NSF 51 and GREENGUARD certified, non-porous, durable and easy to install.

Grenite is a sustainable alternative to materials such as laminates, solid surfaces, quartz and granite. It features the highest post-consumer recycled content currently available in the market — up to 85% — and is eligible for LEED points through the USGBC.

For more information about Saint-Gobain’s Engineered Stone, visit www.engineeredstone.saint-gobain.com; email engineeredstone@saint-gobain.com or call 330-298-3964.