ALNO, one of the world's largest and most respected designers and manufacturers of luxury kitchen environments, has announced the opening of its 3,000 square foot showroom in Sierra Madre, CA. The new location marks ALNO's first entry into Los Angeles' San Gabriel Valley, and is the company's first showroom that makes use of passive solar energy to increase energy efficiency.

Located in Sierra Madre, a small mountain village next to Pasadena, the ALNO|Pasadena showroom is housed on two floors of a spacious, airy loft style unit. The space features 13-foot ceilings, open truss construction, steel balconies, hardwood floors, and large north-facing windows that look out over the San Gabriel Mountains. "ALNO kitchens are known for their clean, elegant simplicity, and we wanted our showroom to reflect this design philosophy," says Fred Crockett, President of ALNO|Pasadena. "We're proud to have created a space that lives up to the ALNO name."

The new Pasadena location is also ALNO's first “green” showroom and features a variety of environmentally friendly features and design elements that help to minimize energy usage. These include:

• Sawtooth skylights designed to radiate diffused natural light throughout the building and eliminate the need for daytime lighting. These skylights can be opened to take advantage of mountain thermal airflows, keeping the building cool.
• Dual glazed low E, north facing windows.
• A cool roof that uses white TPO roofing, radiant barrier plywood to reflect solar energy and 10” of Icynene to insulate the roof.
• Icynene, water-based foam, is also used to insulate all exterior walls.
• A large concrete thermal massing wall running through the center of the building that helps moderate temperature swings.
• Environmentally friendly low VOC paints.
• A small penthouse that reflects daylight exterior air into the showroom and acts as a chimney to help control hot air.
• Low voltage lighting
• ALNO cabinets – which are manufactured with zero emissions and zero carbon footprint manufacturing – throughout the building.

"By using green manufacturing processes and creating products that have a very low environmental impact, ALNO demonstrates its commitment to environmental responsibility every day. We wanted to accomplish the same goals with our new showroom," says Crockett. "We felt strongly that this new space – like ALNO's products – should combine high style with respect for the environment."

Adds Yael Tamari, President of ALNO|USA: "Today's consumers are searching for luxury and elegance, but they also want to know what sort of impact the products they buy are having on the planet. I'm thrilled that ALNO's latest showroom is one that utilizes green technology to improve energy efficiency."

Among ALNO's environmental initiatives is the company's ALNOART Woodline program – a patented graphic process that uses ink-jet technology to replicate the grain patterns of exotic and endangered tree species, such as Brazilian Rosewood, on aluminum encased, controlled growth beech foundation.   ALNO|PASADENA is led by President Fred Crockett, who has over 30 years of experience developing luxury homes and condominiums. The showroom staff also includes 2 contractors with 60 years of combined experience, an AIA-licensed architect and a kitchen design specialist – a team with over 97 cumulative years of experience building luxury homes and 30 years of design experience. ALNO|Pasadena is open to consumers, contractors, architects, and designers.