The Latest Building Materials and Green Wares

Source: BUILDING PRODUCTS Magazine

Publication date: 2009-05-07

Ecobee. The Smart Thermostat is designed to provide the energy-saving control of a programmable thermostat with easy-to-use functionality that homeowners can understand. The unit operates via a touchscreen or the Internet. The thermostat allows utilities to communicate with customers and to send alerts and notices of demand-response events. 877-932-6233. www.ecobee.com.

KlipTech. EcoClad exterior cladding is made with a 50/50 blend of FSC-certified post-consumer recycled paper/wood fiber along with bamboo fiber, bonded with a water-based co-polymer resin. According to the firm, the cladding offers durability comparable to metal, brick, and stucco. The 4x8 panels come in 10 stock wood-grains and six stock matte colors, or in custom colors. 253-507-4622. www.kliptech.com.

Sustainable Flooring. Showercork flooring is made with 1/4-inch pieces of cork cut from post-industrial wine corks. The durable material is suitable for wet applications such as shower floors and pool surrounds, is slip resistant, comes prefinished or unfinished, and offers thermal and acoustical properties. The sheets, which come 12 inches by 24 inches, are adhered with thinset or glue and then grouted. 303-544-6076. www.sustainableflooring.com.

Benjamin Moore. Natura zero-VOC interior paint is available in nearly 3,500 colors (plus limitless color-matching), with a waterborne colorant system that ensures the addition of colorant doesn't affect VOC content. According to the company, the paint offers excellent hide and durability, dries quickly, is virtually odorless, and is washable. 800-344-0400. www.benjaminmoore.com.

Integrity Block. Engineered from a soil composite and using 50 percent pre-consumer recycled content, Integrity Block landscape blocks require 40 percent less energy to manufacture and emit 39 percent less CO2 versus traditional concrete blocks, says the firm. They install in the same manner as traditional blocks and meet the same performance standards. Four colors are available. 650-641-3104. www.integrityblock.com.

Crystal Cabinets. GreenQuest frameless cabinets feature GreenCore plywood and particleboard, which contain no added urea formaldehyde; the plywood uses a soy-based resin and the particleboard is 100 percent recycled. The cabinets feature 3/4-inch FSC-certified Aspen dovetail drawers. Options include sustainably harvested lyptus, Greenguard-certified laminate, and bamboo. 800-347-5045. www.crystalcabinets.com.

PureOFlow. The PureOFlow whole-house reverse-osmosis water purification system provides desalination and purification in one system. According to the company, the system reduces up to 98 percent of substances such as arsenic, lead, and radium, and it softens the water without the need for salts. PureOFlow takes up the same space as a traditional soft water system. 763-497-8500. www.pureoflow.com.

Gorell Windows and Doors. Combining three panes of glass, a 50/50 blend of argon and krypton gas fill, two SolarControl Plus low-E coatings, and an Intercept spacer system, the Energy Star-qualified Solar Master III triple-glass system offers a U-value of 0.19 and an SHGC of 0.26, says the firm. Double-hung units with Solar Master III carry Green Seal certification. 724-465-1800. www.gorell.com.

Modwalls. Viridian 1-inch mosaic tiles are made with 98% pre-consumer recycled glass, including waste derived from window and windshield manufacturing. The line includes Viridian Pearl tiles, which boast a soft, iridescent sheen for walls and low-traffic floors, and Viridian Industrial tiles, which have a non-slip matte finish for walls and floors, including high-traffic areas. Both can be used indoors and outdoors. 877-439-9734. www.modwalls.com.

Englert. The company's integrated system combines its UltraCool-coated metal roofing with integrated PV, solar hot water heating, and rainwater harvesting. The SunNet solar standing-seam roof features 1/4-inch-thick laminate solar collectors. Mounted underneath is a solar thermal system that draws heat from the roof and transfers it to the hot-water system. Finally, three rainwater harvesting kits capture water; integrated LeafGuard and Gutter Tunnel protection help keep debris out of containment tanks. 800-364-5378. www.englertinc.com.

AFM. Naturals plant-based finishes contain no solvents or toxic ingredients such as preservatives or dryers. The products, which are SCS certified, help rejuvenate, weatherproof, and enhance the beauty of wood floors, fencing, timberwork, and decks, according to the manufacturer. 619-239-0321. www.afmsafecoat.com.

Knauf. EcoBatt fiberglass insulation utilizes Ecose technology, with converts natural organic materials into an inert polymer, binding the insulation fibers; the technology, which also is up to 70 percent less energy intensive than traditional binders, allows for the same performance but greater sustainability. The insulation, which is brown in color, contains no formaldehyde, acrylics, or artificial colors. It contains a minimum of 30 percent post-consumer recycled glass. 317-398-4434. www.ecobatt.us.

GridPoint. GridPoint Central is an online energy management portal that gives homeowners detailed information and control over their energy consumption and costs. By comparing a utility rate schedule against a customer's energy consumption patterns, the system can recommend the most cost-effective time to run appliances. Users can create a personal energy profile to automatically manage energy according to fluctuating utility rates and consumption patterns. 888-998-4743. www.gridpoint.com.

Everpure. The ViruPure single-cartridge commercial-grade residential water filtration system filters out 99 percent of bacteria, viruses, and cysts down to 0.019 micron, as well as reducing VOCs, THMs, MTBEs, chlorine, chlora­mines, and lead, says the maker. The system, which mounts under the sink, has a 500-gallon life span, which lasts a family of four about a year. 800-323-7873. www.everpure.com.