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2004 BuildingGreen Top-10 Products
Described below are the Top-10 Green Building Products for 2004, selected by the editors of GreenSpec® and Environmental Building News™. These are all products that have been added to GreenSpec during the past year, though some may have been on the market longer. They are listed in the order of their appearance in the CSI organizing framework. There is additional information on these products in the online edition of GreenSpec, which is available by subscription as part of the BuildingGreen Suite (www.BuildingGreen.com).
ECO I Paver from E. P. Henry Corporation
[view GreenSpec listing]
ECO I™ Paver from E. P. Henry is a regionally available interlocking concrete grid paver designed for porous paving applications. The 6-3/4" by 9-1/2" x 3-1/8" units look like conventional concrete pavers but include protrusions (or lugs) on the sides to ensure separation between them for rainwater infiltration. The gaps between the pavers are typically filled either with fine crushed stone or a mix of fine crushed stone and topsoil that is then planted with turf. Depending on the mix used to fill the voids between the pavers, the open space is typically 10% to 17%. The pavers are installed on a bed of crushed stone over an aggregate sublayer engineered to meet the stormwater infiltration needs of the site. ECO I Pavers include some internally generated waste content but no true "recycled content" or fly ash--both of which could be used to good effect with concrete grid pavers. A related product, the ECO II™ Paver, has interlocking edges and greater load-carrying capacity. E. P. Henry also offers Turf Pavers and Monoslabs, which are also used for porous pavement applications. Because it rarely makes sense to ship concrete pavers long distances, the availability of locally produced pavers should be investigated. For information on suitable products, contact the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (www.icpi.org). Porous asphalt and porous (pervious) poured concrete can also be used for porous pavement applications.
What makes this product green?
- Reduce pollution or waste from operations
LEED Credit relevance:
- SS Credit 6 - Stormwater management
- SS Credit 7 - Landscape & exterior design to reduce heat islands
Mentioned in EBN: September 2004
Product information:
E. P. Henry Corporation
P.O. Box 615
Woodbury, NJ 08096
1-800-444-3679
www.ephenry.com
Media contact:
Marianne Anzaldo, Director of Marketing856-845-6200; manzaldo@ephenry.com
TimberSIL Nontoxic Pressure-Treated Wood from Timber Treatment Technologies, LLC
[view GreenSpec listing]
TimberSIL™ is a sodium-silicate-based pressure-treatment system for wood that relies on a
mineralization process rather than toxins to prevent infestations and decay. The patented chemistry
and heat-treatment process result in the infusion of microscopic glass "crystals" throughout the
wood, providing a permanent, insoluble treatment with no dusting or leaching. The treated wood is
odorless and nonvolatile, is not corrosive to fasteners, does not cause excessive wear on tools, and
typically has a brown color to distinguish it from other treated-wood products. Standard TimberSIL
treated wood carries a 40-year warranty for interior use and up to one year of outdoor exposure;
TimberSIL Plus™ carries a 40-year warranty for outdoor applications, including ground contact.
As of October 2004, this new product is not yet listed with the International Code Council; approval
for use is granted by local jurisdictions.
What makes this product green?
- Alternatives to CCA-treated wood
- Releases minimal pollutants
- Reduced need for pesticides
- Durable or low-maintenance product
LEED Credit relevance: None
Mentioned in EBN: October 2004
Product information:
Timber Treatment Technologies, LLC
13850 Mack Ave., Ste. 270
Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236
Phone: 901-754-5176
Toll-free: 866-318-9432
Fax: 901-259-1205
www.timbersil.com
Media contact:
Bill Beard, Executive Vice President, Sales & Marketing
901-754-5176; bill@timbersil.com
Ron Hobbs, Executive Vice President, Business Development
423-339-5954; ron@timbersil.com
FSC-Certified Framing Lumber, Plywood, and Cedar from Potlatch Corporation
[view GreenSpec listing]
In 2004, Potlatch Corporation became the first publicly traded U.S. timber company to certify
timberland according to Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standards. In April 2004, Scientific
Certification Systems (SCS) completed the FSC certification of 668,000 acres of land in Idaho;
another 805,000 acres of timberland in Arkansas and Minnesota are expected to obtain FSC
certification in 2005. Potlatch has also gone through a third-party certification process for its
land through the industry-sponsored Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), and the Gifford Pinchot
Institute has published a report comparing the FSC and SFI certification systems on Potlatch lands
(available at www.pinchot.org). This report addresses interesting differences between FSC and SFI
and concludes that they should be considered complementary programs. Potlatch is producing
chain-of-custody FSC-certified Hem-Fir and Douglas Fir-Larch framing lumber, inland red cedar
decking and siding, and Douglas fir and white fir plywood from three mills in Idaho. These products
are stamped with the FSC logo when required for specific sales. FSC-certified product sells at a
premium price, with the primary market being the West Coast. Few suppliers stock Potlatch
FSC-certified wood to date; most sales are by special order for specific jobs.
What makes this product green?
- Certified wood
LEED Credit relevance:
- MR Credit 7 - Certified wood
Mentioned in EBN: May 2004 news story about the company's forest certification
Product information:
Potlatch Corporation
W. 201 North River Dr., Ste. 380
Spokane, WA 99201
Phone: 509-328-0930
Fax: 509-327-9409
www.potlatchcorp.com
Media contact:
Mike Sullivan, Director of Corporate Communications
509-835-1516; MikeD.Sullivan@potlatchcorp.com
Ethos Carpet-Cushion Backing from Tandus - C&A Floorcoverings
[view GreenSpec listing]
Ethos™ carpet-cushion backing from C&A Floorcoverings (a brand name of the Tandus Group,
Inc.), is made from nonchlorinated polyvinyl butyral (PVB) safety-glass film collected when auto
windows and other safety-glass panes are recycled. (PVB is the plastic layer that holds the two
pieces of glass together in laminated glass.) Ground recycled glass is added as filler, along with a
small amount of aluminum trihydrate as a flame retardant. This Ethos backing material is 96%
post-consumer recycled, resulting in carpet products with a total recycled content of 40-62%. This
backing is available for all of C&A's carpet products at no added cost, but it must be specified.
The product was introduced at the June 2004 NeoCon tradeshow in Chicago; its development was spurred
by demand for non-PVC products by Kaiser Permanente, the nation's largest health maintenance
organization.
What makes this product green?
- Post-consumer recycled material
- Releases minimal pollutants
- Alternative to PVC
LEED Credit relevance:
- MR Credit 4 - Recycled content
Mentioned in EBN: August 2004
Product information:
Tandus Group - C&A Floorcoverings
P.O. Box 1447
Dalton, GA 30722
Phone: 706-259-9711
Toll-free: 800-248-2878
Fax: 706-259-2179
www.tandus.com
Media contact:
Stephanie Styles, Manager Public Relations
770-414-4238; styles@tandus.com
Paul Evans, Jr., Director of Technical Services
706-259-2093; pevans@tandus.com
EcoVeil TPO Interior Shade Screening from MechoShade Systems, Inc.
[view GreenSpec listing]
EcoVeil™ is an interior shade-screen product line for commercial buildings made from a
thermoplastic olefin (TPO) yarn called EarthTex™, developed by the Twitchell™
Corporation. EarthTex is an infinitely recyclable "technical nutrient," and MechoShade encourages
customers to return EcoVeil screens to the company when they're no longer wanted. This non-PVC
product is the first solar shade screen to earn an approval rating from McDonough Braungart Design
Chemistry, LLC (MBDC) through its "Cradle to Cradle" design protocol. These shades are washable and
antimicrobial, resist UV degradation, and are about a third lighter than conventional shade cloth.
While a very attractive product relative to most environmental considerations, the EcoVeil material
does contain a brominated flame retardant. The fabric currently comes in eight colors, with an
openness factor of 5%. (Weaves ranging from 1% to 12% openness are expected to be introduced in
2005). By allowing controllability of light levels and blockage of solar gain, interior shade
screens offer energy savings potential in commercial buildings, along with individual
controllability of light levels. MechoShade offers several manual and automated systems for raising
and lowering the shades.
What makes this product green?
- Reduces energy loads
- Alternatives to PVC
LEED Credit relevance:
- EA Prerequisite 1 - Minimum energy performance
- EA Credit 1 - Optimize energy performance
- IEQ 8 - Daylight and views
Mentioned in EBN: October 2004
Product information:
MechoShade Systems, Inc.
42-03 35th Street
Long Island City, NY 11101
Phone: 718-729-2020
Fax: 718-609-9535
www.mechoshade.com
Media contact:
Chris Northrup, Account Executive, Susan Grant Lewin Associates
212-947-4557; chris@susangrantlewin.com
Donald Kiel, Director of Corporate Communication, MechoShade Systems, Inc.
718-729-2020 x1331; donaldk@mechoshade.com
Photovol Glass PV Glazing Panels from MSK Corporation
[view GreenSpec listing]
Photovol Glass is a semitransparent, building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) glazing element
that allows visible light transmission while generating electricity. The thin-film amorphous silicon
is deposited on glass and protected by a second layer of glass. The roughly 1-meter-square glazing
panels are available in three transmissivity and electrical output options: 10% transmittance with
nominal 44 Watts of power output; 5% transmittance with 50 W output; and 1% transmittance with 55 W
output. It can be used vertically or horizontally to generate power while reducing glare, UV
penetration, and solar heat gain. An edge-mounted electrical connection system conceals all wiring
within the laminated-glass edge framing. The power output is guaranteed at 80% of the rated output
for 20 years. Photovol Glass is available in standard 10.5 mm-thick (0.41") glass, and 13.5 mm
(0.53") reinforced glass. It can also be installed as one layer of an insulated-glass unit. When
first introduced in Japan, the product was marketed as "PV-TV" with marketing materials that touted
its ability to be used for projecting images from inside the building--an interesting feature, but
not one being actively marketed in the U.S.
What makes this product green?
- Reduces energy loads
- Renewable energy and fuel cells
- Improves light quality
LEED Credit relevance:
- EA Prerequisite 2 - Minimum energy performance
- EA Credit 1 - Optimize energy performance
- EA Credit 2 - Renewable energy
- IEQ Credit 8 - Daylight and views
Mentioned in EBN: November 2004
Product information and media contact:
Darshan Schmitz, International Sales
MSK Corporation
STEC Joho Bldg. 17F
1-24-1 West Shinjuku, Shinjuku Ward
160-0023 Tokyo, Japan
Phone: +81 3-3342-3881
Fax: +81 3-3342-6534
www.msk.ne.jp
darshan@msk.ne.jp
Winston Series CPC Solar Collectors from Solargenix Energy
[view GreenSpec listing]
The Winston Series CPC Collector from Solargenix Energy is a residential and commercial solar
water-heating system. The basic system is comprised of 12 small compound parabolic collectors (CPC)
that focus sunlight onto absorber tubes through which heat-transfer fluid is piped. One to three
collectors are commonly used for residential solar water-heating systems, depending on the size of
the hot-water storage tank. A roof-integrated thermosiphoning configuration is possible with new
construction. The collectors carry a 10-year warranty. The system's heat exchanger, SOLPAC, is also
available as a separate item. Coupled with one or more solar collectors, it prepackages the
components needed to convert existing electric or gas water heaters into solar water-heating
systems. More than 500 Winston Series collectors have been produced in a new Chicago factory that
opened in March 2004. The collectors are currently being certified through SRCC and FSEC.
Solargenix also produces parabolic-trough collectors for generating high-temperature steam for utility-scale power generation. A one megawatt plant is currently under construction in Arizona, and several larger plants are being planned.
What makes this product green?
- Renewable energy and fuel cells
LEED Credit relevance:
- EA Prerequisite 2 - Minimum energy performance
- EA Credit 1 - Optimize energy performance
- EA Credit 2 - Renewable energy
Mentioned in EBN: May 2004
Product information:
Solargenix Energy, LLC
2101-115 Westinghouse Blvd.
Raleigh, NC 27604
Phone: 919-871-0423
Fax: 919-871-0702
www.solargenix.com
Media contact:
Bill Guiney
919-871-0423; bguiney@solargenix.com
EcoSpace Elevator from KONE, Inc.
[view GreenSpec listing]
The KONE EcoSpace® elevator, introduced in 2004, brings the efficiency, environmental
benefits, and space savings of the KONE EcoSystem MonoSpace® elevator into a smaller, less
expensive package for two- to seven-stop applications. It has a passenger capacity of up to 2,500
pounds, and travels up to 60 feet at speeds of up to 150 feet per minute. The EcoSpace's
EcoDisc® motor mounts in the hoistway, eliminating the need for a machine room. The EcoDisc
results in energy savings of up to 60% over conventional hydraulic elevators, and because hydraulic
oil is not used, the risk of environmental contamination resulting from a leak is eliminated. The
EcoSpace is also quicker and easier to install than a hydraulic elevator, and it offers a smoother,
quieter ride.
What makes this product green?
- Uses energy efficiently
- Reduce pollutants or waste from operations
LEED Credit relevance: None
Mentioned in EBN: August 2004
Product information:
KONE, Inc.
One KONE Ct.
Moline, IL 61265
Phone: 309-743-5465
Toll-free: 800-956-5663
Fax: 309-743-5469
www.kone.com
Media contact:
John Moriarty, Account Executive, Charleston/Orwig
262-563-5100; jmor@comktg.com
FlushMate IV Pressure-Assist Toilet Flush Mechanism from the Sloan Valve Company
[view GreenSpec listing]
Conventional gravity-flush toilets use the weight of a reservoir of water to flush waste out of
the toilet bowl. Pressure-assist toilets have an inner airtight flushometer tank that is pressurized
after the flush as the tank refills (air is compressed at the top of the tank). During the flush
operation, this air pressure flushes the toilet with increased velocity, improving flush
performance. Pressure-assist toilets appeared after 1.6 gallon-per-flush (gpf) toilets first entered
the market and some products did not provide satisfactory performance. In 2003, the Sloan Valve
Company introduced a new 1.0 gpf FlushMate IV mechanism for pressure-assist toilets, and the first
toilet models with this mechanism became available in 2004. While still producing a distinctive
"whoosh" during the flush, FlushMate IV is quieter than the higher-volume flushometer-tank toilets.
The Sloan FlushMate IV flushometer is currently used in toilets manufactured by Mansfield, Capizzi,
Mancesa, St. Thomas Creations (Vitromex), and Vortens, with other manufacturers expected to
introduce FlushMate IV products in 2005.
What makes this product green?
- Conserve water
LEED Credit relevance:
- WE 3 - Water use reduction
Mentioned in EBN: January 2004
Product information:
Sloan Valve Company
10500 Seymour Ave.
Franklin Park, IL 60131
Phone: 847-671-4300
Toll-free: 800-982-5839
Fax: 800-477-8329
www.sloanvalve.com
Media contact:
Jim Allen, Water Conservation Manager
847-671-4300 x5637; Jim.Allen@sloanvalve.com
Cold Climate Heat Pump from Nyle Special Products, LLC
[view GreenSpec listing]
The multiple-stage Cold Climate Heat Pump™ from Nyle Special Products rivals many
geothermal heat pumps in performance, achieving an average coefficient of performance (COP) of 2.7.
The Cold Climate Heat Pump can operate efficiently at much lower temperatures than conventional
air-source heat pumps. When the outside temperature drops to about 35*F, a booster compressor kicks
in, which increases the refrigerant temperature and pressure, improving performance. Then at about
20*F (when most air-source heat pumps switch over to electric resistance heat), an economizer is
activated that further boosts performance by capturing waste heat from the refrigerant and
increasing its heat-absorbing properties. In cooling mode, the heat pump's seasonal energy
efficiency ratio (SEER) is 16--which is higher than most dedicated unitary air-conditioners. The
system was designed to take full advantage of the non-ozone-depleting refrigerant R-410a, which can
withstand up to 70% higher pressure and has 40% better cooling capacity than R-22 (which depletes
ozone and is scheduled to be phased out starting in 2010). While more expensive than standard
air-source heat pumps, the installed cost is less than that of most ground-source heat pumps.
What makes this product green?
- Alternative to ozone-depleting substances
- Uses energy efficiently
LEED Credit relevance:
- EA Prerequisite 2 - Minimum energy performance
- EA Prerequisite 3 - CFC reduction in HVAC&R equipment
- EA Credit 1 - Optimize energy performance
- EA Credit 4 - Elimination of HCFCs and halons
Mentioned in EBN: July 2004
Product information:
Nyle Special Products, LLC
P.O. Box 1107
Bangor, ME 04402
Phone: 207-942-2865
Fax: 207-942-2859
www.nyletherm.com
Media contact:
Duane Hallowell, General Manager
207-942-2865; hallowell@nyle.com
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