Top Ten Green Products
Top Ten Green Products This year’s group includes the most exciting products drawn from recent additions to the GreenSpec Directory and coverage in Environmental Building News, both published by BuildingGreen.
FoamGlas
Manufacturer: Pittsburgh Corning
This cellular glass insulation is 100% glass, made from silica sand, limestone, soda, and trace minerals. Production is free of harmful blowing agents, and the materials high compressive strength and resistance to water and water vapor make it an appropriate substitute for extruded polystyrene. It is noncombustible and termite-resistant. full caption
FSC Furniture
Manufacturer: Knoll, Inc.
All of Knolls standard furniture lines that incorporate wood now come with Forest Stewardship Councilcertified wood. With just a few exceptions, effective December 2009, Knoll began providing FSC-certified wood without asking, at no surcharge, and at standard lead times. full caption
Xicato Spot Module
Manufacturer: Xicato, Inc.
The Xicato Spot Module is an LED module that is coupled with a separate heat sink, reflector, and remote driver. Designed for use in place of MR16 halogen lamps, the Xicato module is available with outputs of 400, 700, and 1,000 lumens in 2700K, 3000K, and 4000K color temperatures. Xicatos coating absorbs the off-color light emitted from the LEDs and reemits a consistent, color-corrected light. full caption
Low-Smoke Zero-Halogen EZ-Wiring & EZ-Cabling Systems
Manufacturer: Electec, Ltd.
This cost-effective plug-and-play modular wiring system contains none of the halogens (bromine, chlorine, or fluorine) that are commonly used in cable sheathing, and no heavy metals. Rated as low-smoke, zero-halogen, these systems are designed for easy reuse and reconfiguration using uniquely keyed connections. full caption
OBPlus Wall System
Manufacturer: Bensonwood
The OBPlus Wall system is framed using 9.5-deep I-studs filled with R-35 dense-pack cellulose insulation, then clad with exterior moisture-resistant OSB sheathing. Advanced gasket technology is used for air sealing, detailing minimizes thermal bridging, a drainage plane is installed on the exterior, and integral baseboard raceways on the interior eliminate wall penetrations. full caption
Ornilux Bird-Safe Glazing
Manufacturer: Arnold Glas
100 million birds are killed annually in the United States in collisions with buildings, according to the New York City Audubon Society. This specialty glazing is produced with a pattern that reflects UV light, which is more visible to birds than to humans. The current version of Ornilux has a random pattern of UV-reflective lines and is available in two insulated, argon-filled configurations: one with low-emissivity coating, the other with a heat-rejection coating. Ornilux is also available in a triple-laminated configuration, providing the visible UV pattern when viewed from either side; this uninsulated glass is used on outdoor displays and partitions. full caption
NyloDeck Composite Decking
Manufacturer: Nyloboard, LLC
NyloDeck is an American-made composite decking produced from recycled carpet fiber and water-blown, VOC-free polyurethane binder. Although it currently uses preconsumer recycled waste carpet, the company plans to covert to 100% postconsumer recycled carpet in early 2011. Impervious to moisture, termites, and mold, the 51/2-wide decking is available in 7/8 and 11/8 thicknesses. full caption
Stealth Toilet
Manufacturer: Niagara Conservation Corp.
Also a winner in Plumbing, the Stealth 0.8-gallons-per-flush ultrahigh-efficiency toilet uses vacuum-assist technology to achieve superb flush performance using very little water and producing very little noise. The Stealth is quieter than many standard gravity-flush toilets and evacuates 600 grams, as measured by third-party MaP testing. full caption
ECM Smart Pump
Manufacturer: Wilo
While pumping can account for as much as a fifth of the electricity use in commercial building, Wilos commercial Stratos and residential Stratos ECO pumps use integral variable-frequency drives and electronically commutated motors (ECMs) to reduce circulation energy by more than 70%, compared with standard single-speed pumps. full caption
Heat Recovery Unit for Commercial Kitchens
Manufacturer: Halton Group
The Halton Heat Recovery Unit is a pre-packaged exhaust and make-up-air unit for commercial kitchens that incorporates energy recovery. Energy savings can be dramatic, as commercial kitchen ventilation systems often exhaust 8,000 cubic feet per minute or more at a temperature of 110°F or higher. Payback is typically in the two- to five-year range. full caption