BuildingGreen Announces 2009 Top-10 Green Products

BuildingGreen, LLC, publisher of the GreenSpec Directory and Environmental Building News (EBN), announced its eighth annual Top-10 Green Building Products during the 2009 Greenbuild conference in Phoenix. The list recognizes the most exciting products drawn from recent additions to GreenSpec and coverage in EBN.

Project FROG modular green classrooms feature high-performance envelopes, natural daylighting, high-efficiency mechanical systems, healthy materials, and green components. Built using central “spines,” different-shaped wings, porches, and mechanical rooms, the basic configuration is about 1,200 ft² (110 m²) but the sections can be joined together into structures larger than 5,000 ft² (460 m²). Designed as a green alternative to conventional portable classrooms and usable as well for other commercial space, Project FROG units come in a wide range of price points, from relatively affordable trailer alternatives to state-of-the-art, net-zero-energy, LEED Platinum classrooms. Project FROG’s modular buildings can be assembled quickly with almost no construction waste yet are sturdy enough for Zone 4 seismic areas and 110 mph winds. See www.projectfrog.com for more information.

Pozzotive Plus concrete masonry units (CMUs) and concrete brick from Kingston Block are manufactured using up to 30% post-consumer recycled glass as a portland cement substitute and an average of 50% post-consumer recycled masonry aggregate from local sources in the Northeast. The recycled glass pozzolan (with the trade name Pozzotive) is ground to about 15 microns and used in place of the cement, saving about one ton of CO₂ for every ton of cement replaced. For more information, see www.kingstonblock.com or EBN Nov. 2009.

Invelope integrated wall insulation and rainscreen system creates a weather-tight backup wall system for metal-framed commercial buildings. Invelope provides a moisture and vapor barrier, drainage plane, and insulation—as well as a mounting system for brick veneer or terra cotta cladding—all in one panel system. Made from corrosion-resistant steel wrapped around a polyisocyanurate foam core, Invelope comes in 32"-wide interlocking panels and is available in 12' and 20' lengths and in 2" (R-14) and 3" (R-21) thicknesses. For more information, see www.buildbetterwalls.com or EBN Sept. 2009.

Thermafiber mineral wool insulation products are derived from 90% pre-consumer recycled iron-ore slag for commercial and residential thermal, sound attenuation, and fire-resistant construction applications. Thermafiber products, according to the manufacturer, are noncombustible without flame retardants, are odor-free, will not absorb moisture or support mildew or fungus, and will not rot or decay. For more information, see www.thermafiber.com or EBN Oct. 2009.

Baltix recycled- and biobased-content office furniture is made with a wide range of green materials, including waste-agricultural-fiber particleboard; FSC-certified wood veneers, MDF, and bamboo; and recycled plastics, metals, and paper. The company’s stock and custom workstations, tables, seating, and accessories (including bookshelves, files, cabinets, and partitions) are available with low-emitting, UV-cured clear coatings or surfaces made from natural linoleum or a new biobased laminate, Biosurf. Baltix uses biobased polylactic acid (PLA) edge banding instead of PVC or ABS, and frames are constructed of anodized aluminum (75% recycled content) or steel and available with a powder-coat finish free of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The company also has an end-of-life recycling program. For more information, see www.baltix.com.

The Rheem HP-50 heat-pump water heater has an integral 50-gallon tank and is Energy Star-listed. Intended primarily for residential use, the HP-50 operates in three modes: Energy Saver mode uses the heat pump only (energy factor 2.0); Normal mode, for higher hot-water demand, uses the heat pump and one of two electric-resistance elements (energy factor 1.5); and Electric Heat Only mode relies solely on the electric elements, functioning like a conventional water heater for particularly high demand. Among heat-pump water heaters on the market, the HP-50 has the longest warranty and is the quietest. For more information, see www.rheem.com or EBN Oct. 2009.

Convia energy-management infrastructure, the product of a partnership between Convia (a Herman Miller company) and wiring raceway leader Wiremold, is a modular energy-management platform that integrates lighting, switches, occupancy sensors, timers, and other devices and links them to sophisticated controls and dashboards capable of monitoring and adjusting a building’s overall energy performance. Convia’s infrastructure uses plug-and-play components that can be linked together to form larger zones or be pre-set to specific levels as needed. A radio-frequency “wand” allows individualized control from a workstation. See www.convia.com or EBN July 2009 for more details.

Pentadyne GTX flywheel energy storage is a short-duration energy storage product used to replace batteries in uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems for data centers, healthcare, manufacturing, and other commercial applications. Pentadyne uses a graphite-composite flywheel magnetically levitated in an argon-filled, vacuum-sealed unit to store kinetic energy for use when the normal power supply is disrupted and before a backup generator starts or power is restored. Not only do these units obviate the need for lead-acid batteries (which have a wide range of life-cycle problems), but they can operate over a much wider set of climate conditions, so can reduce HVAC energy use. For more information, see www.pentadyne.com or product review in this issue.

Silva Cell subsurface tree protection and stormwater infiltration system is a modular system that holds soil for tree growth and stormwater management while supporting paved surfaces. The system creates a void space that holds 10 ft³ (0.3 m³) of soil per unit, protecting tree roots from compaction and providing room for stormwater infiltration and surrounding utilities. Silva Cell meets the American Association of State Highway and Transportation H-20 standards for highway loading, so the system can be used under most paved surfaces, from parking lots to plazas and streetscapes. For more information, see www.deeproot.com or EBN Nov. 2009.

Mobile solar power generators integrate photovoltaic (PV) panels, inverters, charge controllers, and lead-acid storage batteries into self-contained trailers that keep all components other than the PV modules fully protected and out of the elements. Used as a silent, more environmentally responsible replacement for portable diesel or gasoline generators, these units are available in multiple models with maximum energy storage ranging from 9.3 to 45 kWh (390 to 1880 amp-hours) and daily power production up to 18.7 kWh, with rated output of 9.5–90 amps. Inputs are provided for AC power and conventional generators. When a backup generator is needed (in the case of extended low-sun periods or higher-than-planned energy draw), the system can be operated at full power with maximum efficiency to recharge batteries, then shut off, rather than being operated throughout the day. See www.mobilesolarpower.net for more information.

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IMAGE CREDITS:
1. Photo: Project Frog
2. Photo: Thermafiber
3. Photo: Baltix
4. Photo: Mobile Solar Power

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