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Space Saver
It may seem odd that we’d choose a door system as our top “green” product, but the space-saving possibilities of these rotating, sliding, and “secret” bookshelves and doors really caught our imagination. Why waste wall space for a closet, pantry, or even a private powder room, when you can order a fully assembled, unfinished Murphy door bookcase complete with hardware kit for under $1,300? the hardware kits can also be purchased for about $200, allowing you to build your own custom unit.
www.cshardware.com |
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Building Blocks
Forget sticks and bricks. Check out this new building system, Lok-N-Blok. the building units are made of Enveon20, a durable, proprietary composite material made from carbon and hydrogen, and manufactured without any dangerous emissions. the blocks will not mildew, rot, or decompose, and they do not attract bugs, says the company. they offer high compressive strength, high tensile strength, water resistance, high r-value, UV resistance, good sound absorption qualities, and bacteria and mold resistance. They are appropriate for all climates with an expected value exceeding r-20 for its insulation rating. Lok-N-Blok walls lock tight with no tools, glue, nails or cement—which reduces labor and material costs. the blocks are anchored to the foundation with a cable tie system. scrap produced from both the manufacturing process and the job site can be recycled. In fact, the company will take back unused cuts and scraps, and recycle them into the manufacturing process.
www.lok-n-blok.com |
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Vertical Green
Building on tight lots or in urban areas where space is at a premium? there is no end to the types of vertical screening designs you can off er your home buyers with McNichols Eco-Mesh system. It’s a modular grid that can be mounted to exterior structures to create living green facades. the grids can also be used around columns and free standing for fencing, partitions, canopies and arbors—for indoor and outdoor spaces. the screen are made with a heavy .120 woven wire mesh screen with a unique bridge wire for stabilization. The product’s intercrimp weave provides the fl exibility plants require, and eliminates broken welds that can occur in other brands. The screens are framed on four sides by durable 16 gauge metal channel, which is 25 percent heavier.
www.mcnichols.com |
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Roofing Star
Ecostar manufactures sustainable, environmentally friendly steep-slope roofing products using rubber and plastics technology. the company’s offerings include synthetic slate, synthetic wood shake, a line of designer tiles and a full line of accessories. The roofing products are manufactured with recycled rubber and plastics, and are highly flexible. They provide superior protection against impacts and harsh weather conditions, offer Class 4 impact resistance and are available with a 50-year Gold star or limited materials warranty—and a 110 mph wind warranty.
www.ecostarllc.com |
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Insulate Outside
Progressive Foam technologies has just rolled out two new green exterior insulation products. They provide insulation on the outside of a home (perfect for remodeling), and they make siding products more durable by providing a strong backer for them. As a bonus, they make hanging siding easier and straighter. While Progressive has been producing its siding backers for years, the company is now producing the product with Neopor, a patented product from BASF, which has high-purity graphite particles that deliver higher insulating r-value. the new products are called Fullback FC Premium and Halfback H20 Premium. Both products can deliver up to a 20 percent higher r-value over conventional EPs, with the same amount of material. The products keep moisture out while letting homes breathe naturally, maintaining a healthy, dry, wall system. the Fullback series is for fiber cement sidings, and the Halfback series is appropriate for all types of siding and cladding. Both products are recognized as a thermal bridge reducer in Energy star for Homes Version 3.0, and can provide an r-value of up to 5.0, depending on the product thickness and foam materials.
www.progressivefoam.com |
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Smart Materials
Phase Change Energy solutions offers “phase-change” materials to help control heating and cooling loads. The company’s BioPCM is formulated around a fundamental property of nature—the natural tendency of materials to absorb heat when they melt (phase-change from solid to liquid) and to release heat when they solidify (phase-change from liquid to solid). When phasechange materials are placed in a building, they absorb heat during the day and release heat into the building at night. BioPCM dramatically reduces temperature fl uctuation within the building and thereby reduces HVAC demand. the product is easily integrated into existing designs and may yield up to 30% energy savings. In the exterior walls, the company’s 16.6”-wide BioPCmat is simply stapled to the studs over the standard insulation. in ceilings, bioPCmat is placed over the sheet rock in the attic before insulation is applied. The product can be easily trimmed around wall outlets and fixtures with scissors or a utility knife. The company’s products are non-toxic, biodegradable and sustainable.
www.phasechange.com |
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Concrete Logs
Log homes are beautiful to look at, but can require maintenance to keep them that way. This new log look-alike product allows you to build log-style homes without worrying about insects and woodpeckers, mold, mildew, air leaks, water leaks or wood maintenance. It is fire resistant and comes with a 20- to 25-year maintenance warranty on chinking, and a lifetime warranty on log coloring and structure.
www.betterthanlogs.com |
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Pre-Abused Doors
Your homebuyers don’t need to worry about Mother Nature with the Masonite Lemieux Torrefied Door. Torrefication is a natural process whereby wood is heated over time to eliminate its tendency to rot. it also makes wood far more structurally stable, and highly resistant to heat, cold and moisture. The company claims that this may be the first time a premium exterior wood door can be installed without the usual overhang requirements. It can be stained or painted in dark tints. the Torrefied Collection is off ered in each of Lemieux’s 10,000-plus residential entry door design options and custom designs. it is available in maximum 4’ widths and 8’ heights, and in select-grade douglas Fir, Brazilian Mahogany, Appalachian Poplar and Aspen. A 20-year warranty covers any warping, twisting, delamination or rotting that may occur.
www.masonite.com |
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Less Is More
Building in a flood plain? this product protects houses and buildings in floodplains by preventing water pressure buildup that can destroy walls and foundations. Smart Vents by smart Vent Products preserve the aesthetic beauty of a building by using fewer vents. one opening gives five times the protection of a typical vent, and bring buildings into full flood compliance—with the potential to dramatically reduce NFiP flood insurance premiums. The Smart Vent door remains latched closed until flood water enters. Rising flood water lifts the internal floats, which unlatch and open the door. Air vents can’t be used for this purpose, because they will clog with fl ood debris. According to the company, these vents are simple to install or retrofit into new or existing foundations. Most applications can be completed in less than 30 minutes. Different options exist, depending on the climate you where you build.
www.smartvent.com |
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Clutter Control
This wall storage system is made from 90 percent recycled material, and is a great upgrade for your homebuyers, to help them get equipment and tools o the floor, avoid redundant purchases and reduce storage and space requirements. The product is easy to install, according to the maker, Proslat, and can be installed in customized configurations on drywall or directly mounted onto the studs. The panels resist mold, mildew and water, and can be installed in damp areas. The product comes with a 10 year limited warranty.
www.proslat.com
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