Green Building : Jetson Green

2009 Top-10 Green Building Products

Yes, it's that time again.  For the eighth year in a row, BuildingGreen has just announced their list of Top-10 Green Building Products.  BuildingGreen sifts the products from new additions to the GreenSpec Directory, a print and online guide that organizes green products according to LEED credits, as well as from coverage in Environmental Building News.  The GreenSpec Directory has over 2,100 products, and these ten are some of the best of what's been added to the directory.  Any favorites among the group?

Koda Recycled Content Exterior Material

We first saw this 3form material, Koda XT, with the wavy transit shelters in San Francisco.  Designed by Lundberg Design, the colorful transit shelters use a custom configuration of Koda XT, a material made of 40% pre-consumer recycled content.  3form says Koda XT is the only architectural polycarbonate material available to use towards LEED MR 4.1 for recycled content. 

Xeripave Natural Stone Permeable Pavers

Stormwater design and control is a huge aspect of green building, especially with LEED credits provided for reducing impervious cover, increasing on-site filtration, and reducing pollution from stormwater runoff and eliminating contaminants.  We've mentioned a company previously makes recycled content pavers, Vast Pavers, but I thought I would also mention another company that's been making news in the industry, Xeripave.  Xeripave makes permeable pavers in various colors that have a flow through rate of up to 1.5 gallons per second per square foot.  Watch how the paver works:

Kebonization Process Creates an Alternative to Tropical Hardwoods

The photograph above may not be what you would expect.  The outdoor bench in this detail is not made from an unsustainably harvested tropical hardwood.  The wood itself is actually maple, a widely available species that can be farmed and harvested without ripping up acres of rainforest.  But maple and many other similar woods are too susceptible to decay and rot when used unprotected outdoors.  The usual alternative has been treatment with chemical pressure treatment.  Now, through a method called kebonization, a Norwegian company, Kebony ASA, treats soft woods in a non-toxic process that allows readily available woods to be used for outdoor uses.

Elements, a New Green Surface Option

When it comes picking a green surface material, there's a lot out there to choose from.  And we're going to give you another option, Elements by Durcon.  Elements is made with 10% post-consumer recycled glass, an epoxy resin, and fine quartz.  Available in five main colors, Elements is non-porous and has inherent anti-fungal and anti-microbial characteristics.  The surface does not require sealing, and according to Durcon, it will not off-gas. 

Get Kirei with Chocolate Bamboo

Alright, so it's not exactly brand new -- Kirei introduced Chocolate Bamboo back in September 2008 -- but it has this deep, sophisticated look and we just haven't had the chance to mention it yet (well, Re-nest jogged our memory).  The dark color is obtained through a secret, dark carbonizing process.  The bamboo is made from sustainably harvested Moso bamboo grass and a low- or no-added urea formaldehyde adhesive to create the panels.  If you're looking for something like this, look up a dealer. 

Parasoleil Recycled Content Panels

Boulder, Colorado-based Parasoleil makes these panels from a variety of so called green materials, such as FSC-certified wood, aluminum, and steel.  The copper panels, in particular, are interesting.  Using 90-95% recycled content copper, these panels are made in a zero waste process that uses efficient waterjet manufacturing.  And they're 100% recyclable, too.  I've shown a variety of panels in this article, as well as a playful powder-coated application (above) and steel and copper patinas images (below).  

Geeky Tech for Green Dream Home

Photographer John B. Carnett just launched a monthly blog called Green Dream on Popular Science.  You're probably going to want to follow it.  On Green Dream, Carnett's sharing his experience building a dream home using geeky, affordable, green technology.  I was drawn in by one of his early articles on the framing / insulation system that he's using to eliminate thermal bridging. 

Writing on the Green IdeaPaint Wall

IdeaPaint says it has the most environmentally friendly dry-erase product on the market.  As you can see from these images, the product is applied to your choice of walls, and about seven days later, it's ready to be used.  It's just perfect for the brilliant, A Beautiful Mind types, but I realize that many of you never have and never will use a dry-erase product.  If you do, give IdeaPaint a look.  The company claims green attributes in three main areas.   

Top 10 Green Building Products [2009]

As the magazine does every year, Sustainable Industries has just published its list of the Top 10 Green Building Products of 2009.  Selections are chosen based upon environmental performance, scalability / market impact, innovation, design aesthetic, value, and compatibility with LEED.  Download the guide at Sustainability Industries.  Here are the top ten: