Green Building : Jetson Green

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:

LOFTwall Mod Green Custom Partitions

I noticed some chatter about these LOFTwall dividers following the news rush that accompanied ICFF 2009.  They're made by a Dallas-based company for use in residences, office spaces, retail, or pretty much anywhere else you can think of.  LOFTwalls are modular, lightweight, and most importantly, customizable.  Take a stab at designing your own using their frames and material swatches -- you'll even get the price. 

EcoRock Green Drywall Gets World's First UL Environment Validation

EcoRock by Serious Materials continues to make headlines.  If you haven't heard of it, you will once the product starts to sell.  EcoRock is billed as a green replacement for gypsum drywall, and it's already received a number of awards and certifications:  Cradle to Cradle Gold Certification, GREENGUARD Certification, and ASTM D3273 for resistance to mold, etc.  In addition, Serious Materials just announced that EcoRock received the world's first validation of claims by UL Environment. 

Light, Durable, Recycled Content Pavers

There's a paver out there, the Vast Paver, that's been showing up on HGTV, the Today Show, and Renovation Nation.  It's probably because the composite paver is made from roughly 90-95% recycled scrap tire rubber and plastics -- every 1,000 square-feet of pavers saves 500 tires and 15,000 plastic containers from landfills!  These durable pavers work in a number of situations, including for low-volume traffic, driveways, walkways, rooftops, decks, and patios.  Colors include redwood, boardwalk, village, waterwheel, polo, and olive (below). 

Livingreen Renovation of an Airstream

My grandfather had an old Airstream that he sold to my dad for $2,000.  It was in bad shape after some neighborhood kids smashed in the windows, so it was sold to someone else for a pittance.  Now, I wish we still had the Airstream because after seeing what Jim Gooley did to his, I have a hankering to do the same.  Gooley partnered with Livingreen to trick out the Airstream's interior with all sorts of green products.  The renovated trailer was on display at Altbuild last weekend in Santa Monica, and here's what they used:

Slate-ish Recycled Interior Design Tiles

If you're searching for something new -- maybe as a back splash, wall accent, or decorative element -- give Slate-ish a look.  Slate-ish tiles come in seven colors and are made from reclaimed scrap from the fabrication of Richlite and PaperStone countertops.  This is 100% post-industrial waste paper laminate cut into strips, squares, bars, and cubes.  Slate-ish tiles are light, non-porous, and provide an interesting alternative to stone applications. 

5-6-09 Update: Slate-ish tells us most tiles are under $20 psf loose, with a range of $15-40 psf.  Backed tiles on pre-mounted panels run about $20 psf extra.  Read more about Slate-ish ...

Eco by Cosentino Green Countertops

Cosentino, the world's largest manufacturer of quartz, has just launched a new eco-friendly countertop called ECO by Cosentino.  The new countertop is the embodiment of six million dollars of research over a three year period.  It's available nationally through Lowe's at a price of $68-$118, depending on the thickness and color.  ECO contains 75% post-consumer and post-industrial recycled raw materials, as well as 25% natural elements. 

Wall Flats Eco-friendly 3d Wallpaper

Once voted Product of the Year by Interior Design Magazine, Wall Flats offer a super modern and green alternative to wallpaper.  This 3D product is made from 100% bamboo pulp, is chemical-free, and 100% biodegradable.

U.S. Demand for Green Building Materials to Hit $80 Billion by 2013

We've heard that the value of green construction starts could reach $140 billion by 2013, but what about the market for green building materials?  Now, thanks to a report by the Freedonia Group, Inc., we have some numbers to look at.  According to the Green Building Materials to 2013 report released in February 2009, U.S. demand for green building products is expected to reach $80 billion by 2013.  The market is currently at $57 billion, representing a whopping average 7.2% annual increase over the next five years.

GreenBox Eco-friendly Materials Annual Subscription Service

Ecolect, a website that helps designers, architects, and builders discover eco-friendly material alternatives, has launched an interesting service called GreenBox.  GreenBox is an annual subscription of green material samples that's shipped right to your door every three months.  Each GreenBox delivery includes 8-12 material samples, material information, sustainability specs, performance overview, cost profiles, and distributor information.  And it's all neatly designed to hang on the wall or cubicle or any other place you have in mind.