In an economic climate that has companies hunkering down rather than innovating, sustainability leader Kliptech has spent considerable effort making their EcoTop recycled-paper countertops even more environmentally-friendly and affordable. This extremely durable surface material already received plenty of LEED points for its high recycled content — and at $35sq/ft, EcoTop was a pretty good deal.
So why mess with a good thing?
K-tect Sustainable Building Systems makes a wall system that the company calls the “newest generation of structural insulated panels.“ Although not a sandwich panel, the system is kind of like rSTUD but different and more comprehensive. K-tect includes a light-gauge, metal-stud frame with insulation in a thermally broken assembly (see below) that improves thermal efficiency and controls noise.
Kraftplex and Wellboard are two wood-based products made by Well Ausstellungssystem Gmbh. They’re intended for flat-panel applications, furniture design, and more, and they’re both made from 100% cellulose. That means there is no formaldehyde added in adhesives or binders (although there is some naturally occurring formaldehyde in wood). The difference between the two is that Kraftplex is a flat sheet of the material, and Wellboard comes in a few different corrugated profiles.
Nichiha makes a premium shake siding called Sierra but they’ve just unveiled a new fiber-cement shake for those looking for something similar at a lower price point. Available in July 2011, NichiFrontier is made in Macon, Georgia with 50% recycled content and comes primed or stained in four colors (Hazelnut, Prairie, Shadow, and Terra). The finish has a 15-year warranty, while the product has a limited lifetime warranty. NichiFrontier resembles cedar shake and comes in boards of 7/16″ x 9 -1/4″ x 8′.
CalStar Products, maker of award-winning fly ash bricks, this week announced a new paver that can be used in LEED projects in order to obtain credits for recycled content, regional materials, and stormwater design. The paver, which is suitable for intense uses such as parking lots, alleys, crosswalks, and plazas, is made with 40% post-industrial recycled material and comes in several different colors.
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