Top 10 Green Building Products of 2009

Over the last 4 years, business magazine, Sustainable Industries releases Top 10 Green Building Products of the year. Although based in the USA, it is always interesting to see what global advancements are being made that will improve sustainable design and construction. Unfortunately most of these products are not currently available in South Africa (we make note of those that are), but hopefully will be in the near future. If anyone is aware that these products are available, please let us know.

Sustainable Industries basis its selections on environmental performance, market impact, innovation, design aesthetic, value, and compatibility with the US Green Building Council's LEED rating system. Here are the top 10 products for 2009:

Hallowell International's Acadia Combined Heating and Cooling System - a super-efficient system that can save up to 70% on energy costs (dependending on the outside temperature).The Acadia is a heat рumр that extracts heat from outdoor air and distributes it through ductwork, much like conventional heat рumрs.














ec-H20 - is a technology that requires no chemicals to convert tap water into a cleaning solution to clean almost any surface of almost any substance. Scrubbers with ec-H20 use 70% less water than others and use no harsh chemicals.











InSpire Wall - is a simple, elegant, transpired solar collector and fresh air heating system that uses the power of the sun to heat outdoor air before sending it indoors, while boosting the indoor air quality. This can reduce heating costs by up to R400/m2 (per year).













Kama EEBS Structural Systems - is a structural wall framing system made by kama Energy Efficient Building Systems Inc. Made of light gauge metal stud framing with expanded polystyrene insulation, eliminates thermal bridging and creates a tight building envelope.









Plyboo Pure Bamboo Plywood - Although there are some similar products available here in SA (such as Oriental Bamboo), Smith & Fong obtained the first FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification for bamboo in the world.












RainTube - this is a rain gutter filter made of 100% post-consumer high-density polyethylene (plastic commonly used in consumer products). GLI Systems Inc also developed a "Post-Use Recovery Plan" the product. It's perfect for use in a rainwater collection system.












Separett Villa - is a waterless composting toilet that separates the solids from the liquids by diverting the urine and keeping solids separate from liquids, reducing odour and making it possible to reuse waste and urine for composting and fertilizing. This is ideal for use where no plumbing exists. (Similar South African systems: africaSanitation and ECOSAN),














Serious Windows - these efficient windows which have the potential to allow for the elimination of a building’s heating system, have a full-frame R value of 5-11, which can help cut energy bills by up to 50% per month.

















Solatube Daylighting Systems - this technology captures sunlight and redirects it through an adjustable tube into spaces where there is no natural light. Daylight is linked to higher worker productivity, decreased absenteeism and better retail sales. (Available in SA)









Eleek Your Old Light Fixture - Re-use & recycle! Eleek provides a lighting restoration service to restore and reuse old fixtures. Every piece of a light fixture is taken apart, repaired and restored including updating wiring to comply with modern codes and standards and a new lamp base is installed so it works with energy-efficient lamps such as CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Lamps) and LED's (Light-emitting diode). As it is not a product, this business model could easily be set up here in South Africa.

Green Roof - your home.

Introducing a "green roof" to the design of your new home (or alteration) is comparable to putting back the original vegetation and ecosystem that your home occupies.
























images courtesy of www.trendir.com

By definition, a "green roof" is a roof that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and soil. Container gardens (plants are in pots) are not generally considered to be true green roofs, but do serve similar purposes. Aside from being aesthetically pleasing, there are numerous advantages to having a green roof, the biggest of which (in our opinion) is the preservation of habitat and biodiversity. This is particularly true, if indigenous planting is used that resembles the original vegetation of the area, which in turn, will encourage the indigenous insect and bird life to continue in the area.

However, over and above the sound ecological reasons for having a green roof, there are a number of benefits to the property owner as well:

• Temperature & insulation - not only does a green roof assist in controlling the heat gains and losses of its specific building by reducing heating and cooling loads, but will also contribute to mitigating the 'Urban Heat Island Effect' (the difference in temperature between a city and the surrounding countryside), in the summer.
• Sound insulation - Sound waves that are produced by machinery, traffic or air-planes can be absorbed, reflected or deflected.
• Rain water - rather than large volumes of water running into the municipal stormwater drains (if not captured on site in storage tanks), a green roof will reduce the amount of runoff and delay the time at which runoff occurs. This results in decreased loads on sewer systems at peak flow periods. In addition, a green roof will retain water by storing it in the substrate and then will be used by the plants and finally returned to the atmosphere through transpiration and evaporation.
• Improved air quality & carbon dioxide/oxygen exchange - a green roof will filter the air moving across it of airborne particulates and through the process of photosynthesis convert carbon dioxide, water and sunlight/energy into oxygen and glucose.

The more in-direct / economic benefits include:

• Protection of the roof resulting in a longer lifespan and decreased maintenance and replacement costs (it is estimated that green roofs will last up to twice as long as conventional roofs).
• Savings on energy heating and cooling costs.

There are however, a few disadvantages to consider. With regards to the design and construction of a green roof, existing buildings may not always be able to be retrofitted with a green roof because of the weight of the soil and vegetation. In addition, a green roof places high demands on the waterproofing system because not only is water retained on the roof (in the soil etc.), but there is the possibility of roots penetrating the waterproof membrane. Installing suitable waterproofing systems and root barriers is essential and can increase the cost.

Finally, the construction / landscaping cost of a green roof can vary depending on the type of roof, structure of the building etc., and what plants are grown on the roof. And although a conventional roof may only require maintenance through painting/waterproofing every few years, a green roof, like any garden, requires a little more TLC.













image courtesy of wikipedia.org


















images courtesy of www.dornob.com