Each and every year, new and intriguing green building materials
that promise energy efficiency and performance hit the market surrounded by
quite a bit of buzz.
Technology drives much of the innovation when it comes to green building
materials, and many of the latest products on the market increase the use of
reusable, recyclable materials. Not only are these products green, they help
create sustainable, greener buildings as well.
While there are hundreds of such green products that are new on the market,
here are a few that grab attention.
Cross-laminated timber. CrossLam is one type
of cross-laminated timber (CLT) structural panels made by gluing layers of
softwood at right angles next to each other, creating panels that are light,
stable in all directions, and can be used on flooring, walls, and roofing. CLT
is made from less desirable wood, even wood taken from forests that were
killed by mountain pine beetles. It was named by BuildingGreen.com as a top upcoming product.
Expanded-cork boardstock insulation. Cork-growers continue to expand the uses for their
sustainable product, the result of a periodic harvesting process that doesn’t
harm the trees. The latest is an insulation where cork pellets are
steam-expanded and naturally bind to one another, creating excellent
insulation characteristics without ozone-damaging flame retardants, according to Readinform.com
Viridian Reclaimed Wood. This company reclaims a variety of hard
and soft wood from pallets, crates, and packing material to make
flooring, tabletops, paneling, veneers, and more. The wood is heat-treated
and kiln-dried without chemicals so that the product is clean.
Earth Measure stone. This stone product, which is made from the waste of
stone manufacturing, is cut into specific patterns to mimic natural stone. It
can be used from everything from pavers to walls to flooring, both inside and
outside, as well as in horizontal and vertical applications, per BuildingGreen.com.
Low-E Windows. A clear coating of metallic oxide applied to the exposed
surface of glass can reduce heat flow through the glass by 50 percent and
reduce heating costs by 10 to 20 percent. Not only does the clear glazing not
effect visibility, the result of one product by Cardinal Glass is low-e performance previously
achievable only with a triple-glazed window.
Mineral Wool Board Insulation. Roxul manufactures wool board insulation, used in both commercial and residential
applications, made from a minimum of 75 percent pre-consumer recycled
content, primarily of iron ore slag. It’s fire resistant without using flame
retardant, is rigid enough to be used as exterior insulation, and is an alternative
to foam-plastic insulation according to BuildingGreen.com.
