Americans spend an average of 90 percent of their time indoors, and indoor air can be up to 10x more polluted than outdoor air. Volatile organic compounds are a significant source of indoor pollutants. These gases and vapors often emit from materials and can cause a variety of short- and long-term adverse health effects.
Formaldehyde, a binder commonly used in particle board, is believed by many experts to be carcinogenic. Granite is a popular surface used in the home, however it can cause radon exposure. Glass is healthy and non-polluting and made from abundant, natural resources. 10.9 million tons of glass were generated in the municipal solid waste stream Americans in 2001 alone. Only 22 percent of this was recovered for recycling.
IceStone durable surfaces are the ultimate in sustainable multi-tasking. Not only does this product contain no volatile organic compounds or petrochemicals, it is manufactured with 100 percent recycled glass. IceStone is amongst the winners for the 2009 Green Log Award and is Cradle to Cradle Gold certified. IceStone is used for bathroom bar tops, vanities, interior walls, table tops, backsplashes, and commercial flooring applications.
To visit their site, click here.
To learn more about IceStone, click here.
According to the World Health Organization, painters suffer 20 percent more cancers than the average person and 40 percent more lung cancers. Paint manufacturing is high on the EPA’s list of industries that cause the most pollution. The manufacturing process uses an enormous amount of fossil fuel energy and generates large amounts of waste, most of which consists of toxic emissions to air and water. Organic solvents from paint manufacturing account for approximately 20 percent of the hydrocarbons that pollute the earth’s atmosphere. When painted surfaces are disposed of, they leach chemicals and pollute, air, earth and water.
Benjamin Moore Natura Interior Paint is a waterborne paint free of volatile organic compounds. Since its release this earlier this year, Natura has already earned the distinction from Building Green, Inc. as one of the top green building products of the year. With a base and colorant that is VOC free, it has surpassed Benjamin Moore’s low – VOC predecessor, Benjamin Moore Aura. Natura exceeds the criteria for environmental safety set forth by LEED and Green Seal GS-11 standard for chemical content and paint performance. It is available in any Benjamin Moore color or finish.
To visit their site, click here.
To learn more about Benjamin Moore Natura Interior Paint, click here.
The term “stormwater” in regards to sustainability refers to precipitation that does not absorb into the ground. This water is referred to as runoff, which flows into our sewers mixing with pollution before it eventually pollutes our rivers and oceans. Considering that stormwater runoff is the largest source of water pollution, controlling stormwater drainage is critical to keeping our rivers and oceans clean.
PermaPave is made from natural stone granules that are approximately 3/8-inch large. These granules trap pollutants and contaminants from storm water allowing only clean water to penetrate the underlying soil. With traditional asphalt freezing water expands creating cracks and potholes. Permeable pavement is designed to expand and allow water to drain without cracking. PermaPave is safer to drive and walk on than traditional asphalt because no ice patches are created.
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To learn more about PermaPave, click here.
The term “upcycling” was coined by William McDonaugh and Micheal Braungart, co-authors of Cradle to Cradle. It describes the process of transforming waste materials into a product of equal or greater value. No one does this better than Citilog, who has been a pioneer in urban forestry since 1991. They specialize in the full circle upcycling of trees that have fallen in storms or have been removed during construction and demolition. These trees are repurposed into finished wood products such as flooring, furniture, millwork and cabinetry.
LEED requirements provide credit for using Forest Stewardship Council certified wood. Wood certified under FSC is responsibly harvested, having considerably less environmental impact than old growth or tropical wood. Upcycling existing wood surpasses FSC certification by saving trees from being logged. In addition, the salvaged tree is spared from being dumped in a landfill.
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To read more about Citilog, click here.
DesignWall Interior Panels are tackable, sound absorbing, pre-finished interior panels. They are manufactured by Homasote, the oldest manufacturer of building products made from recycled materials in the U.S. dating back to 1909. Homasote’s products are free of asbestos and formaldehyde additives. Their products are manufactured from 100 percent post consumer paper, including curbside newspaper from local residents.
Each year, Homasote single-handedly saves nearly 1.4 million trees and 65 million pounds of solid waste from our landfills. According to the EcoDesign Sourcebook, for each ton of recycled paper there is a net reduction of 73 percent emissions to air, 40 to 70 percent less water consumption and 70 percent less energy than virgin wood pulp fiber. Homasote has recently achieved FSC certification.
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MIO was founded in 2001 by brothers Issac and Jamie Salm. Their vision of environmentally and socially progressive design resulted in broad selection of innovative and sustainable products. One of the most exciting is Ripple 3D PaperForms, which are made from 100 percent post and pre-consumer waste paper. According to recycling-revolution.net, each ton of recycled paper can save 17 trees, 380 gallons of oil, three cubic yards of landfill space, 4000 kilowatts of energy, and 7000 gallons of water. This represents a 64 percent energy savings, a 58 percent water savings, and 60 pounds less of air pollution.
MIO’s Paper Forms are produced using closed loop manufacturing, which means that the entire waste product is reintroduced into the manufacturing process. They are an excellent alternative to less environmentally preferable options such as petroleum-based polyester or vinyl, which is toxic and will never decompose. These lightweight modules can be installed temporarily or permanently. The modular design allows for the replacement of damaged tiles when needed. The tiles form a modern, three dimensional surface and are 100 percent recyclable.
To visit their site, click here.
To learn more about MIO’s Paper Forms, click here.
100 billion plastic bags end up in American landfills each year. 2005 EPA research shows that approximately 5.2 percent of plastic bags are recycled. What happens to the 94.8 percent that are not recycled? They occupy your local landfill for the next 500 – 1000 years. Even the recycling of plastics requires incineration, which releases harmful toxins such as dioxin into the air. Inspite of these alarming facts, the convenient and disposable nature of plastic bags makes their use a difficult habit to break for many consumers.
EcoFlex is a revolutionary corn-based biodegradable and compostable plastic used for disposable packaging. It is perfect for trash bags because it decomposes in compost or soil within weeks. In 2007, Ecoflex received the International Forum Design award for innovative materials and ideas. Ecoflex is also certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute.
To visit their site, click here.
Mother Plants is a woman-owned nursery in upstate New York is dedicated to growing plants for green roofs. They specialize in shallow-rooted, drought tolerant species that typically thrive in an extensive green roof climate. Green roofs provide a variety of environmental and energy efficiency benefits to the owner and occupants as well as to the general public. They are effective in reducing urban heat island effect, which is temperature rise caused by dark paved surfaces of urban areas.
Green roofs deflect the solar radiation that would typically heat a dark roof, conserving energy normally spent on cooling. According to a 2001 ASHRAE simulation done by Chicago’s city hall green roof, retrofitting all of the buildings of Chicago would save the city $100,000,000 annually in cooling expenses. Green roofs also clean the air by absorbing gaseous pollutants through photosynthesis. Studies show that streets with trees have 10 to 15 percent fewer dust particles than streets without trees.
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Enmesh is a highly durable upholstery fabric woven with recycled polyester containing 49 percent recycled content or 75 percent natural fiber. Polyester is highly recyclable and considered to be environmentally sound. It is also considered a technical nutrient, meaning that it can be reused in the manufacturing process without weakening its inherent properties. The recycled content is both post-consumer and post-industrial. The post-consumer waste is derived from soda bottles while the post-industrial waste come from fibers recovered from the industrial manufacturing product. This process give a second life to waste that would otherwise end up in a landfill. Knoll has several programs addressing various environmental issues concerning the textile industry including water protection, waste reduction, recycling and health and human safety.
To visit their site, click here.
To learn more about Knoll Textiles, click here.
PolyWhey is a durable wood finish with a cured hardness that is twice that of the average water-base finish. This product is created with recent scientific innovations using whey proteins, a natural by-product of the dairy industry. Whey has a high BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) that can increase the burden on waste treatment facilities and can pollute rivers, lakes, and even the ocean.
PolyWhey has 25 percent less VOC content than the standard that most other water-based finishes try to meet. It is directly applied to wood as a clear protective topcoat. After treated, wood will be dry and ready for use in 2 to 3 hours under normal conditions with good ventilation. PolyWhey can be re-coated in 2 hours and allow 1 week for full product cure.
When conventional water-based finishes have an average coating coverage of 300 to 400sq.ft./gallon, PolyWhey covers around 500-600sq.ft./gallon, which makes more economical than some of existing products.
To visit their site, click here.
To learn more about PolyWhey, click here.
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