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Green Building: Aim and focus

Green Building has become a priority since 2000 and has become profitable with the introduction of the green building tax credit for developers. Green building primarily aims to save water and energy and is eco-friendly. The focus is to develop commercial buildings from the natural environment without endangering or putting pressure on the three different eco-systems of the planet.

In this connection, green building products have become highly important. These include weather-stripping systems, window insulating kits, energy and water saving showerheads, programmable thermostats, and refrigerator and freezer thermometers. Green building products also include pipe insulation, caulking, promotional and educational items.

Green building products come with the dual function being eco-friendly along with an eco-friendly installation and repair. A building product will not be deemed green if it fails to meet the technical standards as set as the Institute of Builders and Conservationists. The product manufacturer has to instill an eco-friendly working condition for all employees. There is no point in describing a building product as green if its installation leads to respiratory problems among the workers or installers.

Types of Green Building Products:

FSC Certified Wood Products: These products are made of reusable bamboo with low VOC and water-based stains. They consist of handrails, crash rails, corner guards and wall panels. The wood items are strong, durable, fire and chemical resistant and can be installed at affordable rates.

Entrance Flooring: Modern flooring systems are eco-friendly carpet based. As such they are safe and cheap. These floors come with non-PVC hinge connectors and high-recycled aluminum extrusions.

Parquet Tiles: These are prefinished tiles with a UV acrylic that releases no Volatile Organic Compounds -- VOCs.

Floating Floor Systems: This flooring is a system of interlocking one- by three-foot planks. The surface layer is designed to be 100% cork having a UV-cured acrylic finish. The middle layer of the flooring has interlocking tongues and grooves that join the strips together. The base layer of attached cork underlay provides significant acoustic insulation. The floating floor system planks are devoid of poly-vinyl chloride (PVC).

Underlayment and Acoustical Insulation Flooring System: This insulated flooring system is made from rolls and sheets of flexible cork providing more than 50 dB of sound reduction, meeting or exceeding multi-level code requirements. These flooring systems are also composed of renewable bark of the cork oak tree meaning that no trees are ever cut down. Waste cork from the stopper industry i.e. wine corks and low quality bark to produce cork granules is used. Flooring tiles are produced from cork granules bound with resins. These are then molded to obtain the desired density under pressure and heat. The cork surface can be waxed, varnished, urethane or acrylic coated.

Wall Building Systems These wall building systems are energy efficient and cost effective. The systems are generally made up of expanded polystyrene (EPS) building blocks. The projects' walls are a rebar reinforced, steel stud system, encased in concrete and surrounded by insulation. These walls are used to build energy efficient, R-32 level, sustainable exterior walls for residences, churches, schools and commercial buildings. The structurally sound building material does not degrade over time providing longevity, reduced maintenance and resistance to fire and natural disasters of earth shocks. The walls are made of natural material able to deliver lasting hardness, energy efficiency plus resistance to termites, rodents and rot.

Wall covering and Building draperies: These green building products do not give out smelly and toxic air fumes. They are soluble, stretchable and easy to design.

Thermoplastic Formulation: Acrovyn 3000 is a patented PVC-free thermoplastic, fire-resistant green building product. It is free of brominated, halogenated fire retardants with no dioxin or furan formers.

Surface IQ: This is created with a new polymer based technology that is PVC, plasticizer, and heavy metal free . It enhances and sustains rich, natural air quality and includes clean TPO polymer technology.

Upholstery: These green building products are primarily recycled polyester fabrics produced from 100% post consumer and industrial waste including the Terratex brand.

Green Heating Systems

Solar Comfort Zone: Solar Comfort is a high energy efficient furnace that provides safe, comfortable heat. It is inbuilt with infrared lamps that produce no fumes or deadly monoxides.

The combination of four 375 watt infrared lamps and an advanced heat exchanger heats a large area -- 500-800 square feet, with even temperatures from floor to ceiling. This helps in the even distribution of heat. It is highly safe with fire-resistant capabilities. This is because the infrared lamps do not create carbon monoxide or harmful radiation. They do not produce enough heat to ignite combustible material. The wooden box that surrounds the heat exchanger will not burn children or pets.

Features:

• Reduced energy consumption

• Even heat distribution with no risk of concentration

• Does remove humidity from the heated air

• Lower Operating/Maintenance Costs

• No fear of combustion as the release of deadly and normal fumes is minimal and at zero-tolerance

• Is easy to install with low maintenance costs

Radiant Heat Panels: This latest invention is also known as the ‘Heat Module.’ Heat Module Systems are used for new and existing buildings of all types. These solar heating panels are also used extensively in problem areas of basements, porches, atriums, bathrooms or special needs areas. The radiant heat panels are based on the philosophy that:

• Long wave radiant energy is the most efficient form of heat transfer.

• Radiant heat is healthy, comfortable heat.

• Airborne dust, pollen, and germs are reduced by the elimination of blowing air.

• Building air pressurization losses are minimized and relative humidity is unaffected.

• Operating costs are lower.

Green Building Organizations

Building Environmental Science and Technology – B.E.S.T: Aims to provide environmentally high performance building and remodeling. B.E.S.T. is committed to providing top-quality services to homebuilders, remodelers, designers, realtors and community agencies. The organization offers:

• Complete builder, developer design and construction support.

• Customized technical assistance packages for green home-builders and designers.

• Technical assistance on guidelines, codes and standards.

• Computer-aided building energy performance assessments.

• Environmental building performance studies.

• Unbiased information on sustainable building practices.