Builder Magazine - July 2008 - (Page 49)

PRODUCTS PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ■ E D I T E D B Y N I G E L F. M A Y N A R D VISION QUEST: The Vision freestanding ﬁreplace doesn’t require a utility connection for fuel supply, so it can be placed almost anywhere in the home. It burns renewable denatured ethanol produced from agricultural and forestry products such as sugarcane. Ideal for multifamily projects, the unit measures 46.9 inches wide and 39 inches high. ▪ EcoSmart Fire. 310-914-3335. www.eco smartﬁre.com. Circle no. 101. nologies. 253-507-4622. www.kliptech.com. Circle no. 100. TOP OFF: EcoTop composite countertop surfacing is made from 50 percent bamboo ﬁber and 50 percent recycled wood ﬁber salvaged from demolition sites. The ﬁbers are then mixed with water-based resin that is free of volatile organic compounds. Available in seven colors, the product is highly scratch- and stain-resistant, the company says. ▪ Klip BioTechSPRAY ON: CertaSpray foam is the latest addition to the manufacturer’s lineup of conventional insulation products. Like other foam products, it expands to ﬁll all nooks and crannies and is excellent at preventing air inﬁltration. Offered in open- and closed-cell formulas, the polyurethane product can be used in the entire house or in combination with other types of insulation. ▪ Green Pieces A sustainable house is the sum of its many, many parts. A s interest in the environment grows, it’s hard to turn on the television without seeing a story that offers advice on how consumers can go green. But while it’s true that every little bit helps, there are no quick ﬁ xes on the road to sustainability. This is especially true in home building. Loading up your houses with green building products won’t mean much if other (more important) elements of sustainability are ignored. So, if your homes are not thoughtfully designed or do not follow building science principles, no amount of green products will help you or your buyers. But the right products can help you follow through once you’ve started building green. Assuming you adhere to the important elements of sustainable building, you will want to specify the right items, such as ﬁ xtures that save water, materials made with recycled content, and appliances that sip, rather than gulp, energy. On the following pages are 13 products (with seven more online) that will make a difference. Check out items such as soybean-based foam insulation, tankless water heaters that save energy and help provide better indoor air quality, and tiles made from reconstituted leather scraps. The products you choose can make a big difference between seriously green and (see page 50) so-so green. B CertainTeed. 800-233-8990. www.certainteed.com. Circle no. 102. FOR MORE PRODUCT INFORMATION, VISIT EBUILD, HANLEY WOOD’S INTERACTIVE PRODUCT CATALOG, AT WWW.BUILDERONLINE.COM/PRODUCTS OR EBUILD.COM. W W W.BUILDERONLINE.COM j u ly 2 0 08 B U I LD E R ■ 49 http://www.ecosmartfire.com http://www.ecosmartfire.com http://www.kliptech.com http://www.certainteed.com http://WWW.BUILDERONLINE.COM/PRODUCTS http://EBUILD.COM http://WWW.BUILDERONLINE.COM

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Builder Magazine - July 2008

Builder Magazine - July 2008 Contents Editor's Notes B-Mail Book It Green House Business Update Products National Beat Seider's Economy The Greener Good Commentary Land Planning Design Construction Marketing Ad Index Further Considerations Environmental Concerns Commentary Road to Perdition? Editor's Notes Flip Contents

Builder Magazine - July 2008

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