10 Green Products from the International Builders' Show

• International Builders Show
• Green Design
• appliances
• plumbing
• bathroom
• energy

Henkel OSI Green Sealant

If you had to guess the amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) a typical house emits, just from the adhesives used in its construction, what would you imagine that to be? According to the Henkel Corporation, 110 pounds of VOCs are liberated just from various construction adhesives and sealants, and this number doesn't include what comes from particleboard, paint, carpet and other chemical-laden materials or furnishings.

The company's OSI Green Series line of construction adhesives and sealants would cut that number to 2 pounds of VOCs. Unfortunately, the company only distributes those products through professional channels, such as lumber yards, siding and roofing houses and other similar venues that cater just to construction professionals, not handy homeowners. But we can always hold our breath.

Thermomax Solar Hot Water

Thermomax solar thermal vacuum tubes produce hot water—even on cold, windy and humid days—30 percent more effectively than flat panel collectors. By sealing the insulated tubes from outside influences, the system collects up to 80 percent of the refracted and diffused solar energy, generating about 1836 kWh per year. Combined with the Kingspan hot-water tank seen here, the system can provide additional heat for hydronic radiant heating systems—the top half of the tank feeds plumbing for heating; the bottom half heats water bound for the faucet.

EcoClad on LivingHome

The International Builders' Show always features a few houses built right on the trade show floor—this one, called the BUILDER LivingHome, features new EcoClad siding made from an FSC-certified 50/50 blend of bamboo and postconsumer recycled paper. EcoClad's scratch-resistant bamboo fibers have a water absorption rate of less than one percent, and its UV overlay system protects the cladding from fading and sun damage. (A 10-year warranty backs up that claim.)

Equinox Louver Roof

The Equinox falls somewhere between a retractable awning and a high-tech pergola. Shading a scorching deck can reduce an adjacent room's heat intake by 77 percent, cutting that space's a/c use in summer by up to 25 percent. Unlike a retractable awning, the Equinox can divert water to the gutter (and, from there, to a rainwater collection system). The steel louvers can be finished in the camel color shown, or can be customized to a shade more suited to your house style.

Thermostat Radiant Barrier

As proof of the Georgia-Pacific slogan that "what you don't see matters," the company fabricated a giant demonstration duct for its booth at IBS. It was hard to miss. These G-P reps are smiling because they know that the radiant barrier above their heads would be preventing up to 97 percent of the sun's heat from entering an attic space.

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