| NEWS | DESIGN | BUILDING | DESIGN TOOLS | ENVIRONMENT | CULTURE |
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Endangered Historic U.S. Places 2009 | |
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Adaptive Reuse of Clay-Tile Arched Floors | |
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Architectural Products Update |
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Smith & Fong Co. introduces a line of Plyboo® bamboo architectural plywood and flooring products that are Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified. The manufacturer has established a responsibly managed bamboo forest resource that qualifies the product line for the FSC Pure designation, since the products consist of 100-percent FSC material from an FSC-certified forest, and they have been sold and/or processed by an FSC chain-of-custody certified company. In addition, the manufacturer's bamboo sources use no irrigation, pesticides, or fertilizers. Can contribute to LEED credits: MR 6: Rapidly Renewable Materials, MR 7: Certified Wood, and EQ 4.4: Low Emitting Materials (no added formaldehyde). |
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PolyWhey™ wood finishes from Vermont Natural Coatings are formulated using whey protein, a natural by-product of the dairy industry, as the bonding agent. The finishes are very low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) — at or below 180 grams per liter — helping protect indoor air quality. These scratch-resistant clear finishes cure twice as hard as the average water-based finish and do not yellow in UV light. Excellent flow and great coverage. Dry in two to three hours. Available for floors or furniture. Can contribute to LEED credits. |
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The Mecho®/5 manual solar shading system with EcoVeil® shadecloth is Cradle to Cradle℠ silver-certified. The non-PVC screen cloth can be reclaimed and recycled, and is durable, washable, anti-microbial, and flame-retardant. It has a core of thermoplastic olefin (TPO) fiber filaments, with a TPO coating. Available in a range of colors. Solar-shading systems reduce solar heat gain and glare while transmitting daylight, thus facilitating increased building energy efficiency and occupant comfort. Mecho®/5 is one of the chain-driven roller screen systems available from MechoShade Systems. |
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The Matrix Total Home System from NY Thermal Inc. is a single appliance that combines heating, water heating, and heat-recovery ventilation. The system includes a condensing water heater, condensing furnace, condensing boiler, and heat-recovery ventilator. It is also prewired for air conditioning. Compared to conventional natural gas furnaces and water heaters, the device is 60 percent more efficient in heat recovery, 30 percent more efficient in water heating, and is more efficient in space heating. It also uses less electricity than the total consumption of the component appliances in a conventional configuration. Exceeds the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) P.10 performance standard for integrated mechanical systems. |
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The SunCache® solar water heating system from Harpiris Energy™ captures heat in 50 gallons (190 liters) of non-circulating water stored in an unpressurized rooftop panel. When a hot-water tap is turned on, cold water from the supply line flows through copper heat exchanger embedded in the panel, extracting heat from the stored water. Preheated water then flows passively, via cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) tubing, to a conventional storage or tankless water heater. Developed through research supported by the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Inexpensive and easy to install. Designed for residential use in warm climates. |
