The exhibition catalog for the PNC SmartHome Cleveland (the Passive House I wrote about in my last post) – included a list of companies that provided the materials for that project. In an effort to spread the Sustainable Building Gospel, and make lighter work of specifying green choices, I’m duplicating selected parts of that list here. As a disclaimer, I don’t necessary agree that polystyrene is a green product – particularly from a health perspective – but as it was used in this Passive House, I’m including it. The EPS panels in combination with the cellulose provided walls with an R-value of 50 – a tremendous benefit that is undeniable from the standpoint of energy performance. Use the list at your discretion – the concept of “green” can mean so very many things depending on your perspective. If nothing else, it provides a great starting point for further exploration of other good products. Many thanks to the kind people behind the PNC Cleveland SmartHome for sharing!
STRUCTURAL INSULATED PANELS – SureTight Insulated Panels
www.suretight.com
Prefabricated panels with expanded polystyrene (EPS) rigid foam core, sandwiched between two structural skins of oriented strand board (OSB). Manufactured in western Pennsylvania.
AIR-BARRIER SEALING – Grace Construction Products
www.na.graceconstruction.com
Self-adhering water vapor permeable sheet (VPS) membrane and Perm-A-Barrier wall flashing tape.
SEALING AROUND WINDOW FRAMES – Tremco-Illbruck
www.tremco-illbruck.com
Illmod Trio sealing tape
SEALANTS – Tremco Sealants
www.tremcosealants.com
Mono 555 one-part acrylic sealant and Tremsil 200 silicone sealant
INSULATION INSIDE STRUCTURAL WALLS – Advanced Fiber Technology
www.advancedfiber.com
Dense-packed cellulose insulation
and
Fomo Products
www.fomo.com
Polyurethane spray foam insulation
WINDOWS AND EXTERIOR DOORS – Energate, imported by H Windows
www.energate.com, www.passivehwindow.com
Energate 1202 wood-aluminum clad – casement and fixed. Energy-efficient, triple-pane windows and doors with high performance glass for solar heat gain and frames that minimize thermal bridging. The windows achieve an amazing insulation value of R-11 at the center of the glass.
HEATING AND COOLING – Mitsubishi
www.mehvac.com
Mr. Slim Hyper Heat ductless mini-split air-source heat pumps. Super-efficient heat pump with variable-speed compressor, variable heating and cooling output, environmentally friendly refrigerant, superior air filtration, wireless remote control, and quiet operation. Provides heat down to -13 degrees Fahrenheit.
VENTILATION – Zehnder
www.zehnderamerica.com
ComfoAir 350 EX L Luxe energy-recovery ventilation (ERV) unit. Exhausts stale air and brings in fresh air while capturing approximately 84% of he heat, controlling humidity, and filtering the air.
LIGHTING – GE Lighting
www.gelighting.com, www.edgelighting.com
Energy-efficient LED bulbs and fixtures.
INTERIOR DOORS – Masonite
www.masonite.com
Emerald Safe ‘N Sound solid core paint-grade masonite doors
and
B & B Wood Products
www.bbwood.com
Made from wheat straw, a rapidly renewable resource, with pre-consumer recycled content and low formaldehyde emissions.
ROOF – CertainTeed
www.certainteed.com
Landmark Solaria fiberglass-asphalt roof. Shingles with solar-reflective granules for a cooler roof.
SIDING – James Hardie Building Products
www.jameshardie.com
Durable, fiber-reinforced cementitious panels and siding, not made of petroleum-based chemicals.
WINDOW TREATMENTS – Hunter Douglas
www.hunterdouglas.com
Energy-conserving Hunter Douglas Duette blinds.
COUNTERTOP – IceStone
www.icestone.biz
Durable surface made of 100% recycled glass in a cement matrix. VOC free. Only durable surface in the world to receive Cradle to Cradle Gold certification for lifecycle sustainability.
KITCHEN FAUCET – Moen
www.moen.com
Lancaster Eco-Performance faucet in stainless steel. Users can easily switch between water-conserving, low-flow stream or spray at 1.5 gallons per minute, or a full flow option at 2.2 gallons per minute for tasks that require a set amount of water, such as filling a pot.
TOILETS – Toto
www.totousa.com
Toto Aquia dual-flush toilets. It’s estimated that toilet flushing accounts for more than 25% of home water use – which means that a lot of purified, potable water is used just to flush away waste. Newer low-flush toilets (1.6 gallons per flush) conserve water and have been engineered to flush more effectively. Dual-flush toilets allow further savings by offering the choice of a 0.9 gallon flush when less water is needed.
FAUCETS – Moen
www.moen.com
Eva high-arc bathroom faucets meet EPA’s WaterSense standard for water efficiency and performance. Moen received the WaterSense Manufacturer Partner of the Year-award for 2010.
SHOWER HEAD – Moen
www.moen.com
Level One Eco-Performance shower head is designed to use up to 30% less water, yet maximize the power of water to provide a thorough rinse. Meets EPA WaterSense criteria.
TOWEL RACK – Zehnder
www.zehnderamerica.com
A heated towel bar radiator provides efficient heating for warm, dry towels – and supplementary heat for the whole house. SmartHome requires so little heating to maintain temperature that a heated towel rack can be a major heat source.
INSULATED FOUNDATION – Logix Platinum Wall
www.logixicf.com
Insulated concrete forms
GARAGE ROOF – POWERply T24 membrane roof from Tremco
www.tremcoroofing.com
Reflective membrane roof on which a solar panel array can be installed.
PERMEABLE PAVERS – Eco-Priora permeable unit pavers from Unilock
www.unilock.com
Pavers have wide joints to allow water to infiltrate into the ground. A stone base under the pavers increases water retention. The entry ramp surface was made with porous concrete. The courser mix of aggregate creates voids allowing water to drain through, thus reducing storm water run-off and increasing groundwater re-charge.
RAIN WATER CISTERN – A 500-gallon above ground tank made of high density polyethylene – from Rain Brothers.
www.rainbrothers.com
Cisterns and smaller rain barrels prevent water pollution by preventing storm water from running off -site and overloading city storm water capacity. Not the most beautiful barrel in the world, but whatever vessel you use, harvesting rain water is a very rewarding practice in preparing for hot, dry summers. This project also sported rain chains and a rain garden planted with Ohio natives. All are great solutions and the combined effect adds up quickly.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING – LED light post from Holophane Lighting.
www.holophane.com
Efficient LED lighting, with full cutoff, downward fixture to reduce light pollution at night.
