Go Green!

Triangle residents love the great, green outdoors, and today’s building standards and materials are making it easier to care for the environment we enjoy. “Go Green!” is a regular department showcasing environmentally friendly products and services for your home. Read on and check back next issue for more ideas. 

The Product: Loose-fill insulation (BIBS: Blown-In Blanket)—a green alternative for home insulation.

Why It’s Green: Loose-fill insulation doesn’t contain the moisture-activated adhesives required to support standard BATT products. Instead, specialized netting holds the loose-fill in place, eliminating the need for the water catalyst that invites mildew growth.  In addition, the fiberglass compound consists largely of post-industrial material free from any toxic byproducts.
 

Where to Find: Eastern Insulation, Durham, NC
 

Approximate Cost: Prices vary according to design, but in a standard code home loose fill installation costs only 18% more than the generic insulation solution.

About the Product: If walls could talk, they’d yell ‘green!’ BIBS (blown-in blanket) loose-fill insulation provides a wholesome, eco-friendly alternative to the traditional cellulose products of the past.  A byproduct of wood, standard insulation requires water to activate the adhesives that hold it in place, a process that fosters mildew growth.  Loose-fill applications eliminate the middleman.  Once mixed with a latex “binder,” the fiberglass is sprayed onto a netting that secures the insulation to the wall—no rosins, no moisture, and no mildew. What’s more, BIBS can be installed at 3-4 times the density of traditional fiberglass insulation, reducing the voids that cause energy loss.   Pneumatic machines ensure thorough application into every nook and cranny.  Another added green benefit is that loose-fill includes none of the chemical additives that leach into the atmosphere.  It comes from a basis of recycled materials that contain only the fiberglass ingredients vital for solid thermal protection.  BIBS manufacturers and consumers can ease landfill growth and fuel environmental preservation—something in which we can all be confident. 

3-Form’s Ecoresin is engineered to incorporate 40% post-industrial reclaimed material.
Photo courtesy of 3-Form

The Product: Ecoresin, a co-polyester recycled content sheet material

Why It’s Green: Ecoresin incorporates 40% recycled material, a PETG content that can be returned into the reclaiming system once past product lifespan.  Simple production processes emit no toxic gases while drawing power from clean, natural wind energy.  And unlike standard acrylic sheets, Ecoresin produces only water and air by-products when exposed to flame.
 

Approximate Cost: Approximately $20 per square foot, a price well worth the custom product.

Where to Find: Clear-Vue Glass in Durham,  NC. For more information contact Clear-Vue at 919-682-5597 or visit their website at www.clearvueglass.com. 
 

About the Product: 3-Form’s one-of-a-kind product melds strength, artistic appeal and economic engineering to produce the market’s only eco-friendly, co-polyester material.  Available in over 2.5 million combinations, Ecoresin’s aesthetic versatility offers a plethora of design solutions from light fixtures to backsplashes.  There is no “standard product;” each piece is customized to personal taste, down to the texture of the glaze.  It boasts impact strength forty times greater than that of glass as well as a fierce chemical imperviousness.  While other materials shrivel under constant sterilization, Ecoresin withstands harsh chemical exposure, making it a favorite among hospitality and health care centers.  This lightweight compound allows designers to create decorative wall adornments and intricate glass art.  Yet none of these spotlight qualities come at an environmental price.  Engineers crafted Ecoresin from a family of PETG chemicals, compounds derived from recycled water bottles.  Once product lifespan expires, 100% of ecoresin material can be returned into the recycling system through a variety of reclaim programs.  These contributions fuel further recycling while reducing the impact on landfills.  Even the production process runs “green,” pulling power from clean wind energy and emitting only toxin-free gases.  Ecoresin touts all-star ratings on ME toxicity tests as well as a GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certification.