September, 2008

Green Building Products

This month, we’re featuring a cross-section of products with green properties that caught our eye.

By Staff Report

OSI GreenSeries Caulks, Sealants
and Adhesives
OSI GreenSeries claims to be the first green brand in the adhesives and sealants category that meet both energy efficiency and global impact standards. OSI GreenSeries offers a full range of low-VOC caulks, sealants and adhesives making it easier for professionals and consumers to identify safe, healthy products that can help make homes more energy efficient by preventing air from escaping through cracks. In addition to being Greenguard certified, the OSI GreenSeries line can contribute to both NAHB and LEED certification.
www.greenseries.com

Typar Weather Protection System
Sustainable by design, the Typar Weather Protection System contributes to requirements for the ENERGY STAR New Home program, as well as the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED program in both new commercial construction and LEED for Homes. Typar weather resistant products produce minimal VOC emissions and contain more than 23% post-industrial content. Additionally, the system reduces the risk of water intrusion that can lead to mold, mildew or other indoor toxins, which degrade indoor air quality. The complete Typar Weather Protection System includes Typar HouseWrap; MetroWrap for light commercial construction; StormWrap for extreme weather areas; RoofWrap 30, Typar Flashings and Construction Tape. www.Typar.com

BCI Joists from Boise
Boise Engineered Wood Products offers a family of very green BCI Joists in 5000, 6000, 6500, 60 and 90-series. These joists are described as “among the most environmentally friendly building products on earth.” They build better homes with stronger, stiffer floors using only wood purchased in compliance with Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) programs. Boise BCI Joists enjoy high design values and product formulations for optimized utilization of available forest resources. 6000-series BCI Joists are 54% stronger and 33% stiffer than dimension lumber joists, yet use only around 40% as much wood fiber—so extend forest resources approximately 2-1⁄2 times further. Plus, unlike dimension lumber, where it is often impossible to know if it’s a green product because of complicated distribution systems, every Boise BCI Joist is 100% green—manufactured entirely using raw materials certified green by SFI. BCI Joists also contribute to the environment by helping eliminate the framing-related callbacks caused by dimension lumber—the wasteful driving back and forth to jobsites to fix problems that should not be happening in the 21st century. www.bc.com

Solar Post Caps by Latitudes
Latitudes solar post caps are perfect outdoor accessories that require no electricity. Each post cap employs a wireless,
sun-powered light, perfect for accenting deck posts, fence posts and more with ambient lighting. The small solar collector
on the solar cap rests atop an attractive silhouette light made of shatter-resistant glass. Latitudes solar caps, available in white or pewter, require no wiring or electricity and come with two rechargeable AA batteries. Their glow casts a relaxing ambiance on deck areas. The solar lens, which becomes fully charged after a full day in the sun, is designed to absorb enough sunlight to provide subtle lighting in the dark. www.latitudesdeck.com/lbm; 888.592.2260

Cool Metal Roofing from Tamko
TAMKO Building Products, Inc. has taken the durability and trusted strength of steel, combined with energy-saving technology to create MetalWorks Cool Colors. MetalWorks Shingles are designed to provide an excellent combination of aesthetics and performance making them the ideal choice for a wide range of residential and commercial applications. MetalWorks Cool Colors provide 25% solar reflectivity, meeting Energy Star Standards. Each MetalWorks Cool Color product is rated by the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC), confirming the energy savings that can be achieved. MetalWorks
Cool Color Steel Shingles area available  in a variety of styles and colors, including StoneCrest Slate in Vermont Blue, Sierra Slate Grey and Sequoia Red; StoneCrest Tile in Sierra Slate Grey and Vermont Blue, and AstonWood’s Timber Brown, Sequoia Red, Canyon Copper Bronze, Vermont Blue, Forest Green, River Rock Brown and Brite Red. www.tamko.com

WindsorONE+ Protected Trim Boards
Windsor+ Protected Trim Boards and Siding have a Gold Indoor Quality rating, no added formaldehyde and are eligible for LEED points. WindsorONE’s raw materials are harvested from sustainable tree farms and are controlled by WindsorONE from source to sale. WindsorONE is manufactured in the USA and all refuse material is recycled and reused. According to the company, WindsorONE+ Protected Trim Boards and Siding use the most advanced wood preservative system in the world. The process is EPA approved and no volatile solvents or harmful chemicals are used. WindsorONE+ Protected comes with a 30-year warranty against decay, rot and termites (includes Formosan termites).www.WindsorONE.com; 888.229.7900

ZIP System Wall from Huber
Zip System wall from Huber Engineered Woods has a built-in Stormex water-resistive barrier that eliminates the need for housewrap. According to Huber, simply install the panels, tape the seams and you have a structural wall system and a water-resistive barrier all-in-one. The result is: a wall that keeps bulk water out during and after construction (for protection from moisture-related issues); a Type 1 Air Barrier, which helps maintain the R-value of insulation, promoting energyefficiency and optimal wall performance; a breatheable wall, which drys out by allowing moisture vapor to travel through, and; a structural wall panel meeting all PS-2 volatile requirements. All of Huber’s mills are certified
through the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. www.huberwood.com; 800.933.9220

TimberStrand LSL from iLevel
Prior to the introduction of engineered wood products, the range of choices for residential framing materials was limited.
TimberStrand LSL from iLevel was developed as a result of extensive research and testing to meet a need for higher-performance framing materials and to make more efficient use of natural resources. Originally introduced to the residential market in 1992 for use as rim board, TimberStrand LSL is now available for a wide range of applications, including wall studs, rafters, beams, treated sill plate, columns, window and door headers and concrete form board. The material is manufactured using a proprietary process in which small strands of wood are carefully dried, positioned
and bound together with resin to form high-strength structural framing members. In addition to its structural benefits, TimberStrand LSL is an environmentally responsible choice since it can be manufactured from a renewable natural resource, trees, that are not large or straight enough to be usable in conventional wood building products. It also uses a high percentage of each log. www.iLevel.com; 1888-iLevel8 (888.453.8358)

Therma-Tru Fiberglass Entry and Patio Doors
With skyrocketing heating and cooling costs, energy efficiency is on the front burner for homeowners and builders. Therma-Tru door systems are ENERGY STAR qualified and certified by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC), helping homeowners save money on energy costs and protect the environment through superior energy efficiency. Engineered to be extremely durable and low-maintenance, Therma-Tru doors boast five times the insulation of a wood door and are designed as complete system with components that work together to form the tightest seal possible. This creates an energy efficient envelope for the home, stabilizing the interior temperature and decreasing energy costs.
www.therma-tru.com

Eco-Thermowood from Advantage Lumber Company
Steam and heat are the only two sources of energy used to transform Southern yellow pine into treated wood products
boasting high durability, resistance to decay and fungal attack, dimensional stability and a consistent brown color throughout the entire cross section of the material. According to the company, tests have shown no harmful emissions are apparent while working with Eco-Thermowood. Available as decking, fencing, siding and patio blocks, the product can be cut with standard woodworking tools. Custom shapes and sizes are available. www.eco-thermowood.com; 260.337.0338

3D and 3D Max Energy Package Options from Milgard
Milgard Windows & Doors provides two energy efficiency packages for its fiberglass and vinyl window and door lines. The 3D and 3D MAX energy package options are designed to assist builders in constructing the highest quality, environmentally responsible homes and buildings in all regions of the country. The 3D name represents the three dimensions of a Milgard window—the design, the frame material and the glazing unit. The 3D package offers builders a window or door that is up to 10% more efficient than ENERGY STAR standards—the better option, while the 3D MAX package ups efficiency even more by providing the builder a product that is nearly 26% more efficient than those manufactured to ENERGY STAR standards— Milgard’s best option. www.Milgard.com

Open Joist from Universal Forest Products
Open Joist is an open-web, all-wood floor truss engineered to provide superior strength and load-carrying capabilities, while using less wood fiber than solid-sawn joists. By optimizing the framing package of a structure, Open Joist allows builders to truly do more with less. Open Joist uses short lengths of sustainable harvested lumber, often utilizing downfall from other processes, minimizing waste. Since Open Joist is made from a renewable resource, unlike steel or aluminum, its manufacturing process does not require heat and pressure; it has less embodied energy than competing products.
According to the company, the combination of finger joinery and waterproof structural adhesives produce a floor joist with the best strength-to-cost ratio in the engineered wood products industry. Backed by a lifetime warranty, Open Joist is suitable for longer joist spans or wider joist spacing. www.openjoist.com/lbm; 866.730.3243

GreenGlass Exterior Sheathing from Temple-Inland
Temple-Inland’s new GreenGlass Fiberglass- Faced Gypsum Sheathing is manufactured with a high percentage of recycled content, allowing the product to contribute valuable environmental credits in multiple green building rating systems and proven project protection from mold and moisture damage. In addition to being the company’s most mold-, moistureand weather-resistant exterior gypsum product yet, it also offers design flexibility. It can be installed under a wide range of exterior veneers including brick, stone, metal, wood, vinyl, EIFS and various curtainwall systems. This makes it a suitable sheathing for almost any type of commercial or residential construction. GreenGlass offers noteworthy physical properties related to permeability, structural strength, moisture absorption, weight and flame spread as well. Manufactured to the ASTM product standard C1177, it conforms to IRC R702.3 and IBC 2506.2, meeting the requirements of a code referenced structural wall bracing. www.templeinland.com; 800.231.6060

DuPont’s RoofLiner with Elvaloy
Since building science is a big part of green building, DuPont’s new RoofLiner with Elvaloy is green in that it provides superior durability and protection against leaks, compared to roofing felt. Engineered for use with all types of roofing materials (asphalt shingles, clay, concrete, fiber cement or metal tiles, slate, wood shakes, standing seam metal sheets and corrugated metal roofing), the product also boasts superior tear resistance, excellent water hold-out, and six-month UVresistance. www.DuPont.com

McFarland Cascade unveils
Terratec Naturals
With a proprietary formula that includes rice hulls, recycled plastic and is preservative- and biocide-free, Terratec Naturals composite decking is described as more resistant to moisture, mold, stains and insects than other wood-based composite options. McFarland Cascade’s special composite formulation is said to make Terratec Naturals deck boards very dense,
hard and durable. Its deeply embossed wood grain texture is designed to look and feel like real wood, but without the splinters. The product line features two board profiles; Traditional deck boards, which install with screws through the surface and Architectural boards, which use Terratec’s own hidden Quick Clip fasteners. Composite decking materials can contain 50% wood fiber or more, making them more susceptible to mold, mildew, insect infestation, rot and staining. The addition of biocides and preservatives is intended to combat these problems, but McFarland Cascade says the chemicals become ineffective over time. Rice hulls contain only a trace amount of digestible nutrients and have a high silica content, which contributes to Terratec Naturals’ performance without chemicals. www.mcfarlandcascade.com; 800.426.8430

PureWood Thermally Modified Wood Decking
PureWood Thermally Modified Wood (TMW) Decking is engineered to provide the performance of composite or chemically treated decking in an all-natural product. Pure- Wood’s exclusive TMW process uses heat and moisture to naturally empower wood against rot and decay with no added chemicals or preservatives. Plus, PureWood is made from Southern yellow pine, a rapidly renewable resource. Even disposing of PureWood is simple; recycle it, burn it, place it in the landfill—treat is just as you’d treat untreated wood. PureWood provides an all-natural alternative to chemically treated and composite materials while retaining the beauty, workability, and renewability of real wood. www.PureWoodProducts.com

Owens Corning PINK Fiberglass Insulation
Builders and contractors looking for green products can choose Owens Corning PINK Fiberglass Insulation with confidence. Owens Corning PINK Fiberglass insulation, in bats and loosefill, meets the most stringent indoor air quality certification GREENGUARD certification and GREENGUARD for Children & Schools. Owens Corning is one of the largest users of recycled glass in the world—with PINK Fiberglass insulation containing 35% certified recycled content, the highest level of certified recycled content in North America for fiberglass, according to the company. PINK Fiberglass Insulation will not settle, lose its energy-saving abilities over time or support mold growth, and is non-combustible without additional fire-retardants.
www.OwensCorning.com

RainBarrier Insulation from Thermafiber, Inc.

RainBarrier 30 (3 lb. density) & RainBarrier 45 (4.5 lb. density) from Thermafiber, Inc. have been specifically engineered to repel water and efficiently drain moisture in rain screen and cavity wall construction applications. Rain-Barrier provides thermal insulation, fire protection, and acoustical control while efficiently draining water from a wall cavity system. According to the manufacturer, RainBarrier products offer a distinct advantage over typical foam board insulation. In addition, Highly UV resistant, RainBarrier is available in regular and dark colored fibers for aesthetic purposes.
RainBarrier products are non-combustible and compatible with common wall ties, adhesives, and air barrier systems. Like
all Thermafiber mineral wool products, Rain- Barrier boasts the highest available recycle content (up to 90%) of any commercial insulation. Thermafiber mineral wool insulation helps buildings conserve energy, control noise, improve indoor air quality, improve life safety, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. www.thermafiber.com

Bostik Home Siding ULTRA & Window Sealant
Bostik Home Siding ULTRA & Window Sealant is colorfast—the polyurethane product will not change in color or yellow over time. It is also paintable, non-out gassing, has no isocyanates and has low volatile organic chemical (VOC) levels. Proven on siding, trim, soffits, windows, doors, vinyl, fiber cement and wood, Bostik Home Siding ULTRA & Window Sealant is described as freeze-thaw stable, will not damage foam products and has negligible shrinkage. Ideal for sealing synthetic trim to vinyl siding, sealing vinyl siding to vinyl accessories, and for transitional sealing from wood trim to vinyl siding, it is
easy to tool, has indoor and outdoor uses, and offers fast cures at low temperatures. The sealant contains Bostik’s BLOCKADE antimicrobial agent to inhibit the growth of mold and mildew on the surface of the dried adhesive, and boasts one-fifth to one-tenth the level of volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) of competitive products. www.bostik.com/building.htm

MoistureShield Juniper Collection Decking from A.E.R.T.
Made from 90% pre-and post-consumer recycled content, MoistureShield’s Juniper collection of composite decking is described as one of the most eco-friendly composite decking products available. The Juniper line of organic cedar composite decking is composed of heartwood cedar fibers from Juniper Mexicana, or natural Texas Cedar, which means that it does not need or contain mildewcides insecticides or coloring agents. The highly water-resistant product is manufactured with A.E.R.T.’s plastic encapsulation process that adds a layer of protection from moisture and insects. It carries a limited lifetime warranty against rot, decay and insect damage. www.moistureshield.com; 866.729.2378

DensArmor Plus from GP Gypsum
Georgia-Pacific Gypsum LLC announced that its DensArmor Plus moisture- and mold-resistant paperless interior drywall are the first gypsum drywall products to be GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified. This prestigious certification, awarded by GREENGUARD Environmental Institute, recognizes indoor products that have low emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In addition, these products have received the GREENGUARD Children & Schools Certification. This certification subjects materials to additional emissions testing to identify low emitting products that can be used to provide school children with reduced exposure to indoor pollutants. To be GREENGUARD Certified means that these Georgia-Pacific products will be regularly tested to ensure that chemical and particle emissions meet the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute’s rigorous emission standards for indoor building materials. www.gp.com