Highlights From the 2019 Greenbuild Expo
Not able to make the convention for green-building professionals? Here are a few things you missed
Thousands of green-building professionals came together recently in Atlanta for the 2019 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo. The purpose of the Nov. 19-22 conference was to help participants learn about and source cutting-edge solutions to improve resiliency, sustainability and health in buildings, cities, and communities. On the expo floor, contractors and designers mindful of sustainability could check out a wide variety of materials, new tech tools and online resources. Read about some highlights from the expo here, and determine if you want to make plans to attend next year’s event in San Diego.
2. Finding Helpful Online Tools and Resources
The expo presented many new technological tools and online resources for building greener. This image is from Carpet America Recovery Effort, a joint industry-government nonprofit organization whose mission is “to advance market-based solutions that increase landfill diversion and recycling of post-consumer carpet, encourage design for recyclability and meet meaningful goals.”
The Construction and Demolition Recycling Association (CDRA) is an organization that “promotes and defends the environmentally sound recycling of the more than 500 million tons of recoverable construction and demolition materials that are generated in the United States annually.” These materials include concrete, asphalt, asphalt shingles, gypsum wallboard, wood and metals.
Another resource represented at Greenbuild was Mindful Materials, a free product library that lists information about them all in one place. Each product has been vetted by experts and includes aggregated information on human health and environmental impacts.
Project development and construction group Skanska partnered with Microsoft to create a new open-source tool that calculates embodied carbon for projects. The EC3 calculator measures the emissions associated with building construction, including extracting, transporting and manufacturing materials.
The expo presented many new technological tools and online resources for building greener. This image is from Carpet America Recovery Effort, a joint industry-government nonprofit organization whose mission is “to advance market-based solutions that increase landfill diversion and recycling of post-consumer carpet, encourage design for recyclability and meet meaningful goals.”
The Construction and Demolition Recycling Association (CDRA) is an organization that “promotes and defends the environmentally sound recycling of the more than 500 million tons of recoverable construction and demolition materials that are generated in the United States annually.” These materials include concrete, asphalt, asphalt shingles, gypsum wallboard, wood and metals.
Another resource represented at Greenbuild was Mindful Materials, a free product library that lists information about them all in one place. Each product has been vetted by experts and includes aggregated information on human health and environmental impacts.
Project development and construction group Skanska partnered with Microsoft to create a new open-source tool that calculates embodied carbon for projects. The EC3 calculator measures the emissions associated with building construction, including extracting, transporting and manufacturing materials.
3. Experiencing a Tiny House
Another highlight of attending the Greenbuild expo was getting to experience a tiny house. Though Houzz has featured some great examples, I was skeptical about them. But touring a tiny house on display at Greenbuild, I was pleasantly surprised to see just how livable it seemed. While I was in it there were seven people inside, and though it was tight, it wasn’t uncomfortable and we could pass by one another. The picture window and clerestory made it feel much more expansive than it was. And this model had a full range and fridge, as well as a tub-shower.
The tiny house was presented by Georgia nonprofit MicroLife Institute. This organization is “dedicated to building walkable, sustainable ‘micro-hood’ communities while educating individuals, groups and cities about the positive impacts of micro living.” Depending on zoning, tiny houses can serve as adaptable dwelling units and increase much-needed affordable housing stock.
Could You Live in a Tiny House?
Another highlight of attending the Greenbuild expo was getting to experience a tiny house. Though Houzz has featured some great examples, I was skeptical about them. But touring a tiny house on display at Greenbuild, I was pleasantly surprised to see just how livable it seemed. While I was in it there were seven people inside, and though it was tight, it wasn’t uncomfortable and we could pass by one another. The picture window and clerestory made it feel much more expansive than it was. And this model had a full range and fridge, as well as a tub-shower.
The tiny house was presented by Georgia nonprofit MicroLife Institute. This organization is “dedicated to building walkable, sustainable ‘micro-hood’ communities while educating individuals, groups and cities about the positive impacts of micro living.” Depending on zoning, tiny houses can serve as adaptable dwelling units and increase much-needed affordable housing stock.
Could You Live in a Tiny House?
4. Imagining Residential Applications for Commercial Products
A lot of the products shown at Greenbuild were geared toward large-scale projects. But these products can inspire residential builders and designers with ways to use them. For example, this three-dimensional modular trellis system from Greenscreen is most often used to add plants to the sides of tall buildings, to pretty up mundane structures like parking garages and to serve as lush living fencing. It’s easy to make the leap and imagine how they could transform the facade of a home.
A lot of the products shown at Greenbuild were geared toward large-scale projects. But these products can inspire residential builders and designers with ways to use them. For example, this three-dimensional modular trellis system from Greenscreen is most often used to add plants to the sides of tall buildings, to pretty up mundane structures like parking garages and to serve as lush living fencing. It’s easy to make the leap and imagine how they could transform the facade of a home.
5. Discovering New Sustainable and Healthy Products
One product that got a lot of attention at the show was the 4-by-8-foot Verdure live moss wall ecosystem. The moss wall has a misting bar that periodically slides up the wall to keep the moss healthy. And the recirculating water pump in the bottom sounds like a babbling brook. Recent testing of the product in a 1,176-cubic-foot space showed that the unit reduced carbon dioxide by 225 percent and reduced harmful 0.5-micron airborne particulates by about 4,000 percent.
One product that got a lot of attention at the show was the 4-by-8-foot Verdure live moss wall ecosystem. The moss wall has a misting bar that periodically slides up the wall to keep the moss healthy. And the recirculating water pump in the bottom sounds like a babbling brook. Recent testing of the product in a 1,176-cubic-foot space showed that the unit reduced carbon dioxide by 225 percent and reduced harmful 0.5-micron airborne particulates by about 4,000 percent.
There were many beautiful products made from recycled content or sustainably harvested materials, including countertops made from recycled glass, paper and plastic as well as stunning cork and bamboo flooring. A standout at CaraGreen was its Organoid natural surfaces. This company’s wallcoverings are composed of natural materials, including hay, wildflowers and seeds, that were harvested in the Austrian Alps. A wonderful part of cruising the expo was being able to see, touch and even sniff these products in person.
Read about more innovative home products spotted at Greenbuild
Read about more innovative home products spotted at Greenbuild
6. Learning About Ways Homeowners Can Conserve Resources
Adding a skylight or light tube can help your clients cut down on the energy they use. The solar light tubes seen here are Sky Tunnels from Velux. Because they have an integrated solar-powered night light inside, the product and installation qualify for a 30 percent federal tax credit on purchase and installation of solar electric equipment through Dec. 31, 2019. (The tax credit value drops to 26 percent starting Jan. 1, 2020.)
Adding a skylight or light tube can help your clients cut down on the energy they use. The solar light tubes seen here are Sky Tunnels from Velux. Because they have an integrated solar-powered night light inside, the product and installation qualify for a 30 percent federal tax credit on purchase and installation of solar electric equipment through Dec. 31, 2019. (The tax credit value drops to 26 percent starting Jan. 1, 2020.)
This Sky Tunnel has decorative diffuser options that make it look like an electric ceiling light. These models also have an integrated LED light so they can be used to illuminate a room at night. This is handy in a tight space — one fixture is more pleasing to the eye than the clutter of a light tube and a separate ceiling light. And whether the sun or the grid is providing the light, it is dimmable.
Smaller purchases also can help your clients save energy. Bosch exhibited a dishwasher with a third rack that allows homeowners to fit in more dishes and utensils. This can help your clients save water and electricity by running fewer loads. Similarly, Bosch’s Fresh by Design refrigerator keeps food fresh longer, reducing food waste and the number of gas-guzzling trips to the grocery store.
One of the coolest things about a show like Greenbuild is being able to see displays like this one at Mohawk Flooring. The company has the largest integrated plastic-bottle recycling facility in the world. In addition to showing off some of its products, Mohawk helped attendees understand the process of turning recycled plastic bottles into carpet fibers.