I just got back from the Greenbuild conference in Phoenix, a convention devoted to showcasing the latest and greatest in green technology for builders and architects. Though many of the products were related to commercial construction, there was quite a bit to pique my interest. If you want to cut to the chase, visit my picks-of-the-show at the end of this blog entry.
One of the best parts of going to shows for me is the chance to meet up with industry friends with whom I often speak on the radio show but with whom I may not often have face-time. One .jpg?n=7818 "Andrea Ridout and Ed del Grande")
such buddy is Ed del Grande, whom I consider a dear friend (see photo). Ed has been an often-featured guest on my shows over the years, he wrote the intro for my book (If I Had a Hammer) and we have had wonderful long conversations about the changing green industry, water-saving topics, and just life in general. But Ed and I had never met until now. We finally got a chance to chat in person at the Kohler booth. But I made the mistake of getting Ed started about Kohler's water-saving innovations. He told me everything that I ever wanted to know about toilets (and then some). Gosh — you'd think the guy was a plumber or something!
I was also able to visit with Lenore Campos, a longtime pal with Toto USA. Toto was in Phoenix too, showcasing gorgeous and functional faucets with low-lead in the manufacturing process and other eco features. Toto also makes toilets and supports the EPA's Water-Sense program, just like Kohler. What great companies we have to choose from!
Another standout in potties was Caroma. Like Toto and Kohler, they are working with many cities to provide low-cost, low-use replacement toilets, but the unit that caught my eye was a unique toilet and sink combo. You've gotta see it. It looks like something that I would've invented. Perfect for that added half-bath under the stairs or in a workshop.
But plumbing innovations weren't just showcased by the big boys. Some of the biggest surprises were from lesser-known manufacturers. One such example was the Tapmaster, which was represented by a Canadian firm. It's a multi-faceted hands-free faucet control for folks with limited mobility (or if you just hate to turn on the faucet when your hands are dirty).
Other Canuks were in Phoenix, too. They even invited me to their Green Building Technologies Symposium in Alberta on Dec. 8-9. Regrettably, I can't attend this year, but if you are so inclined, check it out at Greenbuildingtech.ca.
Lots of folks presented innovations in both solar and tankless hot water heaters. Industry leaders, Rheem and Noritz, were there with total-house solutions to replace conventional systems. Their designs continue to be more and more efficient, plus prices are starting to drop. Another nifty innovation in solar water-heating is the Greenward Roof Vent, a ridge-integrated product that hides beneath a standard roof ridge. And yet another company, Suncache, claims to have the least-expensive solar model on the market, with the tank being part of the roof collector itself.
And speaking of solar and roofing, check out Sheffield Metal. They were displaying an integrated solar roofing panel for standing-seam roofs. Another standout was Sole' Power Tile with solar integrated into tile roofs.
Photovoltaic panels were at every turn but Sanyo's booth caused me to do a double-take with their two-side solar panel that increases efficiency by up to 30 percent. As the sunlight passes through each panel, it strikes the concrete or other hard surface underneath and bounces back to PV cells on the bottom side of the panel. How smart!
Some booths were so busy that I never even got a chance to speak to anyone in person. One such was an air-conditioning system called Coolerado. They claim to be the most efficient air conditioners made and were certainly drawing a crowd. I will have to follow up to find out more. Also in the HVAC realm was Ductsox, some funky-looking sock ductwork. They really caught my eye.
Over the last year, I have been learning more and more about rainwater harvesting — and I was pleased to see many options at Greenbuild. A few of note were rainharvesting.com and rainwatermanagement.com. Several companies displayed huge collection tanks such as xerxes.com. Many of them were commercially oriented but would be useful on farms and ranches.
Green was the name of the game, but nowhere more than with the plant aficionados. Green Plants for Green Buildings is a consortium of companies who want us to welcome more plants into every aspects of our homes and businesses. Also, living green roofing and parking solutions abounded from folks like Greenwalls.com, Bioroof.com, Greenroofs.us and PorousParking.com . Even Firestone offers framework for growing foliage on buildings — and I thought they just sold tires. What a surprise!
Another surprise — did you know that LG, the electronics folks, are making flooring? I was quite impressed with LG Hausys floors with styles that reminded me of vintage linoleum.
Also in decor were Eco countertops from my friends at Consetino, made from recycled porcelain and glass with corn-oil resin. Another countertop that I liked was from Renewed Materials. Squak Mountain was another countertop that drew my attention — made from concrete and recycled materials. Aimee Quiriconi is the creator of this unique material with a rustic appearance that reminded me of Vermont soapstone. She was exhibiting with her cohorts from Kirei — who are also worth checking out.
I also met the folks from AFM Coatings and learned quite a bit about environmentally safe paints. They have been making them for over 25 years — way before much of anyone was thinking about indoor air quality. They began with coatings for folks with allergies — but now everyone seems to want them. I flipped for their color range — some fantastic warm hues that just knocked me out! I came home with pockets stuffed with color chips.
As the show neared its close, I stumbled upon a nice fellow, Douglas Green (yes, that's really his name) with Green Design Furniture. His unique work is more like art than furniture, with no nails or screws, no glue, indeed no fastenings of any kind in any of it. Each chair, table, bookshelf, and even dresser is held together by the assembly process itself — as one piece slides over another, much like the Japanese "magic" boxes of my youth. Visit his website to watch a video.
After touring the show floor, our buddies from Sylvania, a division of Siemens, invited the whole MOTHER EARTH NEWS gang to a press party to showcase their involvement in Orange County Choppers. The company had commissioned a bike to be built by Paul Sr. and his OC crew utilizing their LED lighting. The chopper is the first of its kind to be totally electric powered (see photo). The MOTHER EARTH NEWS crew each took turns for photos ops. Here is a shot of Barrett Cline-Coke, one of our producers, looking mean and green!
Picks of the Show
OK, I promised my picks-of-the-show. Let me first say that I am a nut for wind power. So I thoroughly enjoyed visiting our buddies at Skystream, who have made wind solutions accessible for everyone. Swift Wind Turbines presented a unique round design that looks nifty. And last but not least was the Windspire, a new vertical turbine (see photo).
I was thoroughly excited to see so much that's new in green tech. Just a few years ago, home windmills were an oxymoron. Now we have several companies to choose from. Solar panels are popping up all over the country — and the world. And nearly every company across the US is adding sustainable products. Don't ya' just love it — I can't wait for Greenbuild next year!
Photos by Andrea Ridout
