The 2012 GreenBuild International Conference and Expo, sponsored by the U.S. Green Building Council, was held from November 14 to 16 in San Francisco.
About 1,000 exhibitors showcased their latest green building products and technologies. This year’s Expo has one of the largest attendance. It was exciting to see so many green products on display but there was not enough time to visit them all. I found the following new or fairly new products that are interesting.
- Stonepeak – They make a family of porcelain tiles fashioned after the tradition of fine Italian ceramics. While there are many makers of porcelain tiles, their interesting new products are large panels (5′ by 8′), yet light enough for simple installation. These large panels are great for shower applications because it minimizes the need for grout, which often requires maintenance.
- Toto – Introduced a new toilet that only uses one gallon of water per flush, better than the 1.28 gal required by many building codes such as CalGreen. The product also offers an optional glossy finish to reduce staining. With that we may not need dual toilets any more since often time they don’t work very well.
- Panasonic – Introduced a new 80 CFM exhaust fan hidden in a recessed light and qualified for ENERGY STAR, suitable for bathroom and other uses. Panasonic products are well-known for their quietness and performance. This one adds the design appeal for being not visible.
- Roppe – Makes flooring tiles products using many recycled materials such as plastic, rubber, etc. and that do not require adhesives for installation so they are easily replaceable. While the products are generally targeted for commercial applications, they can be useful in some heavily used areas in a home such as a home office or play room.
- Reveeco – Makes a ecological shower system that includes a shower base that recycles the water, and a remote control. The product cleans the water and maintains a set temperature for the user, thus providing considerable water and energy saving. The product concept is very attractive. However it is new and whether it is easy to maintain in practice remains to be seen.
