I went to several conferences and seminars in the last couple of months. I was pleasantly surprised to find that there are more and more eco-friendly, health and efficiency oriented products on display for green homes. Many of the products are already available on the market, and some are still under development. I like to share some of the more interesting ones with you.
Cleantech Open Annual Global Forum. The Cleantech Open is a non-profit organization whose mission is to find, fund and foster entrepreneurs with big ideas that address today’s most urgent water, energy, environmental and economic challenges. The Global Forum showcased current and past year companies. Here are the winners and some companies which make products related to homes. In the past, commercial LED and energy management products tend to lead the way. This year the companies are more diverse. There were water conservation and indoor air quality companies completing. I am so glad to see companies to address our precious water issue and healthy indoor environment.
- Maxout Renewable. A regional winner this year, Maxout recovers power from solar PV systems that would be lost due to shading, fouling and aging.
- IAQ Systems. Provides residential indoor air quality monitoring and remediation.
- Aqua Pedal. Returning as a 2014 participant, this year they showed a new design of a hands-free, pedal-operated water and energy saving device for kitchen, bathroom and other faucets. The product can save water use by up to 80% and helps prevent the spread of germs.
- ecoVent. Offers a system of wireless vents and sensors that controls room by room heating and cooling, increasing comfort and reducing energy costs.
- Claylin. Offers a flooring option made with minimally processed natural materials that enhances the built environment with the ancient practice of earthen floor.
- Floo-id. This is a retrofit smart toilet-monitoring device primarily designed for property owners or managers, but also useful for homeowners, to easily install giving them real-time leak detection that saves them money, protects their property, conserves water and achieves payback in less than 12 months.
DEMO, a product launchpad for emerging technology and trends, San Jose
- inHome. This intelligent connected home solution consists of a hub and modular kits for Lighting Control, Indoor Climate Control, Home Security Monitoring and Water Leak Detection. Their unique offering lies in detecting water pipe leaks and breaks and shutting the water main off, thus avoiding flooding in the house and also saving water.
Green Festival, an exposition of products and services to work green, play green and live green, in San Francisco.
- CompoKeeper. The CompoKeeper’s quadruple-action odor control system and clamping mechanism locks smells in and bugs out. Its six gallon unit can be used as a freestanding unit or, with the optional clamp-operating handle, or it can be tucked away under the sink or in standard trash drawers.
- Havelock Wool. They make home insulation products from wool, whose five follicles and natural crimp trap air, moisture and harmful chemicals so as to improve air quality while keeping warmth inside during winter and outside over the summer months.
- GoSun Stove. They make a cooker using only solar heat. It is great for outdoor use at the patio or for taking along a camping trip.
- Aqua Pedal. (See the Cleantech Open section)
- REM Sleep Solutions. Natural Mattresses.
- Samina. They offer mattresses made exclusively from natural and organic materials – wood, natural rubber, virgin sheep wool and organic cotton forming a system that encourages a deep, restful sleep. They advertise using the best quality raw materials and conserve the subtle energies of these natural materials.
- Dripping Springs OLLAS . Clay irrigation pots. An ancient method for conserving water.
Tell us about your favorite green products, especially those you have had good experience with. We are planning to build a directory of good green home products.
Great post – the EcoVent idea isn’t new (zoned duct dampers have been around while), but its execution as a smart-phone-smart-thermostat engaged system, styled to appeal to the iPhone crowd, is. Many of us with older homes (even my Deep Energy Retrofitted home) don’t have the option of replacing ducts for ideal runs to each room, so this type of system can really improve comfort and efficiency of a system.
If you’re building a new home, it’s still cheaper to make sure your HVAC contractor does the proper Manual J and Manual D calculations for your heating and cooling system and for each room. This will ensure comfort and efficiency without having to add a damper system such as this one.
Read more in my book, The Greened House Effect, available at http://www.thegreenedhouseeffect.com and wherever books are sold!
Keep the great, green posts coming!