IEQ

J&J Flooring Group’s Kinetex is a soft surface floor covering intended for use in place of hard surfaces such as vinyl composite tiles in medium- to high-traffic commercial applications. These 24" x 24" semi-rigid tiles are 0.20" thick, compared to 0.25"–0.60" for standard carpet tiles, and are engineered with a wear layer made from solution dyed PET that resists staining or bleaching and is woven for abrasion resistance and durability. Kinetex is made from 60% recycled content (50% post-consumer PET sourced primarily from water and soda bottles) and, unlike carpet, can be ground and processed into new backing in one step without costly material separation and sorting or loss of performance. Kinetex is treated with perfluorinated compounds to resist dirt and improve its lifespan, but its long-term environmental impact is a concern to GreenSpec.

SunCentral’s SunBeamer 100 tracks the sun throughout the day and uses lenses to direct sunlight into building interiors. The SunBeamer can be used in skylights or tubular skylights or in combination with the company’s SunLuminaire, SunShade, and SunSpandrel products. Using this system, sunlight is directed down the exterior of the building where reflectors in the company’s SunShade reflect and concentrate the light, focusing it into the SunSpandrel and into the building. The light then travels along the SunLuminaire, that has a reflective interior that can provide daylighting up to 50 feet into the building interior. The luminaires also contain sensors and LEDs that automatically adjust interior light levels based on available sunlight.

Trojan Masonry Sealer, a penetrating sealer for permanently waterproofing masonry, is a water-dispersed polyester polymer that dries to form a monolithic barrier filling voids and coating the interior particles of concrete to block moisture transmission. The product contains low levels of VOCs: 13.63 g/L. One gallon of Trojan Masonry Sealer can cover 200 ft2.

KMC Controls’ carbon dioxide sensors monitor CO2 levels in commercial, healthcare, and other applications and communicate that information to demand control ventilation systems. These self-calibrating units improve indoor air quality by providing ventilation where needed and reduce energy waste caused by over-ventilation of unoccupied spaces. They are RoHS compliant with low levels of lead, mercury, cadmium, and other toxicants. The company also offers smoke detectors and sensors for temperature, humidity, pressure flow, and occupancy.

Teknion's Visio office chair is made of 50% recycled materials (11% post-consumer) and intended to be almost completely recyclable at the end of its service life. The chair's seat, arms, back, and headrest are adjustable in height and tilt, and the chair is available in five fabric colors. Visio is certified to BIFMA Level 2 and Greenguard Gold, and is Living Building Challenge Red-List Free.

Hamilton Sorter offers modular casework for a variety of commercial, health care, and educational applications. Its products are certified Greenguard Gold and Living Building Challenge Compliant and are available with FSC-certified wood. Products include casework for lockers, laboratories, patient rooms, pantries, and more. A number of finishes and veneers are available, including powdercoats and standard laminates. Marmoleum, stainless steel, and other coatings are available at additional cost.

Carlisle manufactures a line of low-VOC and water-based duct sealants. Of those with less than 50 g/L VOCs, Flex-Grip 550 and Iron-Grip 601 are formulated for long-term flexibility, and Versa-Grip 102 and CCWI-181 are fiber-reinforced and UV-protected for outdoor use.

Somfy Systems manufactures a number of different systems to motorize window coverings and help regulate solar exposure. Their products can be applied to retractable awnings, rolling shutters, exterior screens, and interior shades. The systems are programmable and remote controllable, and can also be controlled via an Internet-based interface. Research suggests that motorized and automated window coverings significantly improve the energy performance of adjustable window coverings, in both homes and commercial buildings.

Huber’s Zip System consists of a sheathing with a built-in water-resistive barrier, eliminating the need for house wrap and speeding installation. When used with the company’s seam tape, the Zip System has an air leakage rate of 0.037 L/s•m2 @ 75 Pascal per ASTM E2357 (below the ABAA standard of 0.2 L/s•m2 @ 75 Pascal) and can contribute to an airtight building assembly while allowing vapor permeability, thus reducing the risk of moisture damage. Available for roofs and walls, this sheathing incorporates Huber’s PS2-rated AdvanTech floor panels, which are made with low-emitting no-added formaldehyde (NAUF) resins (a combination of phenol formaldehyde and MDI). The green outer skin is Kraft paper impregnated with phenol formaldehyde resin, which forms a thermoset polymer coating . Available in 7/16"-thick 4'x8', 4'x9', and 4'x10' panels and ½"-thick 4'x8' panels, Zip sheathing comes with a 30-year warranty.

Kirei's Pacific Coastal line of paneling consists of redwood from post-industrial manufacturing scrap and blue pine from beetle-killed trees. In addition to slatwalls and tabletop slabs, the wood is available in 1/4" (1-ply) 1x8 panels and 3/4" (3-ply) 4x8 panels. The company recommends the line for applications including walls, flooring, cabinetry, and furniture. All Kirei Pacific Coastal products use NAUF resin and are CARB II certified.

Armor S2000 is a sodium-silicate-based penetrating, strengthening concrete sealer with zero VOC content. Armor S2000 is intended for interior or exterior concrete, brick, and masonry; according to the manufacturer it is ideal for basements, where it provides waterproofing up to 100 PSI, prevents mold and mildew, and reduces the transmission of gases including radon. Applied with a garden sprayer, the product penetrates 4” into concrete, according to the company, and reacts with it, working under the surface to strengthen the substrate without leaving behind a coating. One gallon of Armor S2000 can provide two coats on 1,250 ft2 of new concrete, or 700 ft2 of old or porous concrete. It is also available in half-gallon containers, and carries a lifetime warranty.

Okalux light-diffusing glass uses hollow capillary fibers hermetically sealed between sheets of laminated float glass. Distributed in the U.S. by Schott North America, this unique translucent glass prevents glare and shadows yet allows light to shine through while still providing U-factors as low as 0.9 for the company’s Okalux-P glazing (expect higher U-factors for the whole glazing unit). Okalux can be customized to maximize solar heat gain, sound attenuation, and UV protection for use in façades, glass roofs, partitions, and other applications.

Manufactured by Lunos and sold in the United States by Four Seven Five, the Lunos e² through-wall fans provide ductless, continuous heat recovery ventilation using ceramic regenerative heat exchangers. Installed through 12" thick or greater exterior walls using a 6" opening, they are wired in groups of two or four so that while one fan exhausts, the other supplies air. Heat/cold is absorbed in one direction and the airflow is reversed every 70 seconds, balancing the heating/cooling with filtered fresh air, according to the company. Intended for Passive House or super-insulated homes, one pair covers 500–600 ft2 (8' ceilings). These units also work well in retrofit applications.

CAFboard is a compressed-fiber panel manufactured by Stramit from wheat straw. The company markets the boards for SIPs, door cores, interior sheathing, acoustical panels, and many other applications. CAFboard is processed under high heat and pressure, which convert lignin already present in the straw into a natural binder—no binder is added, and testing shows zero VOC emissions. The boards have a STC ratings of 32 (for thinner boards) and 45 (for thicker boards); and a one- or two-hour fire rating (depending on thickness) based on ASTM E119/UL263. The boards contain no added flame retardants. CAFboard is available in densities from 15.6 to 40.5 pounds per cubic foot, and Stramit USA claims that the R-value of these panels ranges from R-2.32 to R-3.03. However, the company couldn't provide a lab report backing those claims, and we think they are exaggerated—see our full review for more discussion.

Stramit also claims high resistance to mold and mildew without added chemicals, low moisture absorption, natural termite resistance, and a negative carbon footprint. CAFboard panels range in thickness from 1.000" to 3.125" and are available in two standard widths—31.50" and 42.24". The company also incorporates CAFboard into two other Stramit products: the CAFsteel panelized building system and the CAFquiet interior partition system, which features an STC rating of 50.

The Temperfect office chair from Tempronics can provide an energy-efficient alternative to space heaters in allowing office occupants to control individual thermal comfort. Powered by a low-voltage DC power supply, the chair uses semiconductors embedded in foam cushions to move heat toward or away from users at the turn of a dial. The chair’s maximum power draw is 80W while cooling and 60W while heating, and Tempronics claims that providing the chairs to all occupants of an office can allow temperature setpoints to be expanded to 61°F in winter and 84°F in summer for HVAC energy savings. The base chair, prior to the addition of the semiconductor pads, is Greenguard certified and contains 35% recycled material. The Temperfect chair is made in Mexico and carries a two-year limited warranty.