Improves acoustical performance

True Wood suspended ceiling panels are made of 100% FSC-certified wood, available in eight real wood veneers on a no-added-urea-formaldehyde core. They are also available with recycled content up to 97%, in a mix of pre- and post-consumer material. Class-A fire rated True Wood is offered in 2'x2' or 2'x4' panels and in 8' linear panels in widths of 4" or 6". All True Wood panels have an integrated acoustical backer, with four perforation options providing an NRC of up to 70 and CAC of up to 37. GreenSpec normally lists only products in this section with an NRC of 80 or higher, but the FSC-certified and recycled content in these panels makes them an exception.

Rulon ceiling and wall systems are made of pre-consumer recycled MDF and wood veneer (available FSC-certified upon request) with water-based glues and finishes and no added urea-formaldehyde. Rulon offers a variety of panel, linear, and grille ceiling styles; most are available in at least 5 standard veneer species of red oak, ash, cherry, maple, and poplar. The company also manufactures hollow, veneered accent beams which can be used to hide structural features. Rulon's Aluratone acoustical ceiling panels are perforated to absorb sound; they are available in 9 perforation styles and 11 species of veneer, with NRC values from 0.70 to 1.00.

Paradise Wool floor underlayment, made from 100% wool, can be installed under laminate, engineered, or hardwood floors as well as carpet to prevent sound transmission and reduce noise reverberation. It has an R-value of 0.65, and according to the manufacturer, it doesn't break down like conventional underlayment according to the manufacturer. Paradise Wool underlayment is backed with a 3mm polypropylene moisture barrier, and antimicrobial treatment prevents mold, fungus, and bacteria growth.

Acoustical Solutions offers several acoustical products that are Greenguard Children & Schools certified for low emissions. EcoSorpt baffles and wall panels contain 85% post-consumer cotton. The Sustainable Series of products, made of Ecose fiberglass encased in Eco-Fabric, includes baffles, ceiling tiles, and wall panels. Both EcoSorpt and the Sustainable Series have NRC values of 0.80 and up, depending on thickness. The Ecose fiberglass filling is formaldehyde-free and contains a minimum of 30% post-consumer recycled content. The Eco-Fabric is a substitute for type II wallcovering that contains no PVC, formaldehyde, cadmium, or mercury. Sonex Bioline wood ceiling tiles, containing 80% pre-consumer recycled content and made using NAUF binders and resins, have NRC values from 0.40 to 0.80. Enkasonic floor underlayment contains 40% pre-consumer recycled content; designed for reducing sound transmission from footfall, it has an STC rating of 55–62. Sonex PhonStop glass wall panels are 100% post-consumer recycled content, with NRC values from 0.75 to 0.90.

PlybooQuiet is a 93% post-consumer recycled rubber underlayment designed for sound absorption. The underlayment pad can be used with any Plyboo bamboo flooring or Durapalm palm flooring. Both adhesives recommended for installation of PlybooQuiet are zero-VOC. PlybooQuiet comes with a 25-year warranty.

9Wood manufatures a range of acoustical wood ceiling tiles, many of which are certified ILFI Red List compliant. The company's EcoGrille is a lightweight (1.5–3 lbs/ft2), FSC-certified Pacific Albus ceiling tile. Pacific Albus, a hybrid poplar, has a harvesting cycles of 9–13 years. EcoGrille can enhance the acoustics of a room if sound-absorbing materials are placed in the open gaps; it is assembled with a soy-based, formaldehyde-free cross-piece backer. Each ceiling is custom-fabricated, so the number of members and the finish can be selected by the customer. Low-VOC finishes are available. Standard panel widths are 12" or 24", and standard panel lengths range from 5' to 9'.

Ipocork residential floating cork tiles are made using two layers of cork, a high-density fiberboard core, and cork veneer. The tiles use the company's glueless Cork Loc installation system and are coated with a “Wear Resistance Coating” that contains two coats of ceramic micro beads and three coats of low-VOC varnish that protect the floor from abrasion and scratches. Ipocok comes with a 15-year warranty on both surface wear and structural integrity. This flooring is Greenguard Children & Schools Certified and is available in nine colors with varying patterns.

Mediterra, by Capri Cork, is a glue-down cork floor tile for either residential or commercial applications. The company offers both homogeneous and veneer options, but its primary products are homogeneous, and can be sanded and refinished. Mediterra comes with curl protection for the edges and is finished with three coats of factory-applied water-borne polyurethane. Mediterra is FloorScore-certified for low emissions and is available in a variety of standard styles and colors. Custom sizes and thickness are available upon request. These tiles are supported by a 10-year limited warranty.

Home Legend offers floating cork floor tiles for residential use. Installed using the company’s Seal-Lock glueless system, these ½"-thick, 11-¾"-wide, 35-½"-long tiles are coated with three layers of UV-cured polyurethane and are Greenguard Children & Schools and CARB Phase 2 certified for low emissions. They are available in eight patterns and come with a limited 20-year warranty.

QU-Cork offers floating cork floor tiles that cane be used for either residential or commercial use. These tiles use the company's UniClik glueless installation system and are made from high-density fiberboard core sandwiched between cork veneer (the bottom layer of cork adds a small amount of insulating and sound absorption). QU-Cork uses a factory-applied UV-cured finish and is Greenguard Children & Schools certified for low emissions. It is available in sixteen styles and comes with either a 25- or 5-year limited warranty (depending on residential or commercial application, respectively) that covers the structure and finish of the tiles. Note: these tiles are treated Microban to prevent the development of mold and bacteria, and Microban contains Triclosan, a widely used antimicrobial additive that may be persistent and toxic in the environment.

Wicanders, by Amorim, offers floating and glue-down cork flooring for commercial and residential applications. Manufactured using BASF’s Acrodur isocyanate- and formaldehyde-free binder, the company has flooring that is FSC-certified, as well as being certified by Greenguard Children & Schools for low-emissions. These tiles are available in a variety of styles, colors, and sizes and come with 25- or 15-year warranty depending on residential or commercial use, respectively.

Pinta Acoustic's Phonstop acoustic ceiling panel and wall tiles are made from 100% post-consumer recycled glass bottles, which are ground and sintered to form a rigid, lightweight, porous panel. Unlike mineral wool acoustic panels, a binder is not required for the Phonstop panels, which achieve Class 1 fire-resistance as well as flame spread and smoke developed ratings of 0 (based on ASTM E-84) without the use of flame retardants. Compressive strength is 165 psi. Phonstop V, in 2" (50 mm) thickness, has an NRC rating up to 0.90 and adheres directly to walls or ceilings; Phonstop E, in 1" (25 mm) thickness, has an NRC rating up to 0.70 and is installed into standard ceiling grids.

Evapco's WDW rooftop cooling systems range in size from 30 to 2500 tons, using both evaporative and dry cooling in one unit to maximize water and energy efficiency. The dry cooling section uses a copper coil with aluminum fins to transfer heat without using water--which reduces water make-up, blowdown, and chemical consumption. The evaporative cooling section uses Evapco’s Thermal-Pak technology that uses elliptical galvanized steel coils to increase tube surface area for greater cooling efficiency. This system can operate using dry cooling, evaporative cooling, or a combination of both, depending on conditions. The WDW Sage system monitors inlet and outlet water temperatures and ambient air, and also controls the fans and pumps, to ensure efficient energy and water use. WDW is available with Evapco’s Pulse-Pure non-chemical water treatment system. Also available is the Super Low Sound Fan that reduces noise by up to 15 dB and consumes 50% less energy than centrifugal fans, according to the company.

GreenFloors is the sole distributor of Defender Commercial Carpet Cushion. The cushion is made from 100% post-industrial recycled materials from such sources as carpet, yarn, and fiber. The carpet cushion is economical, extremely dense, and stable. The product is sold in 6- and 12-foot width rolls and 20-, 27-, 32-, and 40-oz weights for moderate to extra-heavy traffic. GreenFloors also distributes a number of other green flooring products.

Certainteed offers eleven different styles of their Ecophon fiberglass acoustic ceilings; most have an NRC of 0.85 or higher. Many of these panels have a highly reflective coating that eliminates up to 99% of glare, so they work well for daylighting or indirect lighting applications. The panels resist moisture and sagging and are available in high-density, flexible, and chemically resistant options for open offices, conference rooms, clean rooms, commercial kitchens, and music rooms. Some Ecophon ceiling panels are available in different colors and with different edge profiles, but all are made from 70% post-consumer recycled content and ten out of the eleven tiles pass California’s strict 01350 standard for indoor air quality (their impact-resistant Super G does not).