Reduces operational pollution or waste

Ecological Technologies (ECO-TEK) produces Solar Aquatics community-scale wastewater treatment systems, primarily in Western Canada, that rely on ecological systems for water purification. No chemicals are used in the process—instead, the water runs through a diverse mix of plants, animals, and medium supporting bacteria in greenhouse tanks. Ammonia in the water is oxidized into nitrate, which is taken up by algae and other plants; solids have to be periodically removed and aerobically processed. Polishing is performed with sand beds and constructed wetlands, followed by ultrafiltration and UV sterilization. The process takes 2–3 days, after which the water is suitable for nonpotable applications or aquifer recharge.

Biorestor is a clear, citrus-oil-based, spray-applied treatment for asphalt roads. It can be applied to new or existing asphalt to extend its life up to 40%, according to the manufacturer, reducing the need for replacement as well as the use of petroleum-based treatments. It cures within an hour, according to the company, and there is no runoff and zero polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The company could not provide GreenSpec with a measure of VOC content, but based on the ingredients, we don't anticipate that it would be very high.

Multistack MagLev flooded chillers provide cooling for offices, schools, and other large commercial buildings using compressors with shafts supported by magnetic levitation. By minimizing friction, the system improves energy efficiency and eliminates the need for mechanical seals, gears, and many other conventional components. The systems also reduce maintenance and the use of lubricating oil that tends to to contaminate the refrigerant and further reduce efficiency. Available in capacities from 70 to 1,200 tons, these units use the company’s FlexSys controllers, which can control a series of magnetic levitation compressors to create the most efficient cooling.

Johnson Controls York YMC2 chiller uses magnetic-bearing technology to provide energy-efficient cooling for offices, schools, and other large commercial buildings. These units use centrifugal compressors with bearings supported by frictionless magnetic levitation. Combined with the company’s OptiSpeed variable-speed drive technology, these units eliminate friction, improving energy efficiency by 10% over comparable conventional variable-speed chillers, according to the company. The YMC2 chillers also employ falling-film evaporators where refrigerant is sprayed over the tubes, significantly reducing refrigerant charging. The York YMC2 chillers use R-134a refrigerant and are available from 215- to 380-ton capacities.

Daikin McQuay’s Magnitude chiller is engineered to provide cooling for offices, schools, and other large commercial buildings. These units use compressors with shafts supported by magnetic levitation, which improves energy efficiency and eliminates friction and the need for mechanical seals, gears, and many other conventional components. Because they do not use bearings or gears, the Magnitude chiller is quiet and does not require oil (which can contaminate the refrigerant), resulting in significantly less maintenance. Magnitude chillers use R-134a refrigerant and are available from 100- to 700-ton capacities.

Waste XPress pulper systems from InSinkErator grind commercial kitchen waste and then separate the water from the solids, allowing the relatively dry pulp to be collected for landfill disposal or composting. InSinkErator claims the unit reduces kitchen-waste volume by 85%. The systems are designed to fit beneath a typical dish table in a commercial or institutional kitchen.

Unlike some other pulper systems, Waste Xpress is not designed to connect directly to a composting or biogas unit; the waste needs to be hauled by hand. And although InSinkErator touts the unit's ability to grind jelly packets and other items, these should not be used in the system if the waste will be composted. Policies should be employed to use only organic materials, and signage should be used to help keep non-compostable plastics and other materials out of the waste stream.

Hobart's WastePro 1200 is a commercial food-waste pulper that chops and concentrates waste and removes water in a commercial cafeteria or restaurant. The primary advantages touted by the manufacturer include waste volume reduction (up to 88%), labor savings, and reduced solids delivery to the sewer system, but the WastePro system can also be configured to deliver concentrated organic waste to a composting or biogas digesting system to recover resources from the waste stream. (For use in composting or a digester, policies should be employed to use only biodegradable materials, and signage should be used to help keep non-biodegradable plastics and other materials out of the waste stream.)

Boral manufactures both concrete and clay roofing tiles in a variety of styles and colors. Boral's concrete tiles use either fly ash or blast-furnace slag (depending on where they are manufactured) in place of some of the portland cement. Most colors of Boral clay roofing tiles are certified at the Cradle to Cradle Gold level.

BoralPure "smog-eating" tiles have a cementitious coating that contains titanium dioxide, a highly reactive substance that breaks down organic compounds—everything from smog-forming chemicals to nuisance microbes such as algae and mildew. The coating also sheds even small amounts water, which can lift dirt off as well. Because of these properties, BoralPure tiles may require less cleaning than typical roofing tiles.

Although Boral states that a 2,000-square-foot roof can offset the smog-forming emissions of a car driven 10,800 miles, that claim is based on lab testing. These products have not yet been shown to significantly affect outdoor air quality in the real world.

BioBarrier is a decentralized wastewater treatment system that can process combined household wastewater, including blackwater, into non-potable water clean enough to be reused onsite, even indoors, as part of a graywater reuse system. BioBarrier was the first system to meet the ANSI/NSF Standard 350 for Onsite Residential and Commercial Water Reuse Treatment Systems. BioBarrier consists of a two-compartment septic tank, a membrane bioreactor (MBR), MBR cartridge, a blower, a pump, and controls. The BioBarrier MBR system is certified NSF 350 for its units treating 500, 1,000, and 1,500 gallons per day (gpd). The company offers HSMBR (High-Strength MBR) systems for commercial buildings and small communities that can treat up to 9,000 gpd. Note these units require both blowers and pumps, so energy consumption has to be weighed against the benefits of water reuse and treatment.

OneFlow distributes the next-ScaleStop, from Next Filtration, under the brand name OneFlow for commercial applications. OneFlow is a scale-preventing water treatment that uses template-assisted crystallization (TAC) to effectively prevent scale without an electric draw or ion replacement. The OneFlow process media, which should be replaced every three years, consists of calcium-coated beads of polystyrene pockmarked with small nucleation sites (the "template" in TAC). Calcium and bicarbonate ions will crystallize at the nucleation sites, forming "soft scale" which will drift through plumbing without accumulating or interfering with energy transfer. The OneFlow can handle water with a maximum hardness of 75 grains and temperatures ranging from 41°F–140°F. Single-unit systems can handle 1–75 gpm, while commercial systems can handle up to 900 gpm.

Next Filtration offers next-ScaleStop, a scale-preventing water treatment that uses template-assisted crystallization (TAC) to effectively prevent scale without an electric draw or ion replacement. The next-ScaleStop process media, which should be replaced every three years, is calcium-coated beads of polystyrene pockmarked with small nucleation sites (the "template" in TAC). Calcium and bicarbonate ions will crystallize at the nucleation sites, forming "soft scale" which will drift through plumbing without accumulating or interfering with energy transfer. The next-ScaleStop is warranted for 10 years, and can handle water with a maximum hardness of 75 grains and temperatures ranging from 41°F–140°F. Single-unit systems can handle 1–75 gpm, while commercial systems can handle up to 900 gpm.

Eco Bionics, a subsidiary of NCH Corporation, produces the BioAmp system for culturing bacteria to aid in wastewater treatment in municipal wastewater treatment plants and to control of fats, oil, and grease (FOG) in grease traps. The BioAmp system contains a fermentation reactor that creates about 30 trillion bacteria microbes (Pseudomonas and Bacillus) per day and introduces these to the treatment plant or grease trap automatically. Case studies presented by the company show FOG reductions of 69% to 89% and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) reductions of 22% to 32%. There is also some benefit in reducing total suspended solids (TSS). Applications for grease trap installations include bakeries, dairies, breweries, food production plants, and large commercial kitchens.

Viracon manufactures a wide range of high-performance insulating glass units (IGUs) for curtainwall applications. IGUs with spectrally selective low-e coatings, argon gas-fill, very high visible light transmission, low SHGC, various tints and colors, and high light-to-solar-gain ratios are available. Both double-glazed and triple-glazed options are available, as are options to minimize bird collisions. Among the most innovative IGU lines are VE, VRE, VNE, and VUE.

The TRI-Umph hand dryer uses 1,200W to dry hands in less than 15 seconds, with an optional heating element and a noise level of 78 dB. The plastic-cased dryer has a square opening for hands, with blowers on three sides and a drain tray below. Incoming air passes through a triple filter (carbon, antibacterial, and HEPA) before it reaches users' hands. TRI-Umph is also known as the EcoMo hand dryer.

Hokwang's EcoFast line of three touch-free hand dryers use 1000 watts of power and dry hands in about 10-15 seconds. The units have a sound level of 75 db, and automatically shut off in case of irregular use over 60 seconds. All three models are available in stainless steel; the original EcoFast is also available in white and chrome. EcoFastSM includes a drip tray. All EcoFast dryers come with vandal-proof lock screws and key wrench and carry a three-year warranty.