2011 Builders' Show green home product preview

Housing professionals from across the country and abroad will convene at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., Jan. 12-15, for the 2011 International Builders' Show, the housing industry's largest annual trade show and exhibition. The National Association of Home Builders event, held in one of the largest convention centers in the country, will feature the most cutting-edge designs, technologies and products for all segments of the industry.

ProudGreenHome.com presents an exclusive look at a few of the green building products that will be displayed at the show.

DOW’s POWERHOUSE Solar Shingle combines photovoltaic solar panels with the form of roof shingles that can be integrated into rooftops with standard asphalt shingle materials. The shingles integrate low-cost, thin-film CIGS photovoltaic cells into a proprietary roofing shingle design that reduces installation costs because the conventional roofing shingles and solar generating shingles are installed simultaneously by roofing contractors.

Enerflex Radiant Barrier from Universal Consumer Products is a highly reflective, double-sided,multilayered material that blocks up to 96 percent of radiant energy. It installs between rafters to the underside of a roof and on other vertical surfaces in an attic to reduce solar heat gain into the home. Enerflex reduces heat transfer by thermal radiation, keeping an attic up to 30 degrees cooler and holding radiant heat in the home during cold weather. Because Enerflex radiant barrier is made of metalized film, it meets the new ASTM E84-2009 using the E2599 mounting method and achieves a Class A/Class 1 fire rating. Enerflex is available in rolls and panels for DIYers.

Icynene MD-R- 200 is a medium-density spray-foam insulation made from recycled content and does not use ozone-depleting blowing agents. The recycled content can help green building project achieve a higher level of certification, such as USGBC’s LEED. It offers a high insulation R-value and low vapor permeance, and can be applied on a variety of substrates and substrate conditions and under a wide range of weather conditions.

James Hardie HardieShingle fiber-cement siding captures the authentic look of cedar shingles without the maintenance issues. Siding is available with ColorPlus Technology, a multi-coat, baked-on factory finish that comes with a 15-year warranty and provides up to 30 percent better fade resistance than field applied paint. While other shingle options need to be replaced more frequently and stained or painted within a few years, HardieShingle siding lasts for many years without repainting or replacements, which reduces waste.

Lennox Sun Source home energy system includes a solar-ready heat pump or air conditioner and solar modules. Solar energy powers the heat pump or air conditioner, and when it’s not in use the electricity can power other devices in the home or flow into the power grid. Homeowners can install up to 15 solar modules, each with its own microinverter. Access to a performance-monitoring website is free for five years.

 Moen’s Arbor pulldown kitchen faucet features a multi-function wand that allows users to switchbetween several water flow patterns with the touch of a button, including aerated spray, stream or Moen's pause button. The faucet also includes a fiber pulldown hose for quiet operation.

Premiere SIPs (Structural Insulated Panels) provide a high-performance, energy-efficient building envelope for homes, multi-family residences and commercial and institutional buildings. Composed of two sheets of oriented strand board (OSB) structurally laminated and pressure-cured to a rigid core of expanded polystyrene foam insulation, SIPs are suitable for wall, roof and floor systems. SIPs offer numerous green benefits, such as reduced waste in manufacturing and lower utility bills for homeowners.

TAMKO’s solar attic vent allows homeowners to harness the power of the sun to potentially lower theirenergy costs and prolong the life of their roofs. A 20-watt solar panel that ventilates up to 1,600 square feet and operates from dusk to dawn without having to prop the panel toward the sun. Under-ventilated attic space can lead to higher cooling costs and the accelerated aging of shingles.

Tapco’s Foundry Stone Collection Siding is made from 35 percent recycled content and can be used with proprietary foam insulation to enhance insulating qualities. It meets code requirements for hurricane zones, and has been used on the Florida High Performance Green Home. It is recyclable and reusable as well.

Unico Green Series air handlers allows contractors to adjust the setting for air flow and motor speed to suit the conditions in the home and the needs of the homeowner. The Green Series air handlers are small-duct, high-velocity systems that allow the installation of modern heating and cooling in historic homes while maintaining the building’s original aesthetics.

(Photos courtesy of the respective manufacturers)