Greenbuild Special Report: 2016 Product Roundup

Los Angeles—With more than 600 exhibitors from the green building industry, the 2016 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Los Angeles featured products that run the gamut of sustainability. From water and lighting solutions to energy-efficient innovations, exhibiting companies had a lot to share with the more than 20,000 conference attendees. Here are just a few of the many products that caught MHN‘s attention, both for their aesthetic appeal and sustainable features.

Phase Change

Phase Change’s ENRG Blanket can save property owners money on their HVAC systems by better regulating the building’s temperature.

Phase Change Energy Solutions displayed its bio-based, gelled phase change materials that addresses a leading contributor of greenhouse gases: heating and cooling. Used in commercial or residential buildings, ENRG Blanket absorbs heat when the surrounding temperature is above the phase change point and releases heat when the temperature drops below the phase change point, which prevents rapid temperature shifts in the building and offers as much as 35 percent energy savings, as the HVAC system does not have to work as hard. The material is put into a new or existing property by stapling it into the studs between the insulation and the walls and placing it over the sheet rock before the insulation is applied in ceilings. Another innovative use for the product: pizza delivery bags. The material eliminates the need to plug in and pre-heat a pizza bag because the food stays at the same temperature throughout the delivery.

Mediamesh

Mediamesh features LED diodes interwoven throughout the fabric.

Cambridge, Mass.-based GKD, a leading technical weaver of metal fabrics, showed off its GKDMetalFabrics Mediamesh®, a stainless steel wire mesh interwoven with LED lights that can transform any building. Ideal for large signage uses, Mediamesh can cover four times the surface area of traditional billboards while using as much as 80 percent less electricity, and is made of recyclable materials. Mediamesh also has as much as 60 percent transparency, offering natural daylighting and ventilation as well as resistance to weather and temperature. Notable projects featuring Mediamesh installations include a 3,400-square-foot LED display at American Airlines Arena in Miami and a 6,000-square-foot display at Manhattan’s Port Authority Bus Terminal that wraps around the corner.

Dero Bike Racks

Dero also works with companies and organizations on customized bike racks that can include their logos.

Offering bike parking and transit solutions, Dero Bike Racks showcased its vertical bike storage product that maximizes space efficiency for building owners, facility managers, architects and contractors. The 21-year-old company also featured its Fixit public repair stands and pumps complete with a tool kit, allowing for basic bike repairs like changing a flat tire or adjusting brakes. Most of the Dero’s products are made from steel, a fully recyclable material, and offer safety features such as a u-style lock and thick tube construction that make it very difficult to cut with a pipe cutter. Dero Bike Racks’ low maintenance and slick designs also encourage owners and managers to invest in bike storage and promote biking. The racks can be used in bike rooms at residential communities, outside commercial storefronts, on college campuses or even at one’s home.

ION Water Cooler

ION’s SleepMode reduces energy consumption on weekends and evenings when commercial buildings are empty.

Natural Choice Corp. offered a peek at its ION Water Cooler, offering both still and sparkling water. The water coolers are a green and clean solution, as they are bottle free and freshly filtered, meaning the water isn’t sitting stagnant in a plastic container. ION is connected to the building’s water line and has indicator lights that switch from green to red when a filter should be replaced (recommended every six to 12 months). The cooler offers instantly cold or hot water, and has a “SleepMode” to reduce energy consumption when it’s not in use. It also saves as much as 75 percent on electrical usage compared to other coolers. The cooler’s compact size offers the ease of use on a kitchen counter or office desk, but Natural Choice also has a base that can convert the cooler into a floor-standing appliance.

Whirlpool Ventless Dryer

Whirlpool’s True Ventless Heat Pump Compact Dryer is ideal for multifamily because of its compact size and ventless design that doesn’t require a wall output.

The leading appliance manufacturer debuted multiple new products at the Greenbuild conference, among them the True Ventless Heat Pump Dryer that is set to come out later this year or in early 2017. The dryer comes in a space-saving model ideal for multifamily communities where units are smaller, while still providing a full-size capacity. Its ventless design also doesn’t require a wall ouput, making it easier to install in more places. The appliance is also energy efficient, with built-in sensors that read incoming and outgoing air to avoid overdrying and a heat pump that converts moisture so there’s no need to vent externally. The ventless heat pump technology regenerates energy during the drying cycle for reduced energy consumption, also providing the flexibility of an optional heater for faster drying.