ToolBase E-News - 12/10/2007 (Plain Text Version)

Garbage In – Building Block Out

Researchers from the University of Leeds in the U.K. have developed an environmentally-friendly alternative to concrete made from garbage.
According to a recent item on Inhabitat (11/15/07), the material, called BituBlock, is a resource-saving emissions-reducing structural material that is also strong and less-energy intensive. The material is made from post-consumer waste, including glass, metal slag, sewage sludge, incinerator ash, and pulverized fuel ash from power stations, that is combined with bitumen, compacted in a mold, and heat-cured so that the bitumen hardens like concrete. Researchers expect BituBlock to be on the market in three to five years. For more information, read the Inhabitat post or an article in the Leeds Reporter.

Finalists Named for 2008 EnergyValue Housing Awards

Thirteen builders have been selected as finalists for the NAHB Research Center's 2008 EnergyValue Housing Awards (EVHA). The EVHAs, which are presented each year to home builders who voluntarily team energy efficiency and environmental stewardship, help educate builders, trades, and consumers about successful approaches to green and resource-efficient home building. According to a release (11/19/07), the finalists’ entries included exemplary practices in climate-specific selection of equipment and systems, advanced air sealing and ductwork, high-efficiency equipment, innovative construction techniques, and consumer education. The winners will be unveiled on February 13, 2008, during the 2008 International Builders' Show (IBS) in Orlando, Fla. For more information about the EVHA program and the 2008 finalists, read the release. [return to top]

Mainstream GreenHome Construction Complete

The Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) recently announced (11/21/07) that construction of the National Homebuilder Mainstream GreenHome, an educational platform for residential sustainability, is complete. According to project organizers, the Mainstream GreenHome showcases numerous environmentally-friendly and sustainable features that make it one of the greenest homes in the country, such as xeriscaping, stormwater management, advanced framing, photovoltaics, a ground-source heat pump, and an energy recovery ventilator. Even the onsite vehicles used during construction used biodiesel fuel to reflect the Mainstream GreenHome’s environmental commitment. A two-day event held December 10-11, 2007 will give the public the first look at the innovative home. To learn more about the home’s features, visit the Mainstream GreenHome website. For more information about the two-day event, visit the PATH website. [return to top]

IBM Process to Turn Waste into Solar Energy

According to a recent release (10/30/07), IBM has developed a new semiconductor wafer reclamation process that will allow scrap semiconductor wafers to be used for manufacturing solar panels. The scrap wafers are thin silicon discs used to make finished semiconductor chips for computers, mobile phones, and other consumer electronics. The new process saves money for both IBM and for solar cell manufacturers—according to the release, solar cell manufacturers could save between 30-90 percent of the energy that they would have needed for a new silicon material source. The process may also help ease the shortage of silicon, which has inhibited the growth of the solar panel industry. For more information, read the release. [return to top]

Durable, Solar Power for Laptops

According to a recent article in Wired (Charlie Sorrel, 11/23/07), the SolarRoll from Brunton is a flexible photovoltaic sheet that is more durable than most other solar chargers. The strong and waterproof sheets come in larger sizes, intended for laptops, that unfurl to nearly five feet, or smaller models that are more suitable for phones and other small USB-compatible devices. To learn more, read the article or visit the Brunton website. [return to top]

Best of What’s New in Home Tech

Each year, Popular Science offers its Best of What’s New Awards to highlight the best innovations of the past year. The 2007 awards include several interesting products in the Home Tech category, including Frog Tape, a painter’s tape that prevents water-based paint from seeping underneath; the new Cut Saw, which is nearly as powerful as standard reciprocating saws but fits in tight spaces and is easy to control with one hand; and Therma Tru Doors Tru-Defense which, when tested, withstood 236 mph winds and eight inches of rain an hour without letting in any wind or water. To learn more about these and other Home Tech winners, read the article. [return to top]