Grabbing Prestige
The Rheem Prestige Series Geothermal Heat Pump with Comfort Control System serial communicating feature is offered in package and split system configurations. Residential products are available in 2-, 3-, 4-, 5- and 6-ton capacities; split systems are available in 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-ton capacities. The pumps feature durable, two-stage compressors and an advanced variable-speed air delivery system. For more info, go to HousingZone.com/PBinfo and enter # 290
Stylish and (Water) Sensible
Low-flow faucets are all the rage and Gerber has several stylish, 1.5-gallon-per-minute models certified by the EPA's WaterSense program. Shown here is the Riverdale line. Made in chrome and brushed nickel, the faucets are equipped with lead-free waterways and reliable ceramic disc cartridges. For more info, go to HousingZone.com/PBinfo and enter # 291
Did You Hear an Echo?
Crossville's Echo Recycled Glass includes 15 brilliant colors with a recycled content up to 100 percent. Shown here are the EG020 “For Keeps” 1-by-1-inch Clear, 2-by-2-inch Clear and EG110 Onyx Surf Listello Frosted tiles. The company introduced the line at the annual Greenbuild show last month. For more info, go to HousingZone.com/PBinfo and enter # 292
Burly Floors
Green Choice Flooring has a new, burly flooring choice in Burlwood. The boards have a braided pattern with random knot-like twists in the grain. Part of the company's StrandWoven line, the floors are very hard and stable enough to use in both commercial and residential applications. They are also suitable for installation directly over a concrete subfloor, given that it meets moisture level requirements. For more info, go to HousingZone.com/PBinfo and enter # 293
Panels Pass the Test
Two Dens brand interior gypsum panel products from Georgia-Pacific have passed the industry's most-stringent mold-resistance test—the 12-week ASTM D 6329 protocol. DensArmor Plus High-Performance Interior Panel and DensShield Tile Backer each passed the test with zero mold growth. The test, which is three times longer and more rigorous than the current industry standard (ASTM D 3273), was conducted by an independent third party. For more info, go to HousingZone.com/PBinfo and enter # 294
Proximity Alert
Don't those airport infrared faucets tick you off? Delta has a solution for homeowners and institutional customers who want a hands-free faucet that actually works. The optic- and infrared-free Proximity line forms a 4-inch field around the body of the faucet to detect hands and trip the faucet on—and it works every time. The Grail faucet (shown here) uses 1.5 gallons per minute and can contribute to LEED credits on projects. For more info, go to HousingZone.com/PBinfo and enter # 295
Bringing LED to Light
Sea Gull Lighting's Warwick mini pendant combines the energy efficiency of light emitting diode (LED) fixtures with a stylish, vintage aesthetic. The fixture delivers the same footcandle output as a 75-watt A-type incandescent bulb using only 10 watts of power. Designed to last 35,000 hours, which is 20 years under normal use of four hours per day, the LEDs are dimmable down to 10 percent of full light output on low-voltage dimmers. For more info, go to HousingZone.com/PBinfo and enter # 296
Seal and Save
Increase the energy efficiency of new and existing HVAC systems with Foil-Grip 1403-181BFX rolled duct sealant from Hardcast. With zero dry time, no VOCs and instant adhesion, the sealant is a fast and environmentally friendly solution for sealing all types of ductwork material, including sheet metal, duct board, flex duct, PVC-coated duct and duct-wrap vapor barriers. Composed of modified butyl adhesive joined to a mill-finished aluminum foil backing, Foil-Grip will not crack, dry or rot. For more info, go to HousingZone.com/PBinfo and enter # 297
Feeling Flushed
You get all the power of a traditional toilet in the 1.1-gallon-per-flush Yorkville Toilet line from American Standard. Equipped with pressure-assisted siphon jet flush action and a fully-glazed, 21/8-inch trapway, Yorkville toilets deliver high performance and fewer clogs. The company says the two-piece toilets are capable of removing as much as a kilo of bulk waste from the bowl with each flush. For more info, go to HousingZone.com/PBinfo and enter # 298
Cooling Off
According to a Darmstadt, Germany-based study conducted by the Passive House Institute, BASF's Neopor expandable polystyrene insulation solution can help reduce heating and cooling energy consumption by as much as 70 percent. Neopor, shown here installed over a multifamily unit, contains infrared absorbers to help keep roofs cool. For more info, go to HousingZone.com/PBinfo and enter # 299
Green Glass
Bendheim's EcoGlass is a new line of textured architectural glass containing 60 percent recycled material and is produced in Europe's only clean-burning oxygen/fuel-fired cast glass furnace. The product is ideal for a range of residential applications, including sliding doors and shower enclosures. EcoGlass is available in 10 textures, offering varying degrees of privacy, and with custom color interlayers or color coatings for decorative walls and backsplashes. For more info, go to HousingZone.com/PBinfo and enter # 300
Waterproofing Goes Green
Hydro Guard SP-1 from Mer-Krete Systems is a rapid-drying, load-bearing waterproofing and crack isolation membrane that provides 100 percent waterproof coverage and limits the transfer of substrate cracks to the finished ceramic or stone tile surface. The product is light green when applied and darkens to an emerald green when dry, ensuring complete coverage. For more info, go to HousingZone.com/PBinfo and enter # 301
Change Temps With Your iPhone
Ecobee has developed a free iPhone/iPod application for its Smart Thermostat, allowing homeowners to remotely adjust their thermostat settings using a touch-screen iPhone or iPod device. Users can adjust the temperature, schedule or update a vacation event, change the HVAC system's operating settings and receive alerts. For more info, go to HousingZone.com/PBinfo and enter # 302
Form a Bond
Titebond Greenchoice panel adhesive from Franklin Intl. builds strength in one-sixth the time of urethane or solvent-based panel adhesives, enabling contractors to install virtually any type of paneling on either porous or nonporous substrates without the use of fasteners. Ideal for use with FRP, PVC, tub surrounds, wood, foam, laminate, treated plywood, metal and foam board, the VOC-free adhesive is especially effective in remodeling jobs where panels can be installed over existing panels, tile or sealed concrete. For more info, go to HousingZone.com/PBinfo and enter # 303
Go Tankless
Takagi's T-H2 tankless water heater features a front panel LED screen that displays temperature settings and codes for easy maintenance and troubleshooting. Installers will not have to use dipswitches because they can see what temperature is actually being inputted. The system can accommodate venting with PVC pipe versus stainless steel, allowing for cheaper, faster installation. For more info, go to HousingZone.com/PBinfo and enter # 304
Two For One
The Phoenix Evolution from Heat Transfer Products combines hydronic space heating and domestic hot water delivery in a single, compact package. The pre-plumbed system cuts space and installation time and improves thermal efficiency versus traditional gas-fired water heater, boiler and buffer tank setups. The system consists of three components: a hot-water storage tank, an energy-saving modulating burner assembly attached to the outside bottom of the tank and a space-heating module attached to the top of the tank. For more info, go to HousingZone.com/PBinfo and enter # 305
Faucet Has Water Sense
Designed for traditional décor applications, Moen's Rothbury single-handle faucet offers a relaxed blend of vintage design and classic masculine styling in a water-efficient design. The WaterSense-certified faucet features a 1.5-gallon-per-minute aerator, which cuts water use by a third compared with traditional 2.2-gpm aerators. For more info, go to HousingZone.com/PBinfo and enter # 306
Reformulated VOC-Free Paint
Fifteen years after Benjamin Moore introduced its first zero-VOC paint, EcoSpec, the company launched a reformulation of the product line and made it available in all of the company's 3,300-plus colors. EcoSpec WB is 100 percent VOC-free, has virtually no odor during application, and dries rapidly, allowing for spaces to be used within two hours of being painted. For more info, go to HousingZone.com/PBinfo and enter # 307
Walk All Over You
Tate's VOC-free engineered hardwood tiles are a 3mm natural wood laminate bonded to an 11mm Versacore wood veneer backer. Available in four standard patterns, the new laminate can be made from a variety of species of hardwoods in optional strip sizes. The surface of the tile is sanded smooth and finished with a UV-cured ecological oil that penetrates deep into the wood. For more info, go to HousingZone.com/PBinfo and enter # 308
Self-Cleaning Brick Pavers
Hanson Hardscapes' entire line of cement brick pavers is now available with TX Active self-cleaning, pollutant-reducing cement mix. TX Active is used as a catalyst to naturally break down organic and inorganic pollutants, including carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides and volatile organic compounds, such as benzene and toluene. It also helps maintain the product's aesthetic appeal by preventing the buildup of soot, grime, mold, mildew, algae and bacteria, which can discolor pavements over time. For more info, go to HousingZone.com/PBinfo and enter # 309
PB Topical Ref
