At last month’s GreenBuild Conference in Atlanta, BuildingGreen, publisher of the GreenSpec Product Directory and Environmental Building News, announced the year’s top 10 green building products. “Most of the Top 10 products this year have multiple environmental attributes,” says GreenSpec coeditor Alex Wilson. Products in the group save water or energy, are made from recycled waste or biobased material, offer alternatives to PVC, plasticers, or formaldehyde, or feature a combination of these attributes. R.C.O.

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		The Aquia dual-flush toilet can save up to 7,000 gallons of water a year for the average family of four by using a standard flush for solid waste and a lower-volume flush for liquid and paper. TOTO, Morrow, Ga. www.totousa.com [ Reader Service December 2005 # 201]
		Nybacker tile backer-board uses postconsumer and postindustrial recycled carpet which, unlike cement-based backer board, does not release silicon dust when it is cut. The board features a rough surface with indentations for tile adhesion on one side, and easily affixes to plywood on the other. Nycore, Atlanta. www.nycore.com [ Reader Service December 2005 # 202 ]
		BioNet erosion-control mats reduce pollution and are 100 percent biodegradable, with a straw core, cotton netting, and stakes made from either wood or PLA. North American Green, Evansville, Ind. www.nagreen.com [ Reader Service December 2005 # 203 ]
		To cool commercial buildings, the Ice Bear thermal energy storage system circulates refrigerant through ice that is frozen at night to an evaporator coil and blower for day-time cooling. The system reduces peak daytime electricity demand and consumption for cooling costs by 95 percent. Ice Energy, Windsor, Colo. www.ice-energy.com [ Reader Service December 2005 # 204 ]
		Enbryten LED luminaires use high-efficiency white LEDs, consume only 15–18 watts while producing enough light to replace incandescents, and last 30,000–50,000 hours. Permlight Products, Tustin, Calif. www.permlight.com [ Reader Service December 2005 # 205 ]
		Terratex biobased textiles are made from rapidly renewable, biobased PLA derived from agricultural feedstocks. Interface, West Newton, Mass. www.terratex.com [ Reader Service December 2005 # 206 ] Carnegie, Rockville Centre, N.Y. www.carnegiefabrics.com [ Reader Service December 2005 # 207 ]
		Stonescape polymer composition tile is a PVC-free alternative to VCT. Made from limestone and ethylene acrylic, the tile requires less stripping and waxing. American Biltrite Canada, Mississauga, Ontario. www.americanbiltrite.com [ Reader Service December 2005 # 208 ]
		By replacing stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air, the UltimateAir RecoupAerator 200DX energy-recovery ventilator removes indoor pollutants. It also features high heat-recovery efficiency. Stirling Technology, Athens, Ohio. www.ultimateair.com [ Reader Service December 2005 # 209 ]
		PureBond plywood and agrifiber-core panels use a soy-based binder instead of urea-formaldehyde and are water-based, nonflammable, and nontoxic. The binder, used in panels made from straw and hardwood plywood, releases only water vapor during curing. Columbia Forest Products, Portland, Ore. www.columbiaforestproducts.com [ Reader Service December 2005 # 210 ]
		To operate the Uppercut dual-flush flushometer valve, users push down for solid waste and pull up for liquid waste, with the latter requiring a half gallon less of water per flush. Sloan Valve, Franklin Park, Ill. www.sloanvalve.com [ Reader Service December 2005 # 211 ]

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