Page 54 - Green Builder Magazine March-April 2019 Issue

Materials of the Future

Some of these materials are in development, while others are already available:
Translucent solar panels will turn any window or glass surface into an
energy generator, by harvesting wavelengths invisible to the human eye.
Adaptive glass will automatically tint in response to sunlight and
THE HEALTHY HOME temperature, reducing radiant heat gain and glare.
Climate change has dire implications for human health. According to Mycelium-based products will utilize the underground portion of
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), climate change mushrooms and other fungi to make biodegradable packaging, footwear
will increase air pollution, vector-borne diseases and allergens, and and a composite material used in furniture, door cores, insulation and more.
negatively impact water quality and interrupt food production. Ocean plastic will be recovered and upcycled into products ranging from
Extreme weather and temperatures will expose people to sunglasses and running shoes to yarn to carpet tiles. See
potentially life-threatening conditions, and warmer temperatures https://s.si.edu/2CjuDdH.
will worsen air quality and promote the growth of disease-carrying Thermoelectric coatings will generate electricity from waste heat and
pathogens. Temperature uctuations can also increase the incidence be applied to almost any surface, including vehicles, buildings and even
of certain diseases such as pneumonia, especially in children, the wearables. See https://bit.ly/2XTioxT.
elderly or immune-compromised people. Hemp fibers will be used to make a variety of strong, lightweight building
We already spend most of our time inside. Healthy indoor air will
materials, including wallboard, sheathing and cabinet carcasses. (Hemp
chips are already mixed with a lime-based binder to make hempcrete, a
Walking the plank. An ultra-green lightweight insulating material.)
product, Trex decking is made Biorenewable plastic, produced by bacteria, algae and other
with everything from plastic bags
to newspaper sleeves. microorganisms, will be used in various products which can then be
recycled and reused.
Self-healing concrete, a new and improved version of the ubiquitous
building material, will come with bacteria or fungus spores which become
active in the presence of water. When activated, they produce calcite,
CREDIT: COURTESY OF TREX become even more imperative when outdoor air is compromised.
which fills cracks.

For example, wild€re smoke contains particulate matter, which can
compromise lung function and aggravate conditions like asthma;
it’s even linked to some cancers. Millions have su†ered prolonged
On Deck exposure to wild€re smoke over the past several years. The Fourth
Climate Assessment, released in November 2018, predicts [https://
ACK IN THE mid-1990s, Trex pioneered composite bit.ly/2zTMPtk] that wild€res will increase by 30 percent by 2060,
decking—a magical material composed of wood and exposing more people to wild€re smoke for longer periods of time.
plastic that imitated the look of wood but without the For this reason alone, smart indoor air quality (IAQ) devices may
B hassle. More than 20 years later, Trex is still on top, and become as ubiquitous as smoke detectors in some regions. The
the company offers a variety of companion products, including Align Project includes an Awair 2nd edition unit, which tracks €ve
railings, pergolas, spiral staircases and landscape lighting. Options components of indoor air: temperature, humidity, CO2, particulate
such as steel framing and hidden fasteners enhance strength and matter and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The new edition
aesthetics. can detect €ne dust or particulate matter down to 2.5 microns. The
In 2009, Trex introduced Transcend, the first encapsulated Awair app will send the user a noti€cation if IAQ dips below a
composite decking on the market. The composite core is wrapped certain threshold.
on three sides with a proprietary high-performance material, The strategies already embraced by green homebuilders—ensuring
enhancing its fade, stain, scratch and mold resistance. And while an adequate supply of fresh air, choosing non-toxic €nishes, and even
all of the company’s decking and railing products offer a 25- speccing materials that actively and passively purify indoor air—will
year limited residential warranty against material defects, the become standard.
Transcend line includes an additional 25-year limited residential Ductless mini-splits, such as the Rheem unit featured in The Align
fade and stain warranty. Project, will be ubiquitous (as they already are in Europe), recognized
The company gets high marks on sustainability, too. Trex products not only for their energy ežciency, but for their ability to €lter
are made with 95 percent recycled content: The wood component incoming air.
is reclaimed sawdust; the plastic is sourced from sources ranging But tomorrow’s homes may be healthy in a di†erent way. Yes, they
from grocery bags to newspaper sleeves. will be ežcient and high-tech. But they will also be more integrated

52 GREEN BUILDER March/April 2019 www.greenbuildermedia.com

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