Page 19 - Green Builder March-April 2020 Issue

CLICK FOR MORE INFORMATION 2020 Editors’ Choice
ON THIS YEAR’S PRODUCTS
www.greenbuildermedia.com/hot50-2020
HOT50

PRODUCTS
American Ground Screw
Ground Screws Embodied Carbon in Construction

It’s no secret that building anything requires strong support Calculator (EC3) Tool
structures, and that putting those structures in place can take a lot
of concrete—something that is not all that environmentally friendly. How much of an environmental impact will that home or building have? There’s
But American Ground Screw offers a solution with its ground screw now a way to find out. The Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3)
system, which is capable of creating the same level of support tool is a free and easy-to-use item that allows benchmarking, assessment and
without the need for concrete footings or excavation. That means reductions in embodied carbon, focused on the upfront supply chain emissions
far less environmental damage, as well as lower construction costs. of construction materials. Architects, engineers, owners, construction
The ground screws are useful with a variety of light industrial companies, building material suppliers and policy makers will have the
projects, from anchoring wooden structures to fencing, footbridges information needed to make more-informed decisions on exactly what types of
and storage containers. Structural foundations can be installed in products and property design is best for a given area.
minutes: just mark the location, drive the screw and start building. The EC3 tool utilizes building material quantities from construction estimates
The easier installation means a faster completion, as well as fewer and Building Information Modeling (BIM) models, and a robust database of
hands on the job—two more cost cutters. digital, third-party verified Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). Powered
Disassembly is just as easy, and the screw system is reusable. by this data, EC3 can be implemented in the design and procurement phases of
That means almost no demolition or recycling costs for removal. a construction project to look at a project’s overall embodied carbon emissions,
Meanwhile, American Ground Screw just became the first ICC- enabling the specification and procurement of the low carbon options.
certified Ground Screw Foundation System in North America, a EC3 also helps owners balance their finances with the ability to have a house
distinction the company believes will greatly expand the use of created that is as green as possible. Users can gauge the degree of a home’s
ground screws beyond engineer-stamped projects in professional sustainability against the cost of construction, allowing them to tailor the
and DIY construction application. design to what works best for the environment and the owner’s pocket book.
For more information: AMERICANGROUNDSCREW.COM For more information: WWW.CARBONLEADERSHIPFORUM.ORG

SimScale Engineering
Simulation Platform
It’s not easy to design a home, and even harder to
draw up one that’s green. SimScale offers a self-
titled, cloud-based simulator which makes it
easier for building professionals and architects to
validate designs, test performance, optimize
durability and improve efficiency before they
start building. This saves on materials, waste and
rebuilds or reworks.
The all-in-one platform is accessible through
any PC browser and offers more than 300,000
simulations, as well as access to a library of
resources, expert advice and tutorials. An easy-
to-use interface includes a step-by-step
coaching for first timers. And, the platform
supports parallel processing, meaning the user
can run simultaneous simulations to compare the
benefits of different designs.
SimScale supports all standard 3D files,
meaning designers can continue to use their
preferred computer-aided design (CAD) software.
The platform is updated every time the browser is
refreshed, meaning the user always has access
to the latest information.
For more information: WWW.SIMSCALE.COM

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