Page 27 - Green Builder Magazine Spring 2018 Awards Issue

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ON THIS YEAR’S PRODUCTS
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INDOOR AIR QUALITY AND WATER QUALITY

Airboxlab Foobot

air quality monitor

Airboxlab’s Foobot is the first air
quality monitor which gives users a
clear and visual understanding of
how good the air quality is in their
home—and knowledge that
enables homeowners to take small
steps to improve it.
Foobot is the only system to
measure PM2.5s—particulate
matter smaller than 2.5 Franke StillPure water
micrometres—a major source of
air pollution resulting from outdoor filtration system
elements such as exhaust fumes, factories and ash, and indoor enemies such
as dust, pollen and pet dander. Daily data is recorded in five-minute intervals and Franke’s StillPure, a water filtration system with Bluetooth
stored in the cloud, so users can get a documented history of what causes connectivity and a corresponding mobile app, is designed to
spikes in bad air quality in their home. Adding an air purifier enables Foobot to help improve consumers’ health by removing pollutants. It also
monitor everything which affects indoor air quality, including VOCs, PM2.5s, CO , reduces further pollution by empowering homeowners to
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temperature, humidity and even less-known items such as carpets and furniture. track and cut back on water and water bottle usage.
Viewed data can then be used to determine what can be done to eliminate Providing app users with usage data, StillPure makes
pollutants. For example, this could be as simple as opening a window, but with consumers more conscious of the volume of water they’re
Foobot the user knows exactly when it’s required and for how long. It can also using daily. To further incentivize sustainability, the app also
encourage changes in behaviour that can lead to better indoor air quality. lets users know how many plastic water bottles they would
Foobot can also work closely with other smart home devices with a have used and the amount of money they would have spent
connected thermostat, such as Google Nest to control your home’s on water bottles had they not used StillPure.
temperature, or Amazon Echo. When pollutants exceed healthy levels, Foobot StillPure also generates Bluetooth-driven notifications for
will relay this information allowing Alexa to talk about the problem to the user via upcoming filter changes, and offers one-click ordering, with
voice and suggest possible solutions. With the help of IFTTT, Foobot can also the ability to have new filters arrive directly to the user’s door.
connect to 120-plus home appliances and the ventilation, filtration and This helps make water is as pure as possible, because the
purification systems for further air quality management. filter is working and up to date.

Havelock Wool Smart Wall enclosure system

As efficiency becomes more of a focal point in the building equation, greater emphasis is being placed on airtight
structures. But airtight building envelopes create inherent challenges, including moisture, which can become trapped
in vapor-retarded walls, cultivating mold and other contaminants, and causing long-term health issues.
Havelock Wool’s new Smart Wall smart enclosure system tackles that problem with a bevy of highly efficient,
durable and sustainable products, including the company’s own sheep’s wool insulation, pro clima membranes and
Gutex insulation board.
Walls incorporating sheep wool form a low-energy, biophilic approach to wall system design and construction,
leveraging the efficiency of airtightness without disrupting inherent vapor drive. Made of 100 percent natural,
nontoxic materials, they are structured to create a long-lasting building enclosure.
The monolithic membranes allow for air tightness while offering an escape route for inevitable vapor. Mento 1000,
a Tyvek replacement, is airtight open to the outside up to 36 perms. Intello Plus is reinforced to serve as insulation
netting while being airtight and vapor variable from 0.17 to 13.2 perms. Natural wool in the continuous insulation
cavity—and in the service cavity where applicable—enables moisture to be managed, as wool will absorb and desorb
against 65 percent relative humidity. Moreover, wool is a keratin and will not support the growth of mold, thereby
alleviating numerous challenges posed by some other forms of insulation. And, wool is a natural air cleaner, trapping
volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can lead to reduced indoor air quality.

www.greenbuildermedia.com Special Awards Issue 2018 GREEN BUILDER 25

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