25 Sep 08 Garden Roof ®

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Why not transform your roof into an eco-friendly, pedestrian accessible, landscaped environment? With a Garden Roof ®, those who own multi-story housing or office buildings can do just that. The McGraw-Hill Company recently published an article that highlights the benefits and features of having a Garden Roof ®.

Energy efficiency. The Garden Roof’s vegetation and soil acts as an insulator to protect against heat and cold from penetrating through the roof, while preventing energy lost from air-conditioning and heating the building. In addition, the vegetation will increase the solar reflectivity of the roof, reducing the amount of heat stored and released back into the atmosphere.

Water conservation. The Garden Roof assembly can hold between 50 and 90% of rainwater that falls on it. This decreases the stress on storm sewers, city drainage systems and treatment plants.

Perhaps the most appealing feature of the Garden Roof is its inviting therapeutic environment. The walkways and plant-life create a peaceful atmosphere for residents / office workers to take a break and to unwind.

Tags: building insulation, eco-friendly building, energy efficiency, garden roof, green building, heat reduction, landscaped roof, mcgraw-hill construction, multi-story housing, multi-story office building, stored rainwater, water conservation

04 Sep 08 Green Products for Green Builders

McGraw-Hill Construction has released their latest newsletter highlighting many of the latest “green” products currently available for use by green home builders and those who wish to convert their existing home into a green home. The monthly newsletter features Stratica Eco-Polymeric flooring, Kirei Board, Country Estate vinyl decking and railing, and KEMIKO Stone Tone Sealer.

Stratica Eco-Polymeric flooring has several environmental benefits, which is why it is being used in the construction of many new hospitals, healthcare facilities, schools, and offices. Stratica is chlorine-free, contains no plasticizers, and emits virtually no volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Moreover, Stratica minimizes foot fatigue and noise levels, while qualifying for FloorScore and Greenguard Indoor Air Quality certification.

Kirei Board is a substitute for wood that is lightweight, durable, and environmentally friendly. Manufactured from reclaimed sorghum straw and manufactured with no-added-formaldehyde, Kirei Board uses include cabinetry, furniture, casework, and interior design elements. Being comprised of 90 percent recycled material, rapidly renewable materials, and low-emitting composite wood, has earned Kirei Board a LEED Green Building credit.

Country Estate vinyl decking and railing is created from PVC and is a highly durable and price competitive alternative to using redwood. The 100 percent virgin PVC offers uniformed color throughout and will not suffer the same effects that weathering has on wood substitutes. Builders can choose from three colors white, almond, and gray and can rest assured knowing chemical cleaning and preservation treatments are not required maintenance.

KEMIKO Stone Tone Sealer offers ultra-low VOC, from its waterborne, water viscosity, single component, coalescing acrylic urethane polymer materials. KEMIKO is a stain resistant, user-friendly sealant, that cures to a hard resilient film. In addition, KEMIKO is UV resistant and can be used on concrete, plaster, wood, and metals.

For additional information on green building and green products on the market, visit McGraw-Hill Construction online.

Tags: country estate vinyl decking, eco-friendly homes, energy efficient homes, floorscore, green home builders, greengaurd, kemiko stone tone sealer, kirei board, LEED green building, mcgraw-hill construction, pvc, stratica eco-polymeric flooring, vocs, volatile organic compounds