Late last month, the organizers of the Pacific Coast Builders Conference—a homebuilders’ tradeshow held in San Francisco from June 24-27—announced the winners of its competition for the coolest green building products of 2008. A panel of 679 industry professionals selected the five winning products listed below:
Eagle Solar Roof: Eagle has designed an integrated solar panel system that matches the company’s concrete roof tiles for a ‘barely there’ eco-aesthetic.
Andalay solar panels by Akeena Solar have integrated electrical wiring and 70 percent fewer components than the average solar panel, making the system easier and cheaper to install. Like the Eagle Solar Roof, the panels sit unobtrusively against the roof.
The LR6 LED bulb by Cree LED Lighting Solutions has a 50,000-hour lifespan, and uses half the energy of a fluorescent bulb and 85 percent less than an incandescent. The bulb is designed to fit most 6-inch recessed settings.
GE Profile SmartDispense frontload washer and dryer (above) determines a load’s weight and dirt-level, then calculates and releases the needed amount of water, detergent, and fabric softener. The company estimates that the machine saves 5,800 gallons of water or more each year.
While some water heaters can be as large as 16 feet, the LS Series tankless water heater by Rinnai is about the size of a carry-on suitcase. The unit is 30 to 50 percent more energy efficient than other gas and electric water heating systems, according to the company.
Written by Audrey Tempelsman, Associate Editor, Dwell.com
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