In 2008, ED+C and Sustainable Facility magazines embarked on an online awards contest that gives manufacturers a chance to see how their products stack up in the eyes of our readers. Readers are asked to vote for products that they feel offer the best combination of sustainable attributes with ease of use and installation in a variety of categories.

The winners for the 2011 competition are listed below.

Materials were submitted by the companies. 

Category: Alternative Energy Systems

Product: DRIQ

Manufacturer: BuildingIQ

BuildingIQ’s DRIQ is an Optimized Demand Response (DR) product that automates and optimizes a building’s response to DR events. The subscription service models a building’s thermal characteristics, determines its capacity to shed loads, pre-plans energy use, and then continuously shapes the energy use to optimize cost, emissions and occupant comfort. DRIQ also reportedly reduces the peak energy strain on buildings and the grid.

Category: Building Envelope (roofing, windows, doors, shading, curtain walls, exterior coatings)

Product: LiveRoof Hybrid Green Roof System

Manufacturer: LiveRoof LLC

LiveRoof is a green roof installed with thriving, fully mature plants and soil adapted for local conditions for each project. The modules establish a naturally functioning ecosystem with a seamless vegetative surface rooted in a continuous layer of soil. This horticulturally sensitive design is intended to maximize environmental benefits, energy savings and rooftop aesthetics.

Category: Framing, Structural or Insulation Products

Product: RainBarrier 45

Manufacturer: Thermafiber Inc.

Thermafiber RainBarrier 45 mineral wool continuous insulation is designed for rainscreen and cavity wall construction applications. RainBarrier 45 aims to provide energy-conserving R-value, fire protection and acoustical control while draining water from a wall cavity system. RainBarrier 45 is non-combustible. Mineral wool is a permeable insulation product, is UV resistant and will not degrade over time.

Category: Interiors (flooring, furnishings, finishes)

Product: NOVELIO Clean Air and Mold X Textured Paintable Wall Coverings

Manufacturer: Saint-Gobain Technical Fabrics

Novelio is a textured, flexible wall covering and includes two specific formulations, Mold-X or Clean Air, designed to enhance indoor environmental quality standards. Eighty percent of all Novelio wall coverings are formulated from sand, clay and chalk fibers. The wall coverings are recyclable, reusable and, when coated with a VOC-free paint, make up a sustainable interior wall system.

Category: Lighting/Building Controls

Product: ColumnLight

Manufacturer: greenscreen

ColumnLight combines a greenscreen column trellis with an Insight Lighting Euro to create a vertical luminous trellis column. This collaboration allows for the integration of site lighting with vegetation and presents a cost-effective design feature that provides a statement throughout urban project types. The ColumnLight utilizes 3M’s optical lighting. Increasing vegetation on projects may help to achieve environmental goals.

Category: Mechanical/HVAC Products

Product: Dynamic V8 Air Cleaning System

Manufacturer: Dynamic Air Quality Solutions

The V8 uses non-ionizing polarized-media technology to collect particles, odors and VOCs. The dust holding capacity extends filter maintenance intervals from months to years. Low static pressures can impact fan horsepower requirements called for in ASHRAE 90.1 calculations. The MERV 13-15+ rating and energy-saving reductions in fan horsepower may contribute to LEED points.

Category: Services and Related Products (cleaning, waste management, recycling, education, certifications)

Product: AmeriGreen Strategies Sustainability Assessment

Manufacturer: Green Tree Partners

AmeriGreen Certified Sustainability Assessments are designed to provide a low-cost, third-party verification of compliance and proof of performance for the sustainability and environmental impact of a building product. The reports are based on ISO and ASTM standards. The report focuses on five key areas: Raw Materials; Manufacturing Process; Transportation and Distribution; Product Performance; and Recyclability and Disposal.

Category: Software and Web-based Programs

Product: Smart eBinder

Manufacturer: Visus Technologies LLC

Smart eBinder is an interactive version of the architectural binder and offers architects, designers and specifiers features such as automatic updates, instant sample requests and downloadable submittal documents. Updates are handled through a Web connection, and the product establishes a 24-hour-a-day electronic link between company and customer, allowing the latter to instantly get specific questions answered.

Category: Water Conservation/Management, Plumbing

Product: D’MAND CIRC Hot Water Circulation System

Manufacturer: Enovative Kontrol Systems

D’MAND CIRC is an energy-efficient, on demand, hot water circulation system for multiunit residential and commercial buildings. The system operates only when there is actual demand for hot water and runs as little as 1-2 hours per day instead of 24/7, lowering operating costs and reducing maintenance expenses associated with continuous circulators. It works with both solar heating systems and tankless heaters.