As the Economist wages the largest debate about bio-fuels in memory, another market opportunity appears to be showing itself in the bio production space as well. Bio plastics have been sprouting up in various applications, but a recent study puts the total market of green packaging at $43.9Billion by 2013. The highest growth gains in this market will be in bio plastics for reasons of price stability and increased capacity the report said. Bio plastics will, it is reported, preform at an annual growth rate of thirteen percent. This spells big news for an industry which currently holds only about .1% percent market share.

Part of the reason for this growth will be due to policy changes which restrict the use of some of the most environmentally damaging materials, but the largest effect seems to be coming from packaging producers themselves. Corporate social responsibility leader Coca Cola has developed a new bottle which is composed of around thirty percent bio plastics with the intended goal of developing a one hundred percent renewable option in the future. Likewise, Wal-Mart has begun sourcing toys and children’s goods made from bio plastics.

The draw is that decomposition coupled with less petroleum based material seems to be better environmentally, but some counter this analysis. According to the Guardian Newspaper, foods producers in the UK such as Innocent Drinks have chosen to stop using bio plastics due to lack of recycling options for the products at present. Likewise there have been claims that bio plastics can be environmentally damaging on par with their petroleum based counterparts. Recent innovations have made it so less energy is needed to create bio plastics and thus it seems the growth of the sector makes environmental sense. Followers of Bill McDonough’s cradle to cradle concept often tout the re-usability and closed-loop life cycle of these products, while others derided their historically slow decomposition rates.  Some applications in the burgeoning bio plastics space are:

Read more of this story »

Is it possible to build a carbon neutral home? Apparently so says the Australian Home Lifestyle TV show. Watch this segment about green building construction.

As published in the July 2008 issue of Green Building Product Dealer, the survey, sponsored by Plastpro and conducted by Opinion Research Corp, went on to say that 89 percent would pay more for products that reduced their heating and cooling costs.  Also, the homeowners surveyed prefer higher grade materials with a longer life span over cheaper, shorter-lived products.

Franco An, President of Plastpro, a manufacturer of Energy Star rated fiberglass entry doors, says the poll shows that, “homeowners realize that long-term savings far outweigh upfront costs.”  This seems to fly in the face of many in the industry that complain that upfront costs are causing their customers to choose non-green alternatives.

It is important to look at the full life cycle cost of a project before deciding whether to pursue a green or non-green approach.  This cost not only includes the upfront material and labor costs, but also maintenance and energy costs, and the life span of the product.  A cheaper product that has to be replaced more often is not necessarily better than a more expensive product with a longer life, even though the initial cost may be less.  Designers and contractors need to make sure their customers understand this when deciding on the type of materials to use on a project.

As fuel costs continue to rise, energy saving products are going to become more and more attractive to building owners.  Again, designers and contractors need to be ready to provide the full cost data so consumers can make an educated decision.

For more information on the costs and benefits of green building, see:

“Green Buildings Bring in More Money”

“Energy Efficiency Tops with Green Home Owners”

“The Bottom Line - Green Home Upgrades and Home Values”

Lately I’m a bit obsessed by home decorating with reclaimed goods like old doorknobs, ornate metal heating grates, and odd hanging crystals from a long-gone chandelier. Sure, it would make more sense if I actually had a house — at the moment, my new husband and I are squeezing into our 600 square feet, one-bedroom apartment — but one day soon we will own a home, and when that day comes, I’ll be able to spread out and complete all the projects I have going in my head.

Meanwhile, I’ve found that trolling architectural salvage yards and house-part recycling centers is a fascinating diversion. You can find some amazing ways to decorate your home in completely unique (and green) ways, but you can also find perfectly good double-hung windows, newel posts, kitchen cabinets, big pieces of wood flooring, and bathroom vanities (from this century, even!).

Read more of this story »

Why is green building getting such traction in the education sector?

1. Opportunity for improved health and well-being
2. Operational cost decreases and other fiscal advantages such as energy cost savings

While the market research findings also discovered that higher first costs are the primary challenge to building green, many green building owners are starting to realize greater benefits through operational cost decreases. Pictured above is the J. Lindsay Embrey Engineering Building at Southern Methodist University, constructed by Turner Construction.