Worried about the H1N1 virus? Me too!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
H1N1
Worried about the H1N1 virus? Me too!
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Do You Twitter?
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Marmoleum
Forbo Marmoleum inspires creativity and colorful design . . .
Beautiful colors and textures found in nature have inspired Forbo to develop a variety of color choices that inspire a fresh design for your home. Unique appearances are achieved through the combination of multiple colors to create a single color way. Shades that appear soft and muted are achieved by mixing three or four complimentary colors, while bolder contrasting shades combine seven or eight contrasting colors to a achieve a deeper and more heavily marbled visual. From soft and muted to bold and vibrant and anywhere in between, Marmoleum has a shade for you!
Forbo Marmoleum inspires with quality . . .
Marmoleum is a high quality product and the ideal flooring for any room in your house, from the hallway, kitchen and children’s rooms, where traffic is likely to be heaviest, to the living room, study or bedroom. And because of the natural ingredients found in Marmoleum, the product continues to harden and become more durable over time.
Because Marmoleum is a natural product like wood, it makes your house snug and warm and is always comfortable under foot. It reaches room temperature quickly and can even be used with radiant floor heating. Marmoleum is a stylish investment that will create a better environment in our home.
Installation . . .
Forbo trains professional flooring contractors to install their system. In many cases, it is highly recommended that you hire a Forbo certified contractor to install tile and sheet goods, in particular. Installing according to manufacturer’s procedure is required to ensure warranty.
Indoor air quality . . .
The Marmoleum Click tile’s inherent anti-static properties repel dust and dirt making it easier to clean, reduce exposure to allergens and contribute to improved indoor air quality. It is the first flooring product to be certified asthma & allergy friendly™ by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America! Marmoleum Click Tiles are made from only natural ingredients and offer the most comprehensive choice in color and design variety in its category.
Marmoleum Click Tiles Designed for Easy Installation . . .
Marmoleum Click Tiles were designed to make installation easy for homeowners and do-it-yourselfers. Required tools are limited to just a hammer, a straight back hand saw, tape measure, pencil, tapping block, angle or adjustable bevel and jigsaw and are installed without any need for glue.
Because the material expands and contract in temperature changes, you must leave 3/8” gap along the edge of the floor. After installation of the last panel, base or quarter round molding is installed to cover the expansion joints all around the room. The floor can be walked on immediately after installation.
Maintenance and Cleaning . . .
Your Marmoleum floor is designed to last for many years. It carries a 25 year limited warranty if properly installed in residential settings. With a little care and attention it will stay looking good through out its life.
Your floor takes more punishment than almost any other furnishing in your home and Forbo has designed a finish and a cleaner especially for your Marmoleum floor. These will make cleaning easier and enhance the richness of the colors
Sweeping/dust mopping or vacuuming is likely to be the most frequent procedure. If the floor is muddy it can be cleaned with a damp mop, making sure the dirt is rinsed out of the mop and not spread back on the floor. If the soiling is tenacious, use Marmoleum Floor Cleaner as previously instructed in restorative care. After several such applications, you may wish to apply one or more additional thin coats of Marmoleum Floor Finish to restore the gloss level. Do not over apply finish over areas which are not walked on (such as wall base) as this just causes unnecessary build-up of polish. The need to apply finish may vary dramatically from perhaps every couple of months to annually, depending on the degree of usage or other circumstances.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Renewable Energy Systems
SOLAR THERMAL HOT WATER
WIND TURBINE POWER
PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) POWER
A solar thermal hot water system is extremely efficient and can reduce your hot water heating bills by up to 85% or more! Also, an evacuated tube solar collector is ideal for our northern climates, where we see more cloudy weather for a longer period during the year. Converting the sun’s energy to heat is the easiest transfer of power, which is why using this system to heat the water you use throughout your home or business is smart and it pays for itself in record time!
Michigan is ideally situated for stronger winds, being surrounded by the Great Lakes and higher elevated land, making wind an accessible and easily captured power source. Many of the wind turbines are designed for the wind speeds we get here in Michigan, producing 300-400 Kwh per month on the smaller side and upwards of 1,000 or more Kwh per month on a larger scale. Zoning and ordinances are the key - so be sure to check with your county and township to ensure you can put up the wind tower you desire.
Photovoltaic (PV) or better known as solar panels, collect the sun’s energy and converts it to electricity. While you may think that solar power is not very usable in northern Michigan, that is not the case. Especially when paired with a solar tracking system, solar power can provide a substantial amount of Kwh to your home. Even better, newer inverters make it possible to build your solar system one panel at a time, instead of having to pay the cost all at once for a multi-panel system.
The federal government has also initiated a 30% federal income tax credit for renewable energy systems. You can lessen your carbon footprint, lower your monthly utility bills and get 30% of the cost of your system back in your pocket!
Monday, October 12, 2009
Fall is in the air!
The Toxic Air We Breath - Just How Dangerous is our Indoor Air?
Since the end of World War II conventional building practices and product selections have proven to be unsafe for both the builder and the occupant of the building. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) studies have shown that Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is 2-5 times worse than the outdoor air quality in a newly constructed home. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) cause acute and chronic illnesses. Acute problems like eye, nose, throat irritations, and headaches are caused by these compounds. VOCs can also cause birth defects, chronic illnesses such as kidney and liver failure, central nervous system damage, and even cancer. In recent years we have come to recognize that many conventional building materials have high VOC content. Installation of conventional building materials cause off gassing of potent VOCs. Even after these products have been installed they may continue to off gas toxins into living and working spaces in less noticeable doses. These less noticeable doses have become a significant contributor to “Sick Building Syndrome” according to the EPA.
Eco-Building Products Solution - An Easy Way to a Healthier Building Process
IAQ can be improved through Moisture Control, Pest Management, HVAC Systems, Combustion Ventilation Systems, Radon Control and the appropriate Building Material Selection. Simply specifying high quality non-toxic building materials will have a signifi cant and long-lasting impact on the quality of your client’s indoor air. Eco-Building Products represents high performance building materials that earn credits for green building standards, are long-lasting, cost effective and safe to install for the applicator and the occupant. Now you have a number of environmentally friendly building products that can be specified to improve indoor air quality.
While you might think that this is going to be expensive - hold on, it's not! Less than 1% of your total home cost is the amount out of pocket - but what it saves? Your health!!!
Next Week:
Marmoleum: The most natural flooring on earth!
Monday, October 5, 2009
Grand Opening Celebration
October 5, 2009
Our Grand Opening that was held on the Autumn Equinox, September 22, was a huge success! The outpouring of support was fantastic! We are very lucky and blessed to have the opportunity to serve the Grand Traverse and surrounding region with our environmentally-friendly products and services.
The Traverse City Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors were on-hand for a ribbon cutting ceremony. As Jim Barnes, one of the owners, did a practice “cut”, we were right on track, but when it came to the actual 1-2-3-cut, he was so excited, he only made it to 1 before he snipped the ribbon!
We were able to entertain our guests with some great food and local beverages too! The food, courtesy of Crystal Lake Catering, was fabulous! Many thanks go out as well to North Peak, Left Foot Charley and Right Brain Brewery for supplying us with delicious beverages for the evening.
Talent is everywhere! Local artist and WTCM AM/FM Marketing Consultant, Greg Nachazel, did an incredible natural earth plaster demo on our back wall which we’ve named our American Clay “Play Station”. Gred did an amazing job with a metal stencil of his own creation, along with some really unique textured samples. The response was fantastic! Everyone loved Greg’s work and it showed interesting techniques that can be used when applying Amercian Clay!
Another added surpise for the evening was a special appearance by Derek Bailey, Chairman of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. Derek made it a priority to come out and show his support for Eco-Building Products, which was so appreciated. Kchi Megwetch!
Our appreciation goes out to Bill Policastro and the Michigan Green Consortium, a local organization whose mission is to create economic awareness and support for green enterprise in Michigan and to help it thrive. They held their monthly meeting during our Grand Opening, not only to show their support (and to enjoy the food and beverages!), but to introduce their members and guests to our store and staff! Please go check them out at www.mgconline.org.
Also, the evening couldn’t have happened without the hard work and dedication of Eco-Building Products’ newest staff members! Marketing Director, Melissa Hromada and Retail Sales Manager, Scott Bouma worked many long days (and nights!) in preparation for our event. Their organizational skills and awesome ideas played a large part in the fashion in which this event happened.
Many of the awesome product displays throughout the new showroom were designed and constructed by Eco-Building Products’ second owner, Larry Kinney. Larry has been a tremendous source of product use information as well as our go-to guy when it comes to media interviews and hands-on experience. Thank you Larry!
Working together, that’s what it’s all about. We encourage you to stop by our beautiful downtown Traverse City showroom to see what steps you can take to make your own personal environment around you cleaner, safer, greener.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
New Store!!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
New line of Green Construction Adhesives
BuildSecure Structural Construction Adhesive
BuildSecure is a fast setting, structural adhesive designed for various “panel on frame” assemblies in commercial and residential construction.
BuildSecure has been certified by Akron Laboratories to pass AFG-01 testing and therefore complies with HUD UM-60 and ASTM D-3498 specifications for bonding subfloor construction. BuildSecure can achieve wood tearing bonds in less than four hours at 72° F. The speed of set and ultimate shear strength make BuildSecure is ideal for shear wall construction and roof assemblies in a production setting where timing is of critical importance.
The “green strength” and ultimate 500+ PSI shear strength of this adhesive permits floor decks, shear walls and roof assemblies to be bonded to each other, forming a rigid “airframe” type construction with strength in all directions. BuildSecure is 100% solids and therefore capable of filling gaps and forming bonds on irregular surfaces without shrinking.
BuildSecure is a solvent free, non-flammable, moisture curing adhesive, that complies with all OSHA, State, Local and Federal air quality regulations. This adhesive is non-carcinogenic and complies with California Proposition 65.
WallSecure Solvent Free Drywall Adhesive / Foam Adhesive
WallSecure is a fast-setting green drywall adhesive. WallSecure is 100-percent solids and therefore capable of filling gaps and forming bonds on irregular surfaces without shrinking.
WallSecure is a solvent free, non-flammable, moisture-curing adhesive that complies with OSHA, State, and Federal air quality regulations. This adhesive is non-carcinogenic and complies with California Proposition 65.
Color: TAN
WallSecure Basic Uses
• Drywall to wood assemblies
• Installing EPS Foam Installations
• Wood to Metal
Advantages
• 100 percent VOC compliant
• Tough elastomeric bonds
• Non-Flammable
• Solvent-Free
• Fast Setting
• High Adhesion
• Non-Carcinogenic
FloorSecure Structural Flooring Adhesive
FloorSecure is a high performance, polyether-based trowel-grade green adhesive for bonding wood flooring, tile and stone to most floor substrates. 2 gallon pails, 60 pails per pallet.
Special order only.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Introducing Rubio Monocoat Natural Oil Floor Finish
Thanks to our good friend Finnish Projects floor finishers in Minnesota, we are proud to launch a line of one-coat, ZERO-VOC, natural-oil, floor finish. Rubio Monocoat Floor Finish is a revolutionary technology. By combining natural linseed oil and natural waxes, Monocoat can finish your floor (with 34 different colors), your furniture, or your toys in one simple coat.
To Purchase Rubio Monocoat Floor Finish, please see Eco-Building Products store:
Rubio Monocoat Floor Finish: Natural Oil Finish Clear 1 Liter
Rubio Monocoat Floor Finish: Natural Oil Finish Colors 1 Liter
But, don't just take our word for it....
Read some of FinnishProjects.com testimonials!
Want more information?
-500 sq. ft. coverage./Liter! (18.2¢ sq. ft.)
-Free of toxic VOCs
-A spectrum of 34 Rubio Monocoat colors
-Single-coat simple application
-Durable protection
-Easy to touch up
Rubio Monocoat is Single-coat application
Rubio Monocoat adheres with the first microns of wood by molecular bonding. As a result, Rubio Monocoat Natural Oil Floor Finish can cover an average 400 sq. ft. of floor per liter. And because of molecular bonding, no surface film can form, and no variable saturation can occur. Not only is a second coat not required, the finished wood will not accept a second coat. The same action protects against overlaps and color variance and causes the process to complete in a single coat.
Durable protection with Rubio Monocoat
The Monocoat molecular bond creates durable, long lasting protection. After a reaction time of just 15 seconds, the fibers bond.
An Easy to touch up Environmentally-Friendly Floor Finish
Monocoat Natural Oil finish bonding technology allows local touch up of damaged areas or scratches, because only the free wood fibers will take the touchup coating. The finished margins next to the scratched or damaged area will not accept new Monocoat. After 10 minutes, just wipe away superfluous oil. There is no overlapping or additional density buildup at the margins.
Rubio Monocoat: Simple, One-Coat Application Process:
Rubio Monocoat Floor Finish Day 1
Clean the sanded floor thoroughly.
Coat the entire floor with Monocoat Oil.
Remove all excess oil
Rubio Monocoat Floor Finish Day 2
After 24-36 hours the area is ready for occupancy
Application Instructions:
http://www.specialhardwood.com/pdf/monocoat_application_v2.pdf
Rubio Monocoat Cleaning and Maintenance Instructionds (PDF)