New Store!!

New Store in Traverse City Eco-Building Products is pleased to announce the opening of our new retail store located at 130 Hall Street in the Warehouse District of Traverse City, Michigan. Since March of 2006, we had operated from a pole barn on the west side of Traverse City.

Now, we have made an ambitious move from the back woods to a downtown retail location and have hired two highly skilled employees to help with operations.The goal of our new store is to assist members of the Grand Traverse community to more easily adjust to a new and different lifestyle. The blend of eco-building products and systems will help the community to build and remodel more efficiently as well as live a more rewarding and lower impact lifestyle.Our high performing products are energy generating, energy efficient, natural resource sensible, durable, cost-effective and healthy for the environment and you.

Eco-Building Products has worked closely with a LEED accredited builder who installs most of the products and systems that we represent. Utilizing this builder's years of experience and success with using our products, we have had an opportunity to learn how effective our products really are. This process, coupled with applying high screening standards (Life Cycle Assessment commonly known as LCA) and superior buying principles, enables us to carefully screen these products and offer them to you with full confidence in their performance as well as their environmental benefits.Below is a list of some products that we carry:

-Natural earth clay plasters

-No VOC paints and stains

-No VOC adhesives and sealers

-Low VOC penetrating oils and natural clear finishes

-Sustainable, high grade, harvested bamboo and cork flooring

-Natural linoleum flooring (5 simple and natural ingredients)

-Structural insulated panels made from formaldehyde free OSB and straw

-Wind turbines and solar collectors generating electrical and thermal energy

-Insulated concrete wall forms made from recycled wood chips

-Natural daylighting systems (tubular skylights)

-and more (take a look in our store)

Please forward this message on to others that might have an interest in our effort. This way, you can help us to continue to inform and supply the Grand Traverse community.

Visit our Online Store

Introducing Rubio Monocoat Natural Oil Floor Finish

Eco-Building Products Launches One-Coat Floor Finish Line
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)

Compact Flourescent Lights : Pocketbook Savings

CFL Energy-Saving Installation
Save thousands with Eco-Building Products energy-saving expertise. Replace 100 bulbs today and save $5,000 over nine years. (And 33 tons of CO2!)

How CFL lights Save Money and Energy
A common incandescent bulb has a life span of 1,000 hours. A CFL light bulb will last 10,000 hours (approximately nine years). A 60 watt incandescent bulb at 10,000 hours will use 600KwHs. A comparable 14 watt (same lumens and color temperature) will generate 140Kwh. At $.12 a KwH the difference is about $55 a bulb over nine years. This does not include costs associated with replacing the 10 incandescent bulbs. (100 compact fluorescent bulbs replaces 1000 incandescent bulbs!) The low cost of CFL lights (here, here, and here) will actually be less than or equal to the cost of 10 incandescent bulbs. As well, the time spent changing 1,000 bulbs vs 100 CFL bulbs will save you time and money.

Eco-Building Products CFL Energy-Saving Plan
Improve your bottom line. Save money. Save the environment. Replacing 100 incandescent bulbs with 100 spiral compact fluorescent lights will save you over $5,000 and reduce your CO2 footprint by over 33 tons over nine years. See our compact fluorescent installation service plan.

Wide Array of Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
CFL bulbs come in all shapes and sizes and will fit nearly any application. From CFL Spirals to Compact Fluorescent Globes, Reflectors to A-Lamps you can start saving money today and within one year have a net energy and monetary savings. From two watts to 68 watts, these little marvels range from SpringLamps® to floodlights, decorative globes to circline lamps. And they fit any incandescent application. Indoors and outdoors – in chandeliers, ceiling fixtures, floor lamps, recessed cans, wall sconces, vanity strips, and more. Where will you use our CFLs? Anywhere!

Reduce Mercury Emissions with Compact Fluorescent Lights
Coal-fired power plants are a large percentage of our energy policy. Coal is rather dirty and the energy-hogging incandescent lights found in most homes are large contributor to energy consumption. By reducing this consumption, there is a net reduction in Mercury Emissions when using Compact Fluorescent lighting, even though they contain small amounts of mercury. Energy Star Fact-Sheet on Mercury and its Clean-Up.

CFL's that Fit Everywhere
Where will you use our CFLs? Our CFLs fit everywhere a standard incandescent light will fit. Up to 23W lights are rated for enclosed fixtures. Small and compact, our lights can go where other CFLs cannot.

Special Note on CFL Colors
The color of light is measured by its color temperature in degrees kelvin. An incandescent bulb is typically about 2700 kelvin. Daylight typically ranges from 5000k to 6500k. The higher the temperature kelvin, the "cooler" or "bluer" the light. Thus, the most flattering light for human skin tone is in the 2700K - 3500K range.

Color Temperature Usage Chart
2700K = "Soft Light."
Soft light is the most flattering light for human skin and is the most popular light. Incandescent bulbs are typically in the 2700k range. Best for use in bedrooms, living spaces, and anywhere a soft, warm light is useful.
3100K = "Cool White"
Cool white is bluer in color and is optimal for lighting halls, offices, hospitals, and areas where productivity is more important than flattering light.
5000K = "Day Light"
Day Light colors are especially useful for detailed oriented tasks such as reading and drawing.

Color Rendering Index (CRI)
The CRI rating is a percentage rating given to a light source to measure its ability to depict colors accurately compared to a natural light source. In a nutshell, the higher the CRI the better the rendition of colors. CFLs typically fall in the 80-85% range. Incandescent are often in the 97-100% range.

See a full range of Compact Fluorescent Lights at Eco-Building Products Green Building Store.

Renewable Energy Tax Credits: Ending Soon?

Renewable Energy Tax Credits
The remain months of 2008 are ticking down. The promise of renewing tax credits is very alluring, but to lock-in your guaranteed 2008 credits, renewable energy enthusiasts should start their project before the end of 2008. Remember, residential credits are limited to $2,000. Commercial enterprises have no limit on the tax credit.

Federal Tax Credits for Renewable Energy Systems
Renewable Energy Systems, such as Solar Hot Water Heating systems, and Solar Panels Systems (Photovoltaic Systems) are eligible for a tax credit of 30% of the cost, up to $2,000. (Use IRS Form 5695.)

Solar Water Heating Requirements

• At least half of the energy generated by the “qualifying property” must come from the sun. Homeowners may only claim spending on the solar water heating system property, not the entire water heating system of the household.
• The credit is not available for expenses for swimming pools or hot tubs.
• The water must be used in the dwelling.
• The system must be certified by the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC).

Photovoltaic Systems Requirements

• Photovoltaic systems must provide electricity for the residence, and must meet applicable fire and electrical code requirement.

Eco-Building Products Renewable Energy Systems
All our systems are SRCC rated and designed to be flexible. Solar Hot Water heating is the most bang for your buck. See our Solar Thermal Systems here. Photovoltaic systems are quickly becoming incomprehensibly difficult to figure out. Please see Eco-Building Products Solar Energy systems for simple, yet very powerful, solar energy systems. We have select the best kits so you can focus on finding the right installer, or installing it yourself without the hassle of matching the perfect inverter to the most perfect solar panels.

Solar Energy Installers, Designers, and Tax Credit Experts
We will install your solar hot water system, your solar photovoltaic system, your wind turbine system, and fill out your Renewable Tax Credit forms for you. We provide accurate rewnewable energy estimates and can fully design you a custom system for you home or business.

Dual Flush Water Saving Toilets

Save Money with Dual-Flush Water-Saving Toilets
Caroma Dual-Flush toilets save you water with every flush. You can expect to save 1,000 gallons of water a year for each person in your household. Caroma toilets usually pay for themselves in a little over a year. See this our Dual Flush Water Saving Calculator on Google Documents to determine just how much you can save and how long your payback period is.

Extraordinary Dual-Flushing Power
Using the 0.8 gallon flush you can flush almost all of your daily business. For larger-than-average business, the 1.6 gallon flush takes care of it. This Dual-Flush feature means that over you save .8 gallons on 80 percent or more of your daily toilet water use.

Dual Flush Toilets Bulk Purchasing
Please contact us at Eco Building Products for substantial discounts on bulk ordering. Great toilets for rental properties, apartments, offices, hotels, hospitals, and anywhere water savings are important. Sales@Eco-BuildingProducts.com

Caroma's Innovating Design for Easy Cleaning
Easy Remove Seats.
Caroma seats are easily removed for cleaning and click back in place when cleaning is finished.

Concealed trap for easy cleaning.
The bases of Caroma toilets are designed with smooth, straight walled sides (less curves) for easy cleaning.

Cleansing Wash-Down Flushing.
Caroma uses a wash-down flushing system (instead of siphoning) allowing for a cleaner toilet, better flushing, and superb water savings.

Reduce (or eliminate) Clogging.
Caroma toilets have a four-inch trap, nearly double the size of traditional toilets. No more embarrassed guests, or plunger-induced incidents.

Condensation Reduction or Elimination
Since each flush requires less water more water remains in the tank at room temperature. As water refills the tank the water is tempered by the larger quantity of room-temperature water, eliminating or reducing tank condensation.

Caroma USA Dual-Flush Toilet Pricing, Purchasing, and Costs
Caroma Dual Flush Toilets pricing range from $320.00 for the standard Caroma 305 models to $522.00 for One-Piece Dual Flush Toilets. Although these costs are considerably higher than your cheap toilet at a box store, the water savings will pay for the additional cost and eventually for the toilet itself. A standard family of four will pay for its new Caroma High-Efficiency Toilet within a few years. See our Dual Flush Water Saving Calculator on Google Documents to determine your pay-back period.

EcoSurfaces Recycled Rubber Tire Flooring

High-Quality, high-durability, recycled flooring

Recycled and Sustainable Flooring Materials
ECOsurfaces recycled rubber flooring is redefining what it means to be green. Used tires are clogging landfills at an astonishing rate causing damage to the landfills and to the environment. Fortunately, companies like EcoSurfaces are creating new uses for these tires. EcoSurfaces harvests tires from landfills and turns them into useful, high-quality, high-durability, low-VOC rubber flooring. Made for commerical and residential uses, EcoSurfaces rubber flooring products support the ASTM Sustainability Assessment, and is eligible for up to 7 Leed Credits.

Comfortable Recycled Flooring
Available in roll and tile forms, ECOsurfaces is the ultimate recycled rubber flooring product with durability, comfort, slip-resistance, and easy installation and maintenance.|

EcoSurfaces Commercial Flooring
EcoSurfaces is defining what it means to be a green manufacturer. They use no smoke stacks or heat in production. There is a minimal water use and they reuse scraps to eliminate waste. EcoSurface flooring is composed of 100 percent post-consumer and 30 percent post-industrial material.

EcoSurfaces Pricing and Costs and Colors

Eco-Building Products offers all styles and colors of EcoSurfaces Recycled Rubber Flooring: ECOrocks Recycled Rubber Flooring ECOrocks is "terrazzo with a twist." ECOsand Recycled Rubber Flooring ECOsand is a harmonious blend of color. ECOnight Recycled Rubber Flooring ECOnights combines colorful flecks for a dramatic blacklight effect. ECOstone Recycled Rubber Flooring ECOstone: recyled flooring with a neutral elegance. ECOearth Recycled Rubber Flooring ECOearth gives your flooring a true green aspect.

EcoSurfaces Pricing can vary widely. The mostly black EcoNights runs $3.70 a square foot (includes shipping!) and the more color intense EcoEarth, EcoSand, EcoRock, and EcoStone range from $5.01 to $5.18. (Pricing found at Eco-Building Products website.)