If you are looking into the latest in Green Materials, then you need to get to PCBC in San Francisco, from June 22-24, 2011.  I have found some pretty cool items there over the years, and now for you, -IT'S FREE!!!

All you need to do is: send me an e-mail and I'll send you a free pass!  If anything, simply post a comment to this article on my blog, and I'll send you a free pass!  -I'd love to meet you there!

Happy hunting!

West Cast Green (WCG) was interesting, as usual, but I didn't see too many "this will revolutionize the AEC!" products.  Sure, there were solar companies, and a few other related firms, the recycled wood and the FSC Certified wood people.  The only product that really caught my attention was the Straw-Board product.  If this really goes into production here, gains an ICC number and an LARR number, then it has a chance of getting some traction and who knows, possible adoption in the marketplace.

The strawboard product put out by Strawmit USA, is another idea I think is ripe for the time.  Will the "powers that be" allow it to get through the ICC and LARR processes so that it can be used in new construction projects?  So far, I know of TWO companies that have a far superior impact-product that is finding the going tough when trying to get through the ICC/LARR MESS!  Makes me think there are palms being greased, friends/connections livelihoods being artificially propped up, all to stave off new technology being brought into this STALE, OLD industry, -The AEC.

We cannot have TRUE revolution in the Green Materials market unless there are those in these "stamping" positions that will allow NEW technology to be brought to market.  I know of one ICF maker who told me that it took 10 years to get the approval from both ICC and LARR, -9 YEARS AFTER THE TESTING WAS ALL COMPLETED!!!  I hope that these new materials can have a "green fast-track" applied to them, as other entities do.  But there is no such fast-track to apply for even.  They say there is, but that's not my observation.  What do the ICC and the LARR entities have to lose by wasting so much time?  Nothing!  Therefore, there has to be some ulterior motive type scenario(s) being played out.  Nothing else explains it.  Some jurisdictions will allow such new products to be used, even without testing to be done, as long as the Engineer of Record and the City Engineer will sign off on it.  Which should be good enough for most products.  However, here in California, where we need to worry about earthquakes, some of the excuses given are earthquake related, -is possibly why it takes so long.  So it takes time to do those extra steps for earthquake related verifications.  However, 10 years?  I do not think so!

So, will revolutionary products shown at WCG this last week, ever make it to the light of day and to be used in a project?  I would like to hope so, but will that happen anytime soon is only the ICC/LARR's guess!

The Strawmit USA product was the only one that I saw that was a REAL possible game changer, though.  Sure there were others, even with a commercial application for a solar thermal solution, but only that one stood out.  I am anxious to get its' performance numbers to see what it is really capable of.  I could see them being used as an exterior and interior and ceiling, solution.  My impression was that it is not a structural member, but can be used to replace the wall portion of the envelope, for both the interior and exterior.  At this point, it's hard to tell just what it can actually.do.  More on this as I get information.

Well, we have the Fleet Week Air Show practicing above the City today, and it should be fun!