The panel consisted of sustainable architect and retrofitter Ellen Honigstock, sustainability consultant Joanna Black, green builder Mark Jupiter, green marketing researcher Doug Mazeffa, and ecofriendly interior designer Cheryl Terrace. [Read their full bios on the slideshow.]
They vetted each of the entries and debated the issues surrounding the manufacture, lifecycle, innovation, usefulness, beauty, and sustainability of each product.
The discussion focused on the environmental impact of materials and resources that went into creating these products, as well as their design, price, and practicality.
Panelists favored “products that offer a solution to problems in the marketplace,” says Jupiter, specifically citing do-it-yourself retrofit products like MJSI’s HydroRight Dual-Flush Converter kit, WAC Lighting’s LEDme Downlights, and the Caroma Profile Smart Toilet with Integrated Sink.
Of the MJSI converter kit, Mazeffa noted, “It’s something everyone can do very cheaply. In general, any high-efficiency, dual flush toilet is high in my book.”
Added Black, “I would love to see [the Caroma integrated sink/toilet] in New York City restaurants.”
Innovative materials were prevalent, such as recycled polyester from Shaw; VAST’s recycled-content paving stones, Kingston Block & Supply’s Pozzotive Plus concrete brick line, Trex Transcend decking, Es Ltd.’s Es Salmon Leather (from salmon skin), and others.
“If we could talk about the use of innovative material and beautiful product, I’d like to give Shaw and the recycled polyester recognition,” Honigstock said. Similarly, she gave a shout out to IceStone, a Brooklyn manufacturer of recycled-glass countertops and surfaces that elevated the aesthetics in its Refined Line.
“Kudos to IceStone—they’ve been doing the environmental thing for so long and they’re finally showing innovative green design,” Honigstock said.
In appliances, judges found much to applaud in terms of efficient water and electricity usage as well as quality of goods.
“Bosch is the most efficient for resources and laboratory tests have been done on these things, but one thing about Miele though, is that they are built to last so long and have a tremendously longer life,” Mazeffa offered. “It’s not something you throw out after eight or 10 years.” Both brands earned honorable mentions in appliances, while the overall category winner was Big Ass Fans.
Other highlights included a heated debate over large corporations’ green claims, including one in window treatments that seemed to exaggerate the R value of its shades.
Additionally, the panel agreed that corporations have a responsibility to devote resources to sustainable product divisions and production processes, rather than simply offer a “token” green product or line.
They also weren’t swayed by the use of organic cotton in several categories, as it has a harsh environmental impact, and felt one fancy organic cotton mattress that had customizable sleep zones (like a checkerboard with many interchangeable pads) was superfluous and bordered on wasteful.
These judges didn’t mince words—where there was a performance issue, they spoke up. Where there was a steep learning curve on a new product that would diminish its performance or create other problems, they gave the thumbs-down. They discovered several instances of “greenwashing.” In one such instance, a product purported to solve the problem of phantom load, but draws electricity itself, and requires elaborate computer setups to operate.
It’s our hope that IGDA serves to educate consumers and design and building professionals alike about products that have a small environmental footprint, but a big impact. Perhaps more importantly, we hope that this competition inspires the manufacturers themselves to take note of what concerns green home builders, architects, interior designers, and homeowners in the world of high performance, responsibly-made, sustainable products.—Nancy Meyer
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