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North American Wood | |
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People and Places | |
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New Irish Houses by Dominic Stevens | |
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Architectural Products Update |
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The ThermalCORE™ Panel from National Gypsum features Micronal® PCM, a phase-change material from BASF Corporation. The wall panel's mold-resistant gypsum core integrates microscopic acrylic capsules containing high-purity paraffin wax. The wax melts at 73° Fahrenheit (23° Celsius), absorbing and storing thermal energy, and releases heat when it solidifies, helping to moderate indoor air temperature and reduce energy consumption. The panel handles and installs like regular drywall; it requires a skim coat and will accept decoration similar to standard gypsum board. Faced with fiberglass mat. Field trials are in progress. |
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Onyx Solar and Butech, a subsidiary of Porcelanosa Group, are developing a photovoltaic (PV) pavement expected to be on the market by late 2010. The product will consist of safety glass with integrated PV over an elevated ceramic base, producing a completely walkable surface. The pavement can be included in a project as a substitute for more traditional materials without compromising design or aesthetics. Works in all weather, including low light and cloudy conditions. Frameless and appealing in high-visibility applications. |
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The Power-Pipe® drain-water heat-recovery (DWHR) system reduces water heating costs by recovering heat from waste water. As drain water falls down the inner wall of a vertical drain stack, the heat from the falling water is transferred through the system's copper pipe to fresh cold water flowing in the outer coil. This double-walled heat exchanger is simple to specify and install during new construction, and can also be retrofitted to existing buildings where there is access to drain stacks and fresh water lines. Appropriate for residential, institutional, commercial, and industrial buildings. Can reduce water heating costs by 20 to 40 percent in multifamily residential buildings. Qualifies for LEED credits. From RenewAbility Energy Inc. |
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Concrete Canvas Shelters are rapidly deployable hardened shelters that require only water and air for construction. Concrete Canvas Ltd of Wales offers two shelter variants: CCS25 and CCS54, with 25 and 54 square meters of floor space, respectively. The shelters consist of a cement-impregnated flexible fabric (Concrete Cloth) bonded to the external surface of an inflated plastic inner form, with a shape somewhat similar to a Nissen hut or Quonset hut. The smaller shelter can be deployed by two people in under an hour, and is ready to use in 24 hours. With a minimum design life of ten years, the thin-walled shelters provide a durable alternative to conventional tenting for commercial, military, and humanitarian applications. |
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Glazing Vision's energy-efficient Flushglaze Tripleglazed rooflight is made of a triple-glazed unit that is silicone-sealed and bonded into an aluminum framework. Since the framework is all external, the units provide a clear view out and a crisp aesthetic. These skylights can achieve a center-pane U-value of 0.77 watts per square meter-kelvin. The lack of internal flashings and metal framework reduces water ponding and condensation risks. The low profile is well suited for flat roof applications, on pitches of 3 to 5 degrees. Custom shapes and sizes available. Designed, engineering, and manufactured in Suffolk, England. |
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