10 Sustainable Building Products From Greenbuild 2018 That Reshaped Residential Construction
Greenbuild, the largest annual conference and expo for sustainable construction, set up shop in Chicago in 2018 with a theme of Human x Nature. This theme represented how the green building movement embraces all of humanity by making sustainable buildings accessible to everyone while benefiting the natural environment. The show floor delivered an impressive array of innovations that continue to influence how professional builders select materials and systems for energy-efficient homes. For builders exploring stone wool insulation strategies and other high-performance products, the developments showcased at Greenbuild 2018 marked a turning point in residential construction.
Energy-Efficient HVAC and Smart Home Controls
Heating and cooling account for the largest share of residential energy use. The products introduced at Greenbuild 2018 addressed this challenge through smarter controls and more efficient system designs that give homeowners greater command over their energy consumption.
Mitsubishi Kumo Cloud App for Zoned HVAC Control
Mitsubishi released the Kumo Cloud mobile app, giving homeowners remote control over their residential heating and cooling systems. The app allows users to adjust heating needs by individual rooms, set schedules, control fan speeds, and receive system alerts. Integration with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant means homeowners can adjust temperatures using voice commands without walking to a thermostat. This level of zoned control reduces energy waste by conditioning only occupied spaces, a principle that aligns with broader green building on a budget approaches where targeted efficiency upgrades deliver the best return on investment.
Andersen VeriLock Window and Door Sensors
Andersen introduced VeriLock, a sensor system that tells homeowners whether windows and doors are open or closed, locked or unlocked, through a smartphone application. The logic is straightforward: windows are most energy efficient when locked and sealed. When a window is left unlocked or slightly ajar, conditioned air escapes and energy bills rise. The sensors are easy to install and compatible with all Andersen windows and patio doors. For builders specifying high-performance fenestration, this kind of smart monitoring adds a layer of accountability that helps homeowners maintain the energy performance the builder designed into the home.
Key Benefits of Smart HVAC and Fenestration Controls
- Reduced energy waste through room-by-room temperature management
- Remote access via smartphone apps for real-time adjustments
- Voice control integration for hands-free operation
- Window and door lock monitoring to prevent unintended air leakage
- System alerts that notify homeowners of performance issues
Water Conservation and Efficient Fixture Innovations
Water efficiency continues to be a priority for sustainable home construction. Greenbuild 2018 featured products that dramatically reduce water consumption without sacrificing performance or aesthetics.
Zip Water HydroTap Three-in-One Kitchen Faucet
Zip Water debuted its HydroTap line of three-in-one faucets at Greenbuild 2018, marking the brand’s first US appearance. These faucets instantly dispense filtered chilled, boiling, and sparkling water from a single spout. The Celsius Arc model doubles as a main kitchen faucet with standard cool-to-warm functionality, available in multiple finishes. For builders designing premium kitchens, the HydroTap eliminates the need for separate kettle boiling, water filter pitchers, and carbonated water appliances, consolidating three functions into one sleek fixture. This reduces countertop clutter and the embodied energy of manufacturing multiple appliances.
Niagara Nano High-Efficiency Toilet
The Niagara Nano ranks as the company’s most efficient toilet, using just 0.6 gallons per flush on average. Key features include an elongated bowl for comfort, a noise-cancelling tank for quiet operation, and dual flush functionality that lets users choose between 0.5 and 0.8 gallons per flush. Niagara’s Stealth Technology ensures a clean flush despite the low water volume. Compared to standard 1.6 GPF toilets, the Nano saves more than 60 percent of water per flush, translating to thousands of gallons saved annually per household. This aligns with the goals of green building certification programs that reward measurable water conservation.
Water Efficiency Comparison
| Fixture Type | Standard Efficiency | Greenbuild 2018 Product | Water Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toilet | 1.6 GPF | Niagara Nano at 0.6 GPF average | 62% per flush |
| Kitchen Faucet | Separate kettle + filter + tap | Zip Water HydroTap (all-in-one) | Reduces appliance manufacturing energy |
| Dual Flush Option | Standard 1.6/1.1 GPF | Niagara Nano 0.5/0.8 GPF | 50% reduction on liquid waste flush |
Advanced Insulation, Glazing, and Daylight Management
Building envelope performance determines how much energy a home requires for heating, cooling, and lighting. The products showcased in this category address thermal resistance, solar heat gain, and natural light optimization through innovative material science.
Rockwool Safe’n’Sound Stone Wool Insulation
Rockwool’s Safe’n’Sound insulation is made from stone wool, a material that retains many characteristics of natural stone including a melting point of 2150 degrees Fahrenheit, low moisture absorption, high sound absorption, and resistance to mildew and mold. The product is dimensionally stable and can be cut to size on site for interior wall partitions in wood and steel stud construction. For builders concerned with fire safety and acoustic performance, stone wool offers advantages over fiberglass batts. The material does not promote flame spread and its density provides superior sound dampening between rooms. Builders already working with stone wool insulation strategies understand how this material contributes to both energy efficiency and occupant comfort.
Halio Smart Tinting Glass System
Halio introduced a smart tinting glass system that manages glare and solar heat gain without requiring blinds or shades. The glass blocks 99.9 percent of UV rays and tints uniformly, reaching full darkness in three minutes. Homeowners can control the glass manually through an app, a wall switch, or voice commands. The system also supports automatic tinting based on scheduled times of day or real-time sunlight conditions. Halio glass is compatible with most framing systems, making it viable for both new construction and retrofit projects. Large windows no longer have to compromise between daylighting and energy efficiency when smart tinting manages both.
Legrand Teleshade Automated Shading System
Legrand’s Teleshade with QIS from QMotion is an automated cassette shading system featuring low-power motorized shades that can be manually interrupted without breaking the mechanism. This allows homeowners to override the automated position temporarily without disrupting the programmed schedule. The shades help manage heat gain and daylight, reducing cooling loads during summer months. Fabric options include SheerWeave Infinity2 from Phifer, which is 100 percent recyclable and Greenguard certified for low chemical emissions. Builders specifying automated shading can offer clients a solution that balances natural light, privacy, and energy performance without the maintenance issues of traditional manual blinds.
Sustainable Materials Transparency and Product Labeling
The green building movement has matured beyond individual product attributes to encompass full supply chain transparency. Greenbuild 2018 highlighted a growing demand for verifiable information about what goes into building products and how those materials affect human health.
Kohler Declare Labels for Healthy Materials
Kohler began generating Declare labels for select products through the International Living Future Institute. These labels function as ingredient lists for building products, highlighting materials that may impact human health. The Declare program is part of the Living Building Challenge and requires manufacturers to disclose all ingredients down to 100 parts per million. Kohler also began redesigning products to eliminate unnecessary materials and reduce chemical complexity. For builders working toward certifications such as LEED or the Living Building Challenge, specifying products with Declare labels simplifies documentation and demonstrates a commitment to occupant health. This initiative complements broader green building certification programs that prioritize material transparency.
Why Product Transparency Matters for Builders
- Health Risk Reduction: Full ingredient disclosure lets builders avoid materials containing known carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, or respiratory irritants.
- Certification Compliance: Transparency labels streamline documentation for LEED, WELL, and Living Building Challenge certification.
- Market Differentiation: Homebuyers increasingly ask about indoor air quality and material safety. Builders who can answer those questions with verified labels gain a competitive advantage.
- Supply Chain Accountability: Declare labels push manufacturers to reformulate products, creating a virtuous cycle of healthier material development across the industry.
- Long-Term Liability Protection: Documenting healthy material choices reduces future risk if new research links specific chemicals to health problems.
The Shift Toward Verified Green Products
The products highlighted at Greenbuild 2018 share a common thread: each represents a move from marketing claims toward verified performance data. Rockwool publishes exact fire resistance and acoustic ratings. Halio provides tested UV blocking and tinting speed specifications. Kohler submits products to third-party Declare label verification. This shift matters because it allows builders to make procurement decisions based on measurable criteria rather than manufacturer assertions. For builders integrating prefabricated green homes and modular approaches, verified product data is essential for maintaining consistent quality across projects. When every component in a home has documented environmental and health attributes, the builder can confidently market the finished home as genuinely sustainable.
Greenbuild 2018 demonstrated that sustainable building products had moved past niche novelty into mainstream viability. From smart HVAC controls that optimize energy use to water-saving fixtures that cut consumption by more than half, these products give builders practical tools for constructing homes that perform better, last longer, and support occupant health. The innovations shown in Chicago continue to influence how residential builders specify materials, design building envelopes, and communicate value to homebuyers.