Guide to Resource Efficient Building Elements

It's not often that you would want to sit down and actually read a product directory. But you just might with this.

The Guide to Resource Efficient Building Elements (GREBE), compiled by the Center for Resourceful Building Technology in Missoula, Montana, is packed with fascinating and very useful information. GREBE originated when builder Steve Loken was collecting product information for his ReCRAFT 90 demonstration house, completed last year, that showcases dozens of new and innovative building products and technologies.

GREBE’s editors define “resource efficient” as any product that is made from recycled materials or that utilizes raw materials more efficiently than most other products serving the same purpose. Thus, familiar products such as cellulose insulation, Homasote®, and OSB are listed, along with dozens of lesser-known items from smaller companies. Aluminum roofing produced from recycled beverage cans, interior wall panels produced from ryegrass straw, and carpeting made from recycled PET plastic are among the many such products covered.

The 83-page book is organized by building component. Each section includes a several-paragraph introduction with general recommendations on material selection from a resource-efficiency standpoint—there's some great information packed in here. Each entry lists the company, telephone number, brief product description, typical applications, and a few technical specifications. Mailing addresses are included in an alphabetical listing in the back of the Guide.

Loken and the others at CRBT have done a tremendous job with GREBE. It is truly a pioneering effort and an absolute must for designers and builders of resource-efficient, environmentally friendly buildings. Cost is $20, postpaid. To order, send a check to CRBT, P.O. Box 3413, Missoula, MT 59806, or call 406/549‑7678.