Popular Mechanics covered our new green building blocks recently, read about it here.

Integrity Block has been invited to present at the upcoming Green Building Summit to be held on June 11th at SRI International in Menlo Park, hosted by Greentech Media. This summit is focusing on the impact that the built environment has on our climate, and on the innovative technologies and approaches taking shape to address them. Our CEO, Trevor Stout, will be presenting and showcasing how our innovative green block products are leading the charge to greenify building materials.

David MacKay, a professor of physics at the University of Cambridge wrote this commentary for CNN in which he makes the case for creating a simplistic mathematical approach to being realisting about alternative energy posibilities, consumption, and efficiency.

His examples offer a fantastic method for quantifying our individual consumption as “simple personal units” or kilowatt-hours. From the article, “One kilowatt-hour (kWh) is the energy used by leaving a 40-watt bulb on for 24 hours. The chemical energy in the food we eat to stay alive amounts to about 3 kWh per day. Taking one hot bath uses about 5 kWh of heat.”

He goes on to state compare the footprint of the average European, 125 kWh per day per person or the equivalent each person having 125 light bulbs switched on all the time, to that of the average American, 250 kWh per day: 250 light bulbs. His thought experiment then explores how daunting our energy challenges will be moving forward and how the efficiency of alternative systems have to come up quite a bit to serve demand. Further, the reality is that here in America we still have to reduce our consumption by 50% just to match the low imprint of our European friends, and likely we will all need to reduce even farther to make any model realistic.

As for the so-called “hydrogen powered economy” his simplistic model exposes this supposed green energy approach for what it really is, fraud.

“Before I close, I would like to say a few words about the idea that “the hydrogen economy” can magically solve our energy problems. The truth is that, in energy terms, today’s hydrogen-powered vehicles don’t help at all. Most prototype hydrogen-powered vehicles use more energy than the fossil-fuel vehicles they replace. The BMW Hydrogen 7, for example, uses 254 kWh per 100 km, but the average fossil car in Europe uses 80 kWh per 100 km.

In contrast, electric vehicles use far less energy: as little as 20 kWh per 100 km, or even 6 kWh per 100 km. The problem with hydrogen is that both the creation and the use of hydrogen are energy-inefficient steps. Adopting hydrogen as a transport fuel would increase our energy demand. And, as I hope the numbers above have shown, supplying energy to match our demand is not going to be easy.”

We need more smart thinking and straight forward approaches like what David MacKay suggests, along with open and honest dialog free from special interest manipulation to make a significant dent in our climate crisis issues.

Selected as the winner for innovative building system

LOS ALTOS, CA — May 14, 2009 — Integrity Block, a manufacturer of sustainable building materials, was selected as this years winner of the 2009 Green Log Home Award for Innovative Green Building System.

As awareness grows regarding the need for more efficient and healthier homes, the demand for new and innovative green building solutions has increased. Created by PrecisionCraft Log & Timber Homes, a leader in the custom log home industry, the GREEN LOG Awards set a goal to seek out useful green building solutions which met this growing demand. This year the GREEN LOG Home Awards recognized Integrity Block for their innovative green building system. Winners were judged on their innovation, effect on the environment, integration, and enhancement to the home.

Matt Franklin, AIA; Lead Designer with Mountain Architects and a judge for the Green Log Awards had this to say, “I love that this product uses elements found everywhere around us. It also provides real life utility in a system we’ve known and used for a hundred years.”

Integrity Block products use up to 50% “post-industrial” recycled content, require 40% less energy to manufacture, and emit 40% less CO2 into the atmosphere than conventional concrete block. The products offer architects far more attractive aesthetics for their designs due to the natural textures and colors which are a result of the unique approach to manufacturing free of toxic dyes.

Integrity Block products meet the same ASTM requirements as conventional concrete block, come in the same common shapes and sizes and are available through a network of dealers that can be found on the Company’s web site.

About The Green Log Home Awards

The GREEN LOG Home Awards were created by PrecisionCraft Log Homes to shine a spotlight on innovative green building solutions. Winners of the GREEN LOG Awards exhibit the kind of products and services which will catapult the building industry into the future.

About Integrity Block

Integrity Block, a manufacturer of sustainable building materials, provides the first green replacement for concrete block. The company’s mission and values are aligned to deliver products that are environmentally friendly yet meet the same performance standards as existing materials. Integrity Block products offer a seamless concrete block replacement for structural, architectural, and landscape applications that can generate valuable LEED credits. For more information, visit the web site at www.integrityblock.com.

Contact: Shawn Cunningham, shawn@integrityblock.com, 650-492-4340

Here is a fantastic photo of a new installation in Danville, California, using our landscape interlocking blocks in Sedona Red.

The Gab Report covered our new green CMU product, check it out here.

Very exciting moves from the Obama adminstration, across the board, with regard to green. This latest announcement opens up federal waters to development of water based wind and ocean power generation.

More of this likely to come from Obama, and these types of moves demonstrate his commitment to leveraging our natural assets to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels. It is clear that a comprehensive approach is being taken that straddles our climate challenges, energy needs, and our economical troubles. Very promissing indeed.

Integrity Block’s earthen replacement for concrete block mentioned in this article. More startups focusing on the built environment and green building materials.

Architecture Week covered our new line of green replacements for concrete block (CMU), from our Top 10 Green Products of 2008 award from Buildinggreen.com.

Green-Buildings.com has covered our new line of clean tech CMU, the only green replacement for concrete blocks.