At the 2023 Greenbuild International Expo and Conference last week in Washington, DC, building product manufacturers and service providers gathered to showcase their offerings.
Nearly 250 exhibitors displayed their wares in the 230,000-square-foot showroom. Here are some findings from the show that can help contractors and their subs save energy, reduce waste or meet green building requirements.
the machine
Oakland, California-based robotics company Urban Machine aims to eliminate the problem of construction waste. Using AI-powered technology, its robot titled The Machine uses claws to remove scrap, screws and nails from reclaimed wood, which can then be shipped and sold to reduce scrap and reduce the material’s environmental impact, according to its site web.
The wood is held in place by shuttles while the fasteners are removed, and then surface materials are removed with rotating brushes. The system also performs quality control to ensure the wood is ready for new construction, the company says.
Online code library
It’s no secret that jurisdictions across the country have different sets of codes, and builders need to know the local areas where they’re building. Enter MadCAD.
The Washington, DC-based company’s cloud-based reference library compiles information about codes in the US and its territories. It also offers codes in bundles, where users can buy a bundle of the guidelines. Users can also choose to buy books for a fixed price, according to the website.
Prospective builders can search MadCAD’s code library by subject, area, or standard code, and it includes codes ranging from ASHRAE to SMACNA.
Construction ESG platform
Based in Savannah, Georgia, Green Badger makes a SaaS platform for builders with a core focus on sustainability. With its Construction ESG platform, for example, contractors can monitor M/WBE and supplier data on their jobsites tracks carbon, water and energy data. It also streamlines the Corporate Social Responsibility reporting process, according to its website. The program is available on phones, tablets and computers.
Carbon footprint analysis
London-based software firm Qflow, formerly Qualis Flow, collects supply chain sustainability and performance data in one place. QFlow analyzes a construction project’s data through audits and analytics and weighs material costs and on-site waste data with a carbon footprint of the project, according to its website. Although the product is based in the UK, it is available in the US
pVault
Builders know that with the sheer amount of paper flooding a job, it’s hard to keep track of everything.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based Paperless Environments’ pVault platform stores documents digitally. Users can scan and take photos of their documents, such as receipts, and upload them to the platform, according to the website. It also allows cloud collaboration, meaning the user doesn’t have to be on the computer or device that uploaded the original documents.
Timber Drive structural fastening system
The Simpson Strong-Tie Structural Fastening System is an industrial standing screwdriver built for repetitive clamping on heavy duty jobs such as floors and walkways. The fastener can be adjusted from 3” to 6 ¼” bolts, and the diameter is adjusted for #10–#12, #14–0.315”, 0.316–0.394” shanks, according to the website of the company
The company claims that the clamping system reduces the load on workers’ backs, knees and shoulders.
Air quality monitors
After a summer of large forest fires across the country, air quality has been a hot topic among the American construction industry. Among Particles Plus air quality monitors, which are marketed to businesses from builders to facility managers.
Its ambient air monitors can detect particles between 5 nm and 25 μm in any outdoor environment. The company also offers portable particle counters in addition to the mounted offering, which is useful for contractors who move around a job site.
The Greenbuild Conference is owned by Informa, the parent company of Industry Dive.
