I am often amazed at how, with all the technological advancements we have made, many products haven’t changed in decades. And I am not taking about mechanical products. Today I am talking about drywall!
Drywall is what divides the walls of the rooms in our homes (at least in most of the U.S.). Drywall is nothing more than gypsum powder mixed with water and baked between two thick pieces of paper. I am simplifying and generalizing here, but generally speaking that’s what drywall is.
While watching some TED videos recently, I came across a presentation about EcoRock. I had no idea how un-friendly to the environment the production of drywall was!
So a company called Serious Materials decided to create a green alternative to gypsum drywall. EcoRock, as is the product called, is not only more environmentally friendly, but it performs better at a similar price.
Here is why it is eco-friendly (copied directly from their site):
- EcoRock uses 80% less energy to produce than gypsum drywall. Naturally cured and dried, EcoRock eliminates the energy-intensive, high-C02 generating calcining and oven-drying found in gypsum drywall production.
- EcoRock is made of 80% recycled materials. EcoRock is made using 80% post-industrial recycled waste, including waste from steel and cement plants—with no gypsum.
- EcoRock is designed to be fully reutilized at end of life. EcoRock can be used as a pH additive for soils and can be returned to the production of EcoRock and other building materials as a valuable raw material. Unlike gypsum, EcoRock may be safely disposed of in landfills if necessary.
- EcoRock is the most mold-resistant and lowest emitting drywall. EcoRock outperforms all other mold resistant drywall by 50%. EcoRock scores the highest ASTM D3273 rating of 10 out of 10, showing zero mold growth over a six week period, (other published tests go only four weeks). No harsh anti-fungal chemicals are used on its surface or within its core.
- EcoRock also drastically reduces the quantity of indoor air contaminants over any other drywall. EcoRock generates 60% less dust, and presents no negative effects of airborne mercury often generated during wallboard production using FGD (recycled) gypsum from coal plants.
As if all that wasn’t enough, EcoRock has a termite resistant face and core, it is impact resistant, ceiling sag resistant, generates no mercury in production, and can contribute up to 8 LEED credits.
Now I wish I only had a home to renovate so I could use EcoRock!
