Products - June 2006

Mitsubishi Jet Towel
Even more sustainable than using recycled paper towels, the Mitsubishi Jet Towel dries hands in six seconds or less. Unlike typical dryers where users rub their hands together under a nozzle for half a minute or more, this touch-free system works just by putting your hands inside it (which turns on the fans) and then slowly pulling them back out (which turns them off). Strong air jets—almost 300 feet per second—blow water off both sides of the hands, capturing the drops in a tank at the bottom of the unit. The Jet Towel is much quieter than other high-velocity hand dryers. The manufacturer provides explanatory stickers with simple instructions for first-time users. Though new to North America, the Jet Towel has been available in Japan for about ten years. PACARC, LLC; Seattle, WA. www.mitsubishijettowel.com; phone: 877-651-8820

Victor Fabrics
Victor provides advanced green fabrics to the contract furniture industry. Their Asana panel fabric is made with their “technical nutrient” textile, Eco Intelligent polyester—an almost infinitely recyclable material that has achieved Gold certification from McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry’s Cradle-to-Cradle material program. Asana is appropriate for a range of panel applications, and is available in a variety of neutral colors to coordinate with any interior. Victor Innovatex, Inc.; Saint-Georges, Quebec, Canada. www.victor-innovatex.com; phone 418-227-9897

EzKote Green
Ezkote Green is a release agent applied to the forms used in concrete work. Unlike conventional form-release oils that can be a major source of VOCs, soil contamination, and human health risks, Ezkote is made with a zero-VOC, biodegradable vegetable oil carrier rather than a petroleum product. It can be used on wood, metal, or plastic forms, leaving the concrete free of stains and voids. This chemically reactive material interacts with the freshly poured concrete to make a barrier between the concrete and the formwork. It’s part of the US SPEC line of concrete products from US Mix. US Mix Products Company; Denver, CO. www.usmix.com; phone: 800-397-9903

PVC-Free Fabrics
Draper Inc. offers a half-dozen PVC-free fabrics for its interior shade systems. The fabrics—made by Hexcel, Rockland Industries, and 3G Mermet—are made of fiberglass, acrylic-coated fiberglass, or cotton/poly blend, in mesh and blackout. Some of them also have recycled content. These fabrics are thinner and lighter than their PVC counterparts, so they can use smaller tubes and hardware. In addition to improving light quality, interior shades can reduce the energy used for heating and cooling. Draper, Inc.; Spiceland, IN. www.draperinc.com; phone: 765-987-7999