ESG

There are many new and emerging construction and building technology companies that are working to drive positive impact on the environment and the conditions we live and work in.

We are excited by these companies and others across the USA and the rest of the world and want to help incubate some of these new technologies via Shelter. These will help to create a building development that sets a precedent to go beyond carbon neutral to a carbon negative position.

Some of the companies that we have been exploring whose products excite us include:

Biomason’s mission is to lead the global transition to planet-friendly construction. They are eliminating the need to emit carbon to produce building materials. Their biocement® materials are stronger, lighter, carbon-neutral and healthier for humans and the planet.	Ecovative is a diverse group of engineers, biologists, artists and designers — dedicated to the development of high-performance, environmentally conscious materials.	Hempcrete is the sustainable alternative to a traditional brick and concrete block. Created from a completely natural mix of hemp, lime and water, the load bearing hempcrete blocks are the only carbon negative option of its kind throughout the USA.
ECOPact concrete is sold at a range of low-carbon levels, from 30% to 100% less carbon emissions compared to standard (CEM I) concrete. Where regulatory conditions allow, ECOPact+ concrete integrates upcycled construction and demolition materials, further closing the resource loop to reduce the environmental footprint. ECOPact ZERO offsets and compensates unavoidable process related CO2 emissions.	CarbonCure Technologies is a mineral carbonation engineering company. The company’s technology allows concrete products manufacturers to now make carbon-absorbed concrete products without compromising material performance. CarbonCure has created a class of green concrete solutions.	CarbiCrete offers precast concrete manufacturers the process, materials and support to produce high-quality precast concrete in their existing plant at a lower-cost, and in a way that reduces their carbon footprint.
Climeworks has developed an ecologically and economically attractive method to extract CO2 from ambient air. An interesting short-term application for the technology is the extraction of CO2 from the air inside residential buildings. This allows for substantial reduction in air circulation and corresponding energy requirements inside the building.	IceStone practices sustainability not only in its products but in its facility and production efforts. Steam-powered kilns are used to cure countertop material. The company uses electric/hybrid forklifts, and a huge skylight provides natural light in the factory to save energy.	The company’s trademark, Alkemi, has three different lines of recycled surface and it’s SCS Recycled Content-Certified. The ALKEMI-acrylic line is made with materials like pre-consumer waste aluminium, recycled acrylic, and copper flake, plus it boasts ‘no VOC content.’ The ALKEMI-polyester line is made from post-industrial scrap waste and are made with 84% recycled content
SkyScape Pregrown Modular System features an engineered design that encourages plant growth and provides enhanced stormwater management capabilities.	Unlike many insulation manufacturers, Greenfiber uses mostly recycled paper in its product as a show of respect for natural ecosystems.It’s an environmental friend, capturing carbon instead of releasing it into the atmosphere. They use paper products that have had a previous life in the consumer cycle, instead of adding the cost of continually harvesting raw materials.	Wood fiber board, batt, blown-in high-performance insulation products are vapor open, renewable, recyclable, nontoxic, carbon sequestering and, when manufactured here in America, cost competitive with other popular insulation products. In 2022, GO Lab will become the first company to make wood fiber insulation in North America at its manufacturing facility in Madison, Maine.
Plant Prefab LivingHomes are designed to be energy efficient, sustainable, and healthy for both the homeowners and the planet. They offer a range of designs from an impressive list of architects and firms that include Ray Kappe, Yves Béhar, Kieran Timberlake, and Koto. The styles range from a farmhouse-esque structure to a modernist townhouse. Additionally, Plant Prefab can custom design a home for you. All LivingHomes are solar capable.	Green Magic Homes are covered by soil and rich greenery, making them energy efficient and energy saving while keeping a balanced temperature interior that fosters restful sleep and rejuvenation. Embrace an innovative lifestyle that calms your senses, fills you with energy, joy, and inner peace while keeping you connected to your external environment.	Connect Homes offers a streamlined approach to homebuilding. Its homes can be installed in two months and shipped anywhere in the world, thanks to a patented modular system that cuts transportation costs by up to 90 percent.
Developed the World’s best photovoltaic energy harvester for indoor light environments. Under artificial light such as white LED or Fluorescent bulbs, Lightricity PV technology achieves a conversion efficiency over 35% in the lab, and over 30% in production.	Based in California, this company handcrafts tiles made from reclaimed materials. They grind up things like old glass and porcelain to make their signature clay body to use as the tile base. They were the first company to introduce 100% lead-free glazes back in 1988, and they continue to pioneer the eco tile business.	Mosa is the first ceramic tile company in the world to have gained Cradle to Cradle (C2C) Silver certification for nearly its entire tile collection. The C2C label enjoys widespread recognition and contributes to positive scores for Dutch and international green building labels such as LEED, BREEAM, DGNB, and HQE. In various (inter)national databases, the impact of Mosa tiles on these sustainability labels is clarified.
Kirei provides innovative materials that are visually interesting, functional, and environmentally friendly. Their products are responsibly sourced, whether it be their coconut tiles that are made from reclaimed coconut shells or their Kirei Board and Bamboo panels that are sustainably harvested.	LeNoble Lumber is committed to helping to preserve the forests of the world without compromising on quality. LeNoble Lumber stocks and carries a wide selection of eco-friendly, sustainable lumber and plywood. They partner with FSC-certified lumber producers around the world to provide high quality of products that are sustainably produced and sourced from responsibly managed forests.	VIG (Vacuum Insulated Glass) windows consists of two panes of glass sealed near the edge with spacers between the glass panes where a vacuum is drawn. The vacuum gap between the two glass panes is about the thickness of a human hair. The technology mimics a common thermos, where a far smaller amount of heat can pass through the walls of a thermos, or through the panes of VIG, because there are no molecules between them to transmit heat through the gap. windows can achieve an R-value of 10.
This Colorado-based company uses transition technology to keep homes warm in the cold months and cool in the hot months. A thermochromic filter is joined to the inside of an exterior glass pane, and an air chamber separates it from a Low-E coated interior pane. When the exterior glass hits a certain temp, the windows automatically tint to block solar heat. In the winter, they remain free and clear to let the warmth in.	LaCantina Doors supports green design and is a proud member of the US Green Building Council. From offering FSC-certified wood, to utilizing energy efficient NFRC rated glass, to using recycled packaging and materials, to offering LEED certification, LaCantina Doors is committed to green build practices, sustainability and responsible stewardship.

ESG

Biomason’s mission is to lead the global transition to planet-friendly construction. They are eliminating the need to emit carbon to produce building materials. Their biocement® materials are stronger, lighter, carbon-neutral and healthier for humans and the planet.

Ecovative is a diverse group of engineers, biologists, artists and designers — dedicated to the development of high-performance, environmentally conscious materials.

Hempcrete is the sustainable alternative to a traditional brick and concrete block. Created from a completely natural mix of hemp, lime and water, the load bearing hempcrete blocks are the only carbon negative option of its kind throughout the USA.

CarbonCure Technologies is a mineral carbonation engineering company. The company’s technology allows concrete products manufacturers to now make carbon-absorbed concrete products without compromising material performance. CarbonCure has created a class of green concrete solutions.

CarbiCrete offers precast concrete manufacturers the process, materials and support to produce high-quality precast concrete in their existing plant at a lower-cost, and in a way that reduces their carbon footprint.

IceStone practices sustainability not only in its products but in its facility and production efforts. Steam-powered kilns are used to cure countertop material. The company uses electric/hybrid forklifts, and a huge skylight provides natural light in the factory to save energy.

SkyScape Pregrown Modular System features an engineered design that encourages plant growth and provides enhanced stormwater management capabilities.

Connect Homes offers a streamlined approach to homebuilding. Its homes can be installed in two months and shipped anywhere in the world, thanks to a patented modular system that cuts transportation costs by up to 90 percent.

Developed the World’s best photovoltaic energy harvester for indoor light environments. Under artificial light such as white LED or Fluorescent bulbs, Lightricity PV technology achieves a conversion efficiency over 35% in the lab, and over 30% in production.

Kirei provides innovative materials that are visually interesting, functional, and environmentally friendly. Their products are responsibly sourced, whether it be their coconut tiles that are made from reclaimed coconut shells or their Kirei Board and Bamboo panels that are sustainably harvested.