Environmentally responsible insulating construction blocks and structures constructed primarily of recycled materials are disclosed. The environmentally friendly construction blocks and structures comprise shredded rubber tire pieces coated with silica fume, slag cement and cement, which are then mixed with water and formed in a mold. A layer of grout or a fireproof material may be disposed on one side of the environmentally responsible insulating construction block. The environmentally responsible insulating construction blocks can be used in place of wood blocking for roof assembly applications such as installation of a drip edge or wall coping; or in expansion joints. The environmentally responsible insulating construction blocks provide high insulation as well as strength for applications such as green roofing, wall construction and green roofing decks. Environmentally friendly structures can be built by pouring the coated shredded rubber tire pieces into molds to form walls, and then to pour a layer of the coated shredded rubber tire pieces as a roof deck, thereby creating a self-supporting structure in a monolithic pour.

A protected membrane roof system for installation on a roof decking comprising an upper insulation board having an upwardly-facing upper board top surface and an opposite downwardly-facing upper board bottom surface, a ballast material positioned over the upper insulation board, and at least one fastener assembly having a base seated beneath the upper board, a rod extending substantially vertically from the base of sufficient size so as to extend beyond the upper insulation board and the ballast material, and a cap engaged with the rod above the ballast material, whereby the wind uplift resistance of the protected membrane roof system is improved and scour of the ballast material is reduced by effectively anchoring the ballast material to the upper insulation board beneath the ballast material.

The invention relates to a method of making an acoustic product and a novel acoustic product, wherein the acoustic product is made by adhering a facing to a first major surface of an acoustic insulation element by the use of an adhesive and curing the adhesive. The adhesive is an aqueous adhesive composition which is free of phenol and formaldehyde and comprises: a component (i) in form of one or more lignosulfonate lignins having a carboxylic acid group content of 0.03 to 2.0 mmol/g, such as 0.03 to 1.4 mmol/g, such as 0.075 to 2.0 mmol/g, such as 0.075 to 1.4 mmol/g, based on the dry weight of the lignosulfonate lignins, a component (ii) in form of one or more cross-linkers.

In an embodiment, a method includes applying a liquid plural component polymer to a sloped roof to form a protective surface that inhibits moisture seepage to the roof sheathing. In some embodiments, the plural component polymer may be a polyurea compound having a hardening time that is less than approximately 10 minutes. In some embodiments, one or more of the components may be aerated prior to application to the roof substrate. In some embodiments, one or more polystyrene panels may be affixed to the sloped roof prior to application of the liquid plural component polymer. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

An apparatus for treating water in soil-less growing systems has a container having a cross-sectional area and a height, with a first access port for liquid at an upper end, and a second access port for liquid at a lower end, and a porous matrix filling the container, the matrix comprising a hydrophilic polymer mixed with rocks and natural minerals. Water drawn from a soil-less growing system, is urged into the container through one of the liquid access ports, causes the water to flow through the matrix in the container, the water in contact with the rocks and natural minerals in the matrix, leaching elements from the matrix, and causes the water to exit the container at the other of the liquid access ports, to flow back to the soil-less growing system.

A structure has a high-impact plastic polymer tile comprising interconnected individual cells, each having an outer wall of a vertical dimension forming a closed outer periphery, and a matrix filling the cells from a lowermost extremity of the walls of the cells, to level below an uppermost extremity of the internal walls of the cells, the matrix comprising material supporting plant growth. With the tile lying on a base surface, the individual cells of the tile constrain the matrix material from horizontal translation, and wherein the walls of the cells, extending above the level of the matrix in the cells, provide support for any wheeled vehicle without disturbing the matrix.

One embodiment provides a modular green roof tray, house plant growth media and horticulture growth media, and a tree protection mat for weed and moisture control made from recycled disposable diapers. The growth medium and tree protection mat contain superabsorbent materials from diaper that can absorb waters and greatly reduce irrigation so to provide a drought resistant feature. One embodiment also provides a manufacturing process to perform 100% recycling of disposed diapers.

The invention is directed to a mineral fibre product, comprising mineral fibres in contact with a binder resulting from the curing of an aqueous binder composition free of phenol and formaldehyde.

Environmentally responsible insulating construction blocks and structures constructed primarily of recycled materials are disclosed. The environmentally friendly construction blocks and structures comprise shredded rubber tire pieces coated with silica fume, slag cement and cement, which are then mixed with water and formed in a mold. A layer of grout or a fireproof material may be disposed on one side of the environmentally responsible insulating construction block. The environmentally responsible insulating construction blocks provide high insulation as well as strength for applications such as green roofing, wall construction and green roofing decks. Environmentally friendly structures can be built by pouring the coated shredded rubber tire pieces into molds to form walls, and then to pour a layer of the coated shredded rubber tire pieces as a roof deck, thereby creating a self-supporting structure in a monolithic pour.

Exemplary systems and methods allow for enhanced energy performance of buildings, for example hybrid roof systems. The system may utilize a material having a porous water-retaining substrate and a high albedo coating. The high albedo coating may be disposed on the outer surface of the porous water-retaining substrate.