i believe that global warming is happening but that is grossly exaggerated and a simple natural cycle. (don't try to convince me otherwise). however, i do believe that the U.S. is a nation of gluttony and should use much less energy than it currently using.

but

1. the "greener" solution should cost no more than the "non-green" counterpart

2. the "greener" solution should in no way be inferior than the "nongreen" solution.

in other words, it should be green and smart

this product gets my GREEN N' SMART seal of aproval

Nice invention. At least on the production side it helps the environment by cutting down on the greenhouse gases.

Although am not sure if these are to be used for the exterior of the house or the interior? It doesn't also say if it traps heat inside the house it will be built on better or not. Coz in cold regions it would be better if it traps the heat but in warmer regions it would be better if it's the opposite thus lowering the heating or AC requirements inside a house that's built with these.

In addition, how does it stand up to something like a Category 5 Hurricane... is it durable that it could withstand hurricane fury winds?

Too bad that this came out in the midst of the mortgage crisis. At least those who were hit hard and lost their homes could somehow feel hope that their next house if ever will perhaps be built by this material.

I was hoping that maybe they could integrate the new discovery "buckypaper" into real estate or property construction as well. Just that, maybe it costs a lot though. (~_~)

Only 20 percent the energy, and made from industrial waste....and it sells for 5 times the retail price of regular drywall.

Why?

Chipper Smoltz said:
"Although am not sure if these are to be used for the exterior of the house or the interior? It doesn't also say if it traps heat inside the house it will be built on better or not. Coz in cold regions it would be better if it traps the heat but in warmer regions it would be better if it's the opposite thus lowering the heating or AC requirements inside a house that's built with these."

Drywall is used on the interior of a house, it's the chalky stuff that lines all walls (in my neighborhoods, at least)

There aren't materials that "traps heat inside", only materials that insulate. Insulation keeps warmth from escaping your home when it's cold outside, and keeps your conditioned air from warming when it's hot out.

Less energy, industrial byproducts, yet more $$$?

1) Anything green gets to slap on a bit of extra profit. This is balanced by contractors trying for government credits, tax breaks, and the added selling power of "green" construction.

2) Industrialzation. New plants, new materials, new suppliers, all mean more cost. The old plants have steady supplies, practiced processes, and seasoned employees. Anytime something is new, it cost more until the supply chains are set and until enough product is moved to establish the economies of scale.

3) While most of it is post industrial waste, we are not privey to the other materials which may have a higher cost.

4) Paying for the research. Anytime a new reasearch is marketed, it must be more exspensive to pay for that research. Once that bill is paid, the cost can go down to materials, labor, and profit. (In the same way video games have high introductory prices, but swiftly fall off, and are often later remarked and resold as "greatest hits." This is because programming games is exspensive, making copies of the disk cost practically nothing.)

According to a book I happened to have here from my local library (Green Building Products) when I stumbled upon this article, there are several companies in the USA that already use post-consumer synthetic gypsum derived from flue-gas desulphurization. Temple-Inland products contain 95% recycled gypsum content. Sheetrock brand panels are made by USG Corporation and their recycled gypsum content was 37% in 2004. Seven of their plants make panels with 97% recycled content. Generally speaking gypsum board seems to be considered a healthy material that can be manufactured from industrial waste.

BTW, if a building material traps heat it means that it is slow to let heat or cold flow through the material. Your building inside gets hot/cold if the temperature outside is different. That may be faster if you change your construction methods or if you change your materials. If you install insulating materials if will trap heat/cold more than if you are not installing those materials. Does not matter whether you install them on the exterior or interior. It may have implications on water vapor penetration and air tightness though. It does not matter which way the heat flows. To the inside or to the outside, it either flows or it does not.

Karsten
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http://www.polluteless.com
Practical Advice to Pollute Less