A recent ditty in the Journal of Light Construction (yes, I do read scintillating things don’t I?) touched on smog eating roofs being installed by KB Homes. My curiousity was piqued.
MonierLifetile, a Boral roofing company, indeed makes such a tile. Their website explains the technology, ” The BoralPure™ SMOG-EATING Technology works via a catalyst embedded in the upper portion of the roof tile. When exposed to sunlight it speeds up oxidization reducing nitrogen oxide, which can be generated from fossil fuel burning processes resulting from operation of motor vehicles. Working much like a catalytic converter does in a car; SMOG-EATING Tile transforms harmful substances into safe ones, protecting the quality of the air we breathe.”
The claim is that 2000 square feet of the tile eats up nitrogen oxide equivalent to a car driving 10,800 miles. That is pretty good. Now, a 2000 sq foot roof is a big roof. Per the JLC article, KB Homes is intstalling these roofs in California, where I suppose there are more ranch style homes, and hence larger roofs. A quick search of KB Homes website didn’t turn up anything on these roofs, though I’m guessing it is contained within their Energy Star or Built to Order sections. As an aside, I did notice that KB Homes is using the Home Energy Performance Guide and provides a performance profile on each of their new homes. Kudos to KB Homes.
MonierLifetile, a Boral roofing company, indeed makes such a tile. Their website explains the technology, ” The BoralPure™ SMOG-EATING Technology works via a catalyst embedded in the upper portion of the roof tile. When exposed to sunlight it speeds up oxidization reducing nitrogen oxide, which can be generated from fossil fuel burning processes resulting from operation of motor vehicles. Working much like a catalytic converter does in a car; SMOG-EATING Tile transforms harmful substances into safe ones, protecting the quality of the air we breathe.”
The claim is that 2000 square feet of the tile eats up nitrogen oxide equivalent to a car driving 10,800 miles. That is pretty good. Now, a 2000 sq foot roof is a big roof. Per the JLC article, KB Homes is intstalling these roofs in California, where I suppose there are more ranch style homes, and hence larger roofs. A quick search of KB Homes website didn’t turn up anything on these roofs, though I’m guessing it is contained within their Energy Star or Built to Order sections. As an aside, I did notice that KB Homes is using the Home Energy Performance Guide and provides a performance profile on each of their new homes. Kudos to KB Homes.
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