Regular readers of this blog will know that the Greenbuild Conference and Expo is the world’s largest event dedicated to sustainable building. And I believe the real action is on the Expo floor, .. although there was a lot of chatter this year about changing personnel at USGBC.

This week there are more than 500 exhibitors spread across the 150,000 square feet Expo floor in Los Angeles. And while the Expo is “the” target rich environment for green people this year, the latest innovative products and tech services are also on display at the Expo, including nearly 100 first time Greenbuild exhibitors.

Among the most exciting new product of this year is the d-Rain Joint Rainwater Filter Drain. Stormwater running off hardscape is both a real issue and a major first cost for real estate development. The d-Rain Joint Rainwater Filter Drain installs and looks like a standard expansion joint used in hardscape, yet it provides a gap slightly smaller than 1″ wide that allows water to flow through to the subsurface. Available in aluminum or gray polypropylene, it comes in 8′ lengths and can be installed in concrete or asphalt driveways, sidewalks, and other applications. The d-Rain allows drainage at 2 gallons per minute per linear foot, up to a maximum of 5 gpm/linear foot.

Possibly the most innovative product is Aquion’s aqueous hybrid ion “saltwater” battery. If onsite renewable energy is going to go mainstream and be more than an aesthetic feature, the issue of the storage of power will have to be much better addressed. Tesla’s Powerwall was a big hit at last year’s Expo. Aquion has an arguably environmentally safer and much faster charging battery. Whether it is really is ready for prime time and installation in your building may be a question, but this product may be just what is needed to fundamentally change how we address energy in the built environment.

Each year the good folks at BuildingGreen recognize green building products that significantly improve upon standard “business-as-usual” practices. Rather than attempt to repeat their efforts at searching out products helping to transform the green building industry, here is a link to their article, Top 10 Products for 2017.

If the Expo is a good barometer of the state of green building green building is thriving.