USG Corporation, a leading building products company, recently introduced a self-leveling underlayment that offers a significant reduction in several environmental impacts. USG’s DUROCK ECOCAP Self-Leveling Underlayment utilizes an all new proprietary geopolymer technology developed at USG’s Corporate Innovation Center in Libertyville, Illinois.
“The technology behind ECOCAP has the power to change the building products industry while keeping in line with the highest environmental standards,” said Ashish Dubey, senior research associate with USG. “After extensive research, I’m thrilled that this product has come to fruition and am proud to have worked with USG to develop it.”
DUROCK ECOCAP reduces carbon footprint by 50 percent and reduces embodied energy by 45 percent when compared to Portland cement-based or calcium aluminate cement-based underlayment products (data based on in-house LCA studies of 1,000 SF of ¼” thick self-leveling underlayments).
The underlayment’s lower surface pH enhances compatibility and durability of floor-covering adhesives used in flooring applications. Overall, the 75 percent recycled content in the cementitious binder, low embodied energy and low carbon footprint make this underlayment a highly environmentally sustainable product. Additionally, ECOCAP may assist in obtaining LEED credits 4.1, 4.2, 5.1 and 5.2.
ECOCAP also uses up to 50 percent less water compared to other Portland cement and calcium aluminate-based products currently in the market. These attributes are not only better for the environment, but also contribute toward the 2030 Challenge, a benchmarking system for the architectural and engineering community which compares each building design against the carbon footprint of similar buildings.
For More information Visit: www.USG.com.
