

“When searching for products that provide real, environmentally appropriate, cost-effective solutions, Italian tile was a natural choice for the project,” notes Ceramic Tiles of Italy. Adding, “Italian companies also employ responsible manufacturing practices and often recycle material and water waste back into the production cycle. In addition to its inherently green attributes, Italian manufacturers are patenting ceramics with an antimicrobial mineral embedded into the body of the tile, producing LEED-compliant collections made with recycled content, engineering energy-saving systems for ventilated wall facades and manufacturing tiles with photovoltaic modules.”
Franco Manfredini, president of Confindustria Ceramica comments, “Green is in our DNA. Our manufacturers are organized in industrial districts and are directly involved in the responsible management of their territory. They have direct control on the environmental and social impact of their manufacturing operations and on the local trade of their products.”

After exploring Ceramic Tiles of Italy’s numerous eco-friendly collections, the design team chose products from nine different Italian manufacturers. “This project really opened my eyes to the rich world of Italian tile. I was delighted to find so many well-designed, sustainable and versatile collections, says project designer Patricia Gaylor. “I used it both indoors and out,” she adds.

IBS attendees will be able to take house tours (January 12-15, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily) and learn directly from the design team ways to incorporate sustainable practices into their projects using ceramic tiles. Transportation will be provided directly from the Orange County Convention Center. Green Builder Media is also partnering with the Department of Energy, Building America, Energy Star, and FLASH to execute energy, water, hurricane protection, and general sustainability testing and modeling on the home. There will be a white paper energy analysis provided at the end of the project as well as an accredited seminar on Green Builder’s website discussing the product selection.