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	Eco-Materials in Japan

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Eco-Materials in Japan

In recent years, the so-called sick house syndrome has become an increasingly serious issue in many countries. Its single most significant cause may be the use of formaldehyde and organic volatile materials in home construction. There are, however, any number of factors that could contribute to deteriorating indoor air quality, including dust, dampness, and mildew, as well as questionable materials used not only in the building of the home but also in its furniture, equipment, and appliances.

As a result, the use of insulation, wall-papering, and other materials that are not harmful to human health is becoming recognized by more and more homeowners and homebuilders as a matter of real importance to the quality of life indoors.

All the "eco-materials" listed below meet Japan's strict regulatory standards, but individual homeowners are urged to experience for themselves the difference in indoor environmental quality these products provide in comparison to conventional materials.

Natural Paints

S Oil Finish (right): Specially developed so as to reduce the environmental burden during manufacture and use. It comes in handsome amber tones.
Beeswax paint (left): Because it contains beeswax, this paint has unique sealing properties that make it very durable and dirt-resistant.

J-Panel Wood Panels

The J-Panel wood panels are laminated wood panels for home interiors that are made with Japanese cedar, cypress, and larch. The wood is pressed together in layers for additional strength.

Shirasu Interior Wall-Finishing Material

This is a 100% natural interior wall-finishing material manufactured with Shirasu volcanic ash from the southern island of Kyushu in Japan. A white, fine-particled substance in volcanic ash, Shirasu provides this wall-finishing material with moisture-regulating and air-purifying functions. The finishing material is also beautiful, successfully complementing any type of interior design, and highly durable.

Scallop Shell Interior Wall-Finishing Material

The "scallop" here refers not to a design motif but to the basic material with which this interior wall-finishing material is made. Containing scallop shells from Hokkaido that have been ground into minute particles, this finishing material helps keep indoor air clean, controls humidity, and has a distinctive, subtle sheen to it.

Insulation Material

A natural wood-derived, cellulose fiber-based material for insulating and soundproofing home interiors. Its natural qualities also provide this material with moisture-regulating functions.
Photo: DECOS

Wool-Based Insulation Material

Composed 80% of virgin wool and 20% of polyester resin, this insulation material is treated with boric acid for insect control and enhanced durability. It also helps control humidity in the home. Photo: ITN JAPAN

The "Dr. Dolphin" Airtightness Gauge

A unique device developed by the OM Solar Association for measuring airtightness in home construction. Able to measure even virtually imperceptible air movements, this extremely useful device also automatically analyzes the data input.