B-earth

The environmental performance of the B-earth paint system is highlighted with respect to the two main toxic factors associated with paints:
No metallic releases, e.g. lead and other toxic metals are not found in the system.
Low releases of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), a primary climate change impact, during application and thereafter, i.e. the VOC contents of the products in the system are less than 5 grams per litre, which, according to international standards, are classified as 0 VOC paints.

These environmental and quality aspects of the B-earth paint system translate into a high-quality exterior coating system, which can be applied to any surface, and which exceeds the international environmental requirements. In addition, the scrub resistance and cleanability of the system is extremely good, which, together with its low smell, non-toxic characteristics, also makes it a superior choice for indoor applications.

Willem Cronje    082 895 3817
Annie Haggard    079 222 6 111
Tel: 087808 7521 | 012 808 1 888
Fax: 088 012 8080790
info@b-earth.co.za
www.b-earth.co.za

Eco-insulation

During the freezing winter months heat is generated inside your dwelling, using electric heaters, gas heaters or in a fire place. This heat is only a temporary remedy and is a false sense of comfort. The moment you extinguish the heat source, you immediately start losing all the heat you have generated, which rises and escapes through the ceiling into the atmosphere. Eco-insulation will reduce this upward heat loss by up to 89% after you have installed this world class product. 

Occupants will not experience that hot dry air discomfort normally experienced with artificially generated heat. With Eco-Insulation you would simply generate enough heat until you are comfortable, then switch off the heat source and experience the insulation at work. Eco-Insulation will now retain the heat in your home for many hours thereafter. Eco-Insulation significantly reduces your electricity account in winter. 

Eco-Insulation carries a lifetime guarantee and can never deteriorate or become ineffective.

Why install expensive, unhealthy and electricity consuming air conditioners which require regular maintenance and servicing when S.A.B.S. approved Eco-Insulation is a fraction of the cost. Eco-Insulation remains constant all year round and carries a life time guarantee of the product. Eco-Insulation can never become ineffective or deteriorate and will promote significant electricity savings. The recovery period from the cost of Eco-Insulation is plus minus 3 years in energy consumption.

Global warming is imminent. The hot African sun shines on the roof of your home or office causing the attic area inside your roof to become like an oven, often reaching temperatures of up to 60°C. This heat is transferred through the ceiling into your home and it is this fact that makes your living space unbearably hot, causing the occupants headaches, diminished concentration, irritation and discomfort. Eco-Insulation is an absolute necessity and will reduce the downward heat flow by up to 86%

www.eco-insulation.co.za

Jetmaster

CLOSED COMBUSTION FIREPLACES - A convenient truth

With South Africa’s electricity in frighteningly short supply, interest rates rising and winter approaching, it is time to decide what heating source one will rely on this winter. There is a wide array of heating appliances on the market, but they vary substantially in terms of cost, convenience, effectiveness, environmental friendliness, and safety, to name but a few considerations. Here are some points to consider when investing in a heating source:

WHICH FUEL SHOULD YOU USE?
Fuel options include wood, coal, anthracite, gas and electricity. Of these, coal, anthracite and wood offer the cheapest running costs. Wood and anthracite are the most affordable fuels, and it should be noted that wood is preferable from an environmental standpoint: not only is it the only renewable energy (the others are fossil fuels), but it offers the cleanest burn. How? Burning a fossil fuel contributes to global warming, due to releasing additional CO² into the atmosphere. However, burning wood has a neutral CO² balance; i.e., the CO² emitted during burning equals the amount of CO² absorbed during the tree’s growing process. Therefore, wood emerges as the affordable, eco-friendly fuel of choice.

WHAT TYPE OF APPLIANCE SHOULD YOU CHOOSE?
There is no shortage of choices when it comes to heating appliances: electric heaters, gas heaters, under floor heating, open fireplaces (fuelled by electricity, anthracite, coal, wood or gas), and closed combustion fireplaces. Your decision will depend upon your priorities: heating needs, budget, convenience and safety requirements, environmental considerations and stylistic preference.

Most South Africans are aware of the common heating methods, but might be less familiar with closed combustion fireplaces.

WHAT ARE CLOSED COMBUSTION FIREPLACES?
Simply put, closed combustion fireplaces consist of a contained firebox made of steel or cast iron. Most burn either wood or coal, but here the focus will be on wood-burning units due to their lower environmental impact and affordability. Every fireplace requires air to burn, but closed combustion fireplaces have a distinct advantage: you control the amount of air that enters the firebox, which means that you determine both the heat output and the consumption of wood. So you decide when to turn up the heat if you are chilly, or tone it down if the room is sufficiently warm.

“Turbo” technology, similar to that used in high-end cars, is utilized by the better quality closed combustion fireplaces. Termed secondary or double combustion - the equivalent of fitting a turbo into your fireplace - the process works like this: as wood burns, it converts to charcoal, gas and volatile liquids which release heat. After primary combustion, the gases still contain fuel which, if given an opportunity, will burn again. Closed combustion fireplaces with a secondary combustion “turbo” system enable secondary combustion to occur. The result: increased heat output, slower consumption of wood and lower CO² emissions.

HOW DO CLOSED FIREPLACES COMPARE WITH OPEN FIREPLACES?
While open fireplaces offer a captivating ambiance created by the crackling sound of wood, closed combustion wood-burning fireplaces offer distinct performance, safety, convenience and cost advantages over traditional open fireplaces- without sacrificing aesthetic appeal:
1. Heat output – Closed combustion fireplaces offer at least twice the heat output of an open fireplace.    Heat output is enhanced with an exposed flue, which radiates substantial heat. A typical masonry    chimney causes as much as 80% of the heat to be lost up the chimney.
2. Efficiency – Closed combustion fireplaces use ⅓ of the wood used by an open fireplace. Controlling the    amount of air that enters the fireplace enables the wood to burn longer, which reduces your heating    costs and the inconvenience of reloading your fireplace.
3. Safety – Most closed combustion fireplaces have a large glass door, providing an optimal view of the fire    while containing sparks and smoke.
4. Cleaning – A quality closed combustion fireplace with secondary combustion will require emptying ash     only once a month.
5. Environment – A secondary combustion system creates a very clean burn. The result is fewer harmful    pollutants released into the environment.
6. Convenience – These fireplaces are easy to install, quick to light and simple to clean.
7. Cost – While the purchase price might be higher, the running costs of closed combustion fireplaces are    significantly lower than open fireplaces because wood is one of the cheapest fuels.

How do YOU choose between brands of closed fireplaces?
The global trend towards closed combustion fireplaces has led to a wide variety of brands on the market, many of which looks similar but varies in price. Home improvement centres and specialist fireplace retailers will offer a range of fireplaces. Here are a few important considerations:
• Cast iron versus steel – Either option will become a feature in your home for many years, as long as    good quality materials and workmanship were used. Steel offers more contemporary design options,    while cast iron is more robust.
• Free-standing versus insert – Free-standing fireplaces with exposed flues are optimal due to maximum    heat efficiency. If you have an existing masonry fireplace and want to fit a closed combustion unit into    it, an insert is recommended.
• Design – Choose a design that is pleasing to your eye, the style of your home, and your wallet.
• Heat output – Make sure the heat output is appropriate for your room size, and that the price is    commensurate with the kW/h. As a rule of thumb, aim for 1 kW per 14 m2 in single story spaces (e.g.    8.5 kW for a 120 m2 space).
• Secondary combustion – “Turbo” technology is preferable because it results in increased heat output,    slower consumption and lower CO² emissions.
• Radiation and convection heating – Fireplaces with both convection and radiation heating systems offer    maximum heat output and even distribution of heat. Radiation heating refers to the heat given off by    the metal and glass of the fireplace and flue. Convection heating refers to air being heated in a casing    around the firebox, and distributed into the room through vents.
• Warranty and track record – A warranty of at least 3 years on manufactured parts is critical, as well as a    solid track record in the country of origin. Visit the brand’s website and speak to others who use that    brand of fireplace.
• Installation – Safe installation is a must, as is a high quality flue system. Double insulated pipes from    the ceiling to the cowl are essential for safety and condensation-reduction. Choose a professional    fireplace installer, or if you are a DIY person, purchase a quality flue kit with clear installation    instructions.
• Dry wood – Burn only dry wood which has been split and dried for at least 6 months. Wet wood is    inefficient (lower heat output), risky (creosote deposits in the flue), and unfriendly to the environment    (more pollution).

www.jetmaster.co.za

Karongwe

Handmade Furniture is one of the last specialty, hand crafted furniture, factories in Southern Africa. We are located at the foot of the Magaliesberg Mountains, just outside of Hartbeespoort, South Africa.
Karongwe is family owned by a father and son team, Tino and Dalain Roets. All our furniture items are hand crafted, one of a kind and exclusively available directly from our factory. Our products are made using traditional construction methods by qualified cabinet makers. Drawers and boxes are joined with “through dovetail” joints. These joints are very difficult to make but extremely strong. Mortice and Tennon joints are also used and very carefully cut to ensure a perfect, snug fit that guarantees the integrity of each joint made. We do not mass produce our furniture. Each piece is individually crafted with the utmost attention given to every detail.

All our furniture items are made from All Brown Kiaat. Kiaat or “Pterocarpus Angolensis” is an indigenous African Hardwood and forms part of the Teak family of Hardwoods due to its attributes of strength, weight and stability. The timber is sourced from sustainable plantations with 35-40 year rotations. We are also very proud of the fact that all of our furniture is manufactured using only Kiaat. We do not use any imitation materials such as hardboard, plywood or masonite. By recycling all the off-cut timber we can manufacture all the drawer sides, drawer bottoms and backboards of cabinets. This limits our wastage to almost 0%. This process is much more labour intensive and it takes a lot of time but it definitely separates our product from anything else available on the market today. We are also playing our part by not wasting valuable resources.

Our facility is set up to manufacture our standard range of Bedroom furniture, Diningroom Furniture, Home Entertainment and Lounge Furniture, Executive Office Furniture and also to continue in our history of custom built furniture.

Even in this age of imitation, real wood still serves the need for contemporary living. Our furnishings are prized by those who demand the finest functional showpieces, made from man’s oldest, yet most interesting material…Solid wood.

Dalain Roets: 082 955 0715
Tel: 012 253 1653
Fax: 012 253 1722

www.karongwefurniture.co.za

KEIM Biosil

Multipurpose interior paint for healthy living enhancing quality of life with silicate paints

Unlike in the past, we now spend about 90% of our time indoors, which means that we're much more demanding in terms of healthy living, functionality and individuality. As a result, the indoor microclimate is more than ever a major factor in well-being and quality of life. Painted finishes have a major part to play – a well-considered colour scheme using the right materials can greatly enhance well-being. Every building contractor is now on the receiving end of a major, legitimate demand for building materials which are environmentally friendly and nonhazardous to health. What's the point of beautiful walls if they emit harmful substances and contaminate the indoor atmosphere? There is no dispute that harmful substances like solvents and plasticisers can lead to a general feeling of malaise, with children being substantially more sensitive than adults. Even a low concentration of harmful substances can impair their health. It is of particular concern that these substances may often be emitted from paintwork into the indoor atmosphere for months on end. Neither solvents nor plasticisers are added to KEIM Biosil, so there's absolutely no question of hazardous emissions. After all, what's not there can't be emitted.

Moreover, thanks to the natural alkalinity of its water glass binder, Biosil doesn't even contain preservatives, so making it ideally suitable for allergy sufferers. Biosil's excellent environmental profile has been confirmed by the industry association behind the natureplus quality mark, and is ISO 14001 certified. Environmentally friendly and nonhazardous to ones health are our wide range of Keim and Livos products.

Tel: 021 905 8985 | 082 714 5491
Fax:  0027 - (0)86 553 8408
keim.sa@mweb.co.za
www.keimpaints.co.za

Pronature

In a world where synthetic and petroleum-based lacquers, laminates, paints and thinners are everyday solutions to our ever-changing environment, EnviroTouch provides a real alternative: The ProNature range of entirely natural wall paints, wood and stone finishes for all interior and exterior applications. This range is currently the only range in South Africa to be made of 100% natural ingredients.

Dangerous solvents have been omitted in favour of essential oils, and crude oil based chemicals have been replaced with plant materials like linseed oil or other sustainable materials like beeswax, milk protein and orange peel oil. These natural paint systems provide easy maintenance surfaces with similar durability as synthetic finishes which are pleasing to the eye, touch, your health and indeed the environment.

For reasons of environmental safety and ease of restoration, wooden floors should not be "sealed". Even though the hardness of two component synthetic coatings cannot be achieved with natural coatings, synthetic coatings are also not entirely safe from scratching and wear and can only be repaired by complete removal and recoating. This is never the case with the ProNature finishes because they are absorbed by wood or stone, thereby nourishing and protecting from the inside out rather than by sealing off the surface. This unique process helps to maintain the wood moisture balance (in fact you could say the wood can breathe) and as such creates a pleasant room climate. The maintenance of ProNature finishes is very simple. Unlike varnishes, ProNature finishes are spot repairable. There is also no further sanding involved after the initial preparation work - simply but on a fresh layer of oil if required.

Tel: 0860 105 299
info@pronature.co.za
www.pronature.co.za