American Clay Inc. Sponsors Green Builder "Vision" House - Orlando '08, Marking Big Move Into Florida Market

Albuquerque, NM (PRWEB) February 7, 2008 -- All natural and mold-inhibiting clay plasters from award-winning American Clay, Inc., are used on the majority of the interior walls in the third house of the VISION Series produced by Green Builder Media. Entitled the Green Builder® VISION Series House-Orlando '08, the high-end, architect-designed custom home is built to demonstrate that building 'green' can be glamorous and sustainable by considering durability and life safety in an active hurricane zone such as Orlando, Florida. American Clay has been available in Florida, but in a limited fashion, and this use marks a decided focus on their expansion into a market that will directly benefit from the mold-inhibiting trait of clay plaster. American Clay can also provide up to seven LEED credits for projects.

The 2008 Green Builder® VISION House is one of a group of homes built as learning platforms to demonstrate the NAHB's Model Green Building Guidelines. One of the guidelines' eight guiding principles is Indoor Environmental Living Quality. Says Rhys Stucker, Director of the Series, "We use American Clay extensively in our projects because, as a zero-VOC product that happens also to provide a beautiful wall finish, it perfectly exhibits how positive indoor air quality and good design go together. American Clay plasters are key to making this a healthy, as well as natural, home; and they offer many finish choices and flexibility." The house will be open to NAHB members and International Builders Show attendees Feb. 13 -16; to the public Feb. 16-17 and 23-24. (www.greenbuildervisionhouse.com).

American Clay is used on the walls of the master bedroom, as well as most of the main floor, including the living and breakfast rooms, the den and part of the dining room. Plaster style and color selections were made by longtime 'eco' designer Bernadette Upton of EcoDecor. The 2008 VISION House also provided American Clay with a real world test application of their new exterior stucco product to be released in the near future.

"We are excited to participate in a high profile project in such a challenging environment," states American Clay founder and CEO Croft Elsaesser. "This allows us to showcase the benefits of using clay in modern construction. It will be a true asset to the project and provide a basis of benefit throughout Florida." American Clay is displayed by Real Finishes at the Arch showroom in the Design Center of the Americas (DCOTA), and is being used in projects in Tampa, Vero Beach and Boca Raton.

American Clay Earth Plasters focus on the inherent qualities of clay--longevity, temperature moderating, dirt repelling, humidity controlling, sound attenuating, flexibility, reparability containing

zero VOCs and, of course, mold inhibiting. Their mold test results - announced in February 2007 - showed that their base formulation combined with their Mud Glue? exhibited no signs of mold growth. The tests - ASTM 3273-00 and ASTM G21-96 -- were conducted by an independent lab that utilizes ASTM standards, one of the most universally-accepted testing parameters.

American Clay's mission is to better the planet, through their commitment to healthy solutions for beautiful, calm, and healthy environments. To that end:

* Their products qualify for up to 7 LEED credits on LEED certification projects

* Their manufacturing uses low inherent energy to produce their products. i.e. 250 tons of material costs $45 in electricity.

* They use no water in manufacturing.

* Plaster is shipped dry to save shipping energy and cost. (Additional 20 pounds of water if sent premixed.)

ABOUT AMERICAN CLAY:

American Clay Earth Plaster products are a unique combination of clays, aggregates and natural pigments that offer builders and consumers a natural and elegant option. American Clay is uniquely manufactured in and made of materials found in the U.S. American Clay Enterprises, Inc., is based in Albuquerque, NM, and its product is patent pending. The product and various workshops are available through their New Mexico office or through one of the growing number of retailers and distributors across the U.S. The website, www.americanclay.com, offers information on additional products, ordering, technical specifications, product application and additional resources and links.

American Clay has been featured on CNN, CBS The Early Show, and HGTV and 'green building' shows. The company and their products have appeared in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, INC. Magazine (The Green 50), House & Garden, Domino, eco-structure, Environmental Home +Design, ecoLogical Home, Treehugger.com, Custom Home, Fine Homebuilding, Remodeling, BUILDERnews, Green Builder® Magazine, and most building, shelter and environmental magazines, as well as numerous dailies and regionals.

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