News from the Bean Counters

Oct. 1, 2007
Biobased particleboard offers an option for green buildings. Building green is a new trend in commercial and residential buildings, and industry is eager

Biobased particleboard offers an option for green buildings. Building green is a new trend in commercial and residential buildings, and industry is eager to supply builders with the necessary materials to construct environmentally friendly housing. One company that is doing just that is Columbia Forest Products, which produces particleboard using soy. By containing biobased materials, this particleboard is compliant with the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards. The United Soybean Board (USB) and the soybean checkoff have sponsored many products that have in turn become important components of LEED-certified buildings, including products from Green Products, LLC; Biobased Systems; and New Century Coatings.

Diesel additives can be a remedy for cold-weather problems in the situations where lift trucks must operate outside the building. Soy-based diesel additives are just what the doctor ordered for diesel engines this winter. The United Soybean Board (USB) and soybean checkoff have been a leader in biodiesel and soy-based diesel additive market development by working to aid in the advancement of technology utilizing soy. Soy diesel fuel additives can be used to help address cold-temperature issues and winterize vehicles by improving engine cleanliness, enhancing engine lubrication and extending the life of the engine. Bio-Power is a soy-based diesel fuel conditioner manufactured by Renewable Lubricants, Inc., which has been in use since 1999 in some of the harshest environments in the United States.