Story at a glance:
- Sustainability is beautiful, as seen in ceilings, fabrics, and paints on display at this year’s Greenbuild.
- Thousands of green building and design professionals attended the annual conference expo, held in NYC in 2026.
The 2026 Greenbuild International Conference + Expo drew thousands of sustainability professionals to the Javits Center in New York City in late October. This year’s events included a packed exhibit hall with more than 250 exhibitors and more than 150 CE-accredited education sessions on topics covering everything from resilience and decarbonization to sustainable finance strategies and climate policy.
“This year’s theme, ‘Invest for Impact,’ reflects the importance of directing our resources, expertise, and partnerships toward lasting value,” Peter Templeton, USGBC president said in a press release. “From highlighting innovative retrofits and resilient designs to the increasing adoption of LEED v5, this week showcased how our community is building a more sustainable future.”
Next year’s Greenbuild is scheduled to take place at McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago, October 19 to 22, 2027. Here are some of this year’s highlights from the expo.
Ultima Templok Energy-Saving Ceilings by Armstrong World Industries
The 48 year-old Nixon Nature Center in York, Pennsylvania (pictured), installed Armstrong Ultima Templok energy-saving ceilings as part of a renovation to stabilize indoor temperatures, improve visitor comfort, and protect its extensive taxidermy collection. The phase-change material ceilings, paired with HVAC improvements, support greater energy efficiency and lower operating costs while improving acoustics.
Armstrong products for the Nixon Park Nature Center renovation included the Ultima Templok Energy Saving Ceiling tiles and grid system. The ceiling tiles’ lightweight, standard size and grid system mean that even if replacement is necessary, it can be done easily by the facility’s regular maintenance staff, according to Armstrong.
The renovated nature center opened in May 2026. “You can absolutely notice the difference with the addition of the ceiling tiles, especially now that we’ve finetuned controls,” James Runshaw, director of facilities management at York County, told Armstrong. “It feels like a whole new building. We’re consistently hitting our marks for where we want to be temperature-wise. And by saving energy and lowering operating costs we’re mitigating the impact of unpredictable capacity charges on taxpayer contributions.”
Xorel by Carnegie Fabrics
Carnegie’s Aperture Embroider adds light and movement to the Biobased Xorel line, made with more than 90% plant-based content and free of PFAS, PVC, and Red List chemicals.
As part of the Crush collection, Aperture Embroider is for designers who lead with color, with bold graphics, plush velvets, and expressive florals. Crush was designed to mix and match, with four colorways suited for wallcovering, upholstered walls/panels, and upholstery. Rated for 200,000 double rubs and cleanable with water-, solvent-, and bleach-based solutions, the fabric exceeds Type II criteria for wallcovering performance.
It’s backed by an EPD, is Cradle to Cradle Certified Gold, and meets Cradle to Cradle Material Health Platinum Certification, LEED, Mindful Materials, and USDA Certified Biobased Product designations, among others. At the end of its life Aperture Embroider is also eligible for Carnegie’s responsible return program.
KlearSky by Kingspan Light + Air
The new pre-assembled KlearSky glass skylight is a drop-on daylighting solution designed to help contractors reduce installation labor, minimize field assembly, and shorten project schedules without sacrificing design flexibility.
Each KlearSky skylight is custom engineered to meet project-specific requirements with standard configurations, including single slopes, pyramids, polygons, ridges, and segmented barrel vaults. A wide selection of glass types, tints, performance coatings, and finishes allows the systems to be tailored to a project’s aesthetic and performance goals, including enhanced energy efficiency, noise reduction, and privacy.
Thermally enhanced framing options are also available to support building performance requirements, while integral guttering provides water management. The systems are tested for air infiltration, water penetration, and structural integrity to provide durable protection against the elements.
New Pro Filtration by Zurn Elkay
Elkay’s new Pro Filtration offers simplified maintenance and reliable performance with an advanced filtration system and top-access design. This next-generation water system has filters that can be changed in seconds, minimizing disruption in high-traffic environments.
“Demand for reliable, filtered water and measurable sustainability solutions has never been greater, making now the right time to advance bottle-filling technology,” says Kevin Shermach, senior manager of communications at Zurn Elkay. “Elkay Pro Filtration delivers cleaner water while reducing plastic waste and simplifying maintenance, making it especially well-suited for high-traffic spaces where performance, durability, and design matter. It’s a point-of-use solution that addresses America’s aging water infrastructure with immediate, cost-effective performance and a design-forward aesthetic.”
Compatible with Elkay Pro Filtration filters, these systems offer high-capacity filtration with options up to 20,000 gallons and reduce contaminants including total PFAS, lead, microplastics, copper, asbestos, and more.
ClearAir Air-to-Water Heat Pump by Cleaver-Brooks
The Cleaver-Brooks ClearAir Air-to-Water Heat Pump provides an energy-efficient, electric heating solution designed to help facilities reduce energy consumption, lower operating costs, and support sustainability goals.
By utilizing heat pump technology to deliver reliable hot water, ClearAir offers an alternative to traditional fossil fuel-based heating systems, helping facilities advance their decarbonization efforts.
This zero-emission, highly efficient hydronic heating solution has an integrated monobloc design, simplifying installation, maintenance, and service. It is outdoor-rated and supports mounting on roof or on grade.
EcoSpec by Benjamin Moore
Though not new, the EcoSpec collection continues to impress as the self-described greenest and lowest odor paint. The innovative line of environmentally responsible paints is zero VOC and zero emission, and it has been tested by multiple independent organizations, including The Asthma & Allergy Friendly Certification Program and LEED Indoor Air Quality Standards.
Eco Spec is made for sensitive environments like patient rooms, offices, schools, and homes, according to Alfredo Valiente, product manager of commercial and professional brands at Benjamin Moore. “Its formula makes it ideal for those who demand good indoor air quality, especially individuals with asthma or allergies and those looking for a responsible solution that supports well-being without sacrificing on quality and durability.”
In addition to meeting strict VOC regulations, Eco Spec features a low odor that dissipates within an hour of application, so spaces can be reoccupied sooner, providing minimal disruption and fast return to work, school, or home. Its superior chemical resistance withstands repeated washing from common disinfectants and cleaning agents, and it’s formulated with antimicrobial additives, preventing the buildup of mold and mildew on dry paint film.
