A Los Altos, Calif., sustainable building materials producer eyeing construction of a new masonry plant, Integrity Block, has secured $2.7 million in equity and debt financing and anticipates production start up by year's end. Formulated with engineered soil composite and molded on machinery using a proprietary process, the Integrity product has emerged from what company officials describe as two years of research & development aimed at delivering the first green replacement for concrete masonry units in structural, architectural, and landscape applications.

From substantial reduction of embodied energy required in block making, to inclusion of pre-consumer recycled material in unit mixes, Integrity developers contend their product line will offer green building alternatives that meet existing concrete masonry testing and performance standards. “The adoption of green building materials will have an immediate and dramatic effect on emissions related to climate change,” says Integrity Block CEO Trevor Stout. “Replacing existing CMU block with Integrity Block in the U.S. alone would remove 4 billion pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in a single year.”

“Our philosophy is to invest in emerging companies delivering innovative solutions for the built environment that meet performance standards, price competitively, and deliver significant energy savings and environmental benefits,” adds Travis Putnam, managing partner with lead investor Navitas Capital. “Integrity Block is a great fit within our investment strategy.”