American Clay Enterprises Inc. has won the 2010 Innovative Green Design Award for Interior Finishes. The company’s lime putty was selected by a panel of independent judges as outstanding among all the many entries in the Interior Finishes category. The IGDA Awards Ceremony was held in June at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York during GreenBuildingsNY.

“It’s so nice to be recognized for our efforts in the area of environmentally sound product design, but what’s even more important is that innovation in the area of sustainable, ‘green’ materials is considered good business. Eight years ago, building green was somewhat fringe. Today it is leading the way out of this recession,” said Carol Baumgartel, co-founder and chief vision officer of American Clay.

American Clay introduced the product this year. This lime putty can be used for gauging, or adding to, the company’s Earth Plasters and also mixed to make limewash.

New York House magazine’s second annual Innovative Green Design Awards were judged by five experts who took roles as both activists and educators. The panel consisted of sustainable architect and retrofitter Ellen Honigstock, sustainability consultant Joanna Black, green builder Mark Jupiter, green marketing researcher Doug Mazeffa, and ecofriendly interior designer Cheryl Terrace.

The judges vetted each of the entries and debated the issues surrounding the manufacturing, lifecycle, innovation, usefulness, beauty, and sustainability of each product. They focused on the environmental impact of materials and resources that went into creating each product, as well as their design, price, and practicality.

“It is our hope that the Innovative Green Design Awards serves to educate consumers and design and building professionals alike about products that have a small environmental footprint but a big impact,” said Nancy Meyer, editor of New York House. “Equally important, we hope this competition inspires manufacturers to take note of what matters to green home builders, architects, interior designers, and homeowners in the world of high-performance, responsibly-made, sustainable products.”