Redefining What Makes a Building Product Green

It's easy to get lost in a sea of greenwash. Our updated GreenSpec criteria provide clear direction on what makes a product green. BuildingGreen has been defining what makes a product green since the start of the GreenSpec directory in 1998--and we're repeatedly surprised by how far and wide our list of green attributes travels. The industry is not static, though, and it is our aim to…

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Not Green Enough: Six Products GreenSpec Rejected and Why

There are plenty of products that simply aren't efficient, low-emitting, or sustainable. but here are some products that have a lot going for them, but also have some serious flaws. At GreenSpec, we most often like to talk about our 2,200-plus listings of exemplary green products--listings from over 1,600 companies representing thousands of individual products. For ten years we have…

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Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC): Will the U.S. Ever Lighten Up?

Lighter, more fire-resistant, and a better insulator, autoclaved aerated concrete caught on in the rest of the world ages ago. It's taking a lot longer in the U.S. The porous AAC structure comes from being "leavened" with aluminum. Photo: H+H UK To read what manufacturers and distributors say about it, you'd think autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) was some kind of new,…

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Insolroll Roller Shades —


Insolroll offers exterior roller shades designed to offer privacy and protection from solar heat gain. Motorized and hand-crank shades are available. The exterior shades block 86%–97% of the sun's…

EcoSmart Double Honeycomb Cellular Shades —


Gordon's Window Décor offers EcoSmart double-cell insulated cellular shades that can significantly improve the performance of windows, especially existing single-glazed windows. When combined with…

Comfortex Cellular Shades —


Comfortex offers several lines of double- and single-cell insulated cellular shades that can significantly improve the energy performance of windows, especially existing single-glazed windows. The…

West Coast Exterior Roller Shades —


West Coast Awning manufactures exterior roller shades designed to offer privacy and protection from solar heat gain. The awnings are available with mesh screen or Sunbrella fabrics, and are available…

Coolaroo Roller Window Shades —


Coolaroo manufactures manually operated exterior roller shades designed to offer privacy and protection from solar heat gain. According to the company, the fabric blocks up to 80% of the sun's UV rays…

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Easy Access to LEED Online Forms

LEEDuser has added another essential tool you've been asking for: sample LEED Online forms. Through a special arrangement with USGBC, LEEDuser has integrated these sample forms into the member toolkit we provide.
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What does LEED certification cost, credit by credit? "The Cost of LEED" report breaks it down

Looking for LEED documentation? LEEDuser's Documentation Toolkits offer credit-by-credit samples and templates

LEEDuser Forum

RE: fan power calculation
in CS 2009 EAp2: Minimum Energy Performance
36 minutes ago

ARI Certification for Japanese equipment in LEED-NC 2.2
in NC v2.2 EAp2: Minimum Energy Performance
12:01 PM

PIf4 Interior Renderings/Drawings
in Project Information form
11:34 AM

Residential project
in LEED Rating System Selection Q&A
11:32 AM

Does 62MZ calculations needed?
in EBOM 2009 IEQp1: Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance
10:33 AM

RE: Using the centerline as the "site boundary"
in NC 2009 SSc8: Light Pollution Reduction
10:28 AM

RE: Anti-Rust Coatings
in NC 2009 IEQc4.2: Low-Emitting Materials—Paints and Coatings
9:48 AM

Strategy changes after construction review
in LEED Reviews: LEED Online, Appeals, Design/Construction Submittals, and more
8:27 AM

High price differences between electricity and fossil fuel
in NC 2009 EAp2: Minimum Energy Performance
6:02 AM

RE: IEQp1 required signatory
in NC-2009 IEQp1: Minimum IAQ Performance
5:53 AM

Free Webcast: LEED Energy Reporting Made Easy

LEED Minimum Program Requirement #6, requiring energy and water use reporting, is the most controversial and the most difficult to comply with. Our free webcast explains it step by step. Free Webcast: LEED Energy Reporting Made Easy: Fulfilling LEED-2009 MPR #6 Tues. Feb. 28 | 1 p.m. Eastern Time When the Minimum Program Requirements (MPRs) were introduced in 2009, it quickly…

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What Makes a Product Green?

What Makes a Product Green?

Lots of manufacturers call their products “green,” but are they? Here’s our guide to the high-performance attributes that matter.

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“The path to success for renewables is just to get our act together policy-wise.”
— Steven Strong, president, Solar Design Associates

From For Cheap Solar, Look to Laws, Not Labs

Resilient Communities

A pedestrian-friendly, walkable community was created in Annapolis, Maryland, making getting around without cars much more feasible. Photo: Dan Burden. Click on image to enlarge. In this ninth installment of my ten-part series on resilient design I'm focusing beyond individual buildings to the community scale. Following a natural disaster or other problem that results in widespread power outages…

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