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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Mega Green Drainage Pipe —


Mega Green Drainage Pipe, manufactured by Hancor, is a dual-wall, corrugated drainage pipe made from at least 40% post-consumer recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE). It is suitable for…

Frog Furnishings Benches and Tables —


Frog Furnishings, from Jayhawk Plastics, is a full line of benches, tables, trash and recycling containers, message boards, planters, and traffic stops, all using the company's 100% post-consumer…

Solarbord —


Solarbord radiant barrier sheathing for roofs and exterior walls consists of OSB laminated with heat-reflecting foil. The radiant barrier incorporated into Solarbord has low emissivity, slowing the…

SafeCrete AAC —


SafeCrete is a national distributor of various block and panel sizes of autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC), including blocks larger than standard CMU-size, larger "jumbo" units, and wall, floor, and…

GardenScapes Vegetated Roof System —


GAF, North America’s largest roofing manufacturer, offers simplified green roof systems incorporating its DuraGrow drainage foundation and Start-Rite growing medium. DuraGrow does the work of four…

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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

LPD for space with higher headroom
in NC 2009 EAc1: Optimize Energy Performance
Sunday, 8:55 PM

RE: ARI Certification for Japanese equipment in LEED-NC 2.2
in NC v2.2 EAp2: Minimum Energy Performance
Sunday, 3:20 PM

RE: fan power calculation
in CS 2009 EAp2: Minimum Energy Performance
Sunday, 3:06 PM

RE: High price differences between electricity and fossil fuel
in NC 2009 EAp2: Minimum Energy Performance
Sunday, 2:40 PM

RE: EAc6 in Abu Dhabi
in NC 2009 EAc6: Green Power
Sunday, 2:21 PM

RE: Using ASHRAE Addenda
in CI 2009 EAp2: Minimum Energy Performance
Sunday, 1:54 PM

RE: No designed cooling system
in NC v2.2 EAc1: Optimize Energy Performance
Sunday, 1:46 PM

RE: Occupancy Sensors in Mechanical Rooms
in CI 2009 EAc1.2: Optimize Energy Performance—Lighting Controls
Saturday, 1:32 PM

RE: LEED HC IEQ c2
in LEED for Healthcare forum - LEED-HC users welcome!
Saturday, 12:59 PM

external lighting LPD contribution to percentage energy savings
in CS 2009 EAc1: Optimize Energy Performance
Saturday, 11:54 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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