OVERVIEW
There are tens of thousands of unregulated chemicals used in our building products, so how do you know which ones are hazardous?
These articles look at some of the most-toxic chemicals, why they are hazardous, which product groups contain them, and alternatives to using them.
You’ll learn about:
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the burgeoning green chemistry movement
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tools like Health Product Declarations that tell us what’s in products
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formaldehyde
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polyvinyl chloride
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bisphenol-A
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flame retardants
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perfluorinated compounds (PFCs)
We also offer guidance on design decisions that can reduce or eliminate the need for many of these problematic compounds.
IN-DEPTH
Filter results:
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Asbestos Rule Is Tip of Chemical Regulation Iceberg
October 8, 2018News Analysis
The updated Toxic Substances Control Act could be crippled by updated EPA review methods.
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AIA Writes ‘Prescription’ for Healthier Materials
September 10, 2018News Brief
A new publication published by AIA provides guidance on how to put healthier material selection into practice.
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Plastic Production Releases Mercury, Asbestos, PFAS
August 23, 2018News Brief
Producing chlorine for PVC and other plastics has toxic impacts.
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The BuildingGreen Guide to Insulation
Reports, Courses, Study Guides, Live Webinars
The BuildingGreen Guide to Insulation provides detailed guidance on insulation products and practices, including cost comparisons and detailed recommendations on what insulation to use, and what to avoid.
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The Cost of Comfort: Climate Change and Refrigerants
November 6, 2017Feature Article
Refrigerants with very high global warming potential can negate the energy-efficiency benefits of many HVAC systems, including popular heat pumps.
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Polystyrene Insulations Are Now HBCD-Free
June 5, 2018Product Review
Dow, Owens Corning, and Kingspan have joined the EPS industry in eliminating the hazardous halogenated flame retardant HBCD from their XPS insulations.
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Material Transparency for LEED v4: EPDs and HPDs for Metal Studs
May 22, 2018Blog Post
Reducing your building’s carbon footprint or health impacts? Going after new LEED credits? Transparency documents for steel studs can help.
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San Francisco Sets High Bar for Carpet
May 8, 2018News Brief
San Francisco now requires carpet installed in public projects to be Cradle to Cradle certified and meet other criteria for health and sustainability.
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Better Steel, Lower Impacts
May 2, 2017Feature Article
Steel’s reputation for high embodied energy and carbon emissions are well documented, but improvements in processing, product selection, and end use can minimize these impacts.
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New Insulated Metal Panels without Halogenated Flame Retardants
April 4, 2018Product Review
Kingspan and Centria IMPs are using halogen-free flame retardants, resulting in less toxic, better performing insulated cladding.
