Material Health
Pursuing material health in the building industry involves avoiding or eliminating toxic chemicals from building products. Toxic chemicals are those that can bring harm to factory workers, installers, or building occupants. There are tens of thousands of unregulated chemicals used in our building products, and they can increase the risk of everything from asthma to obesity to cancer.
Materials containing these toxic chemicals include carpet, insulation, wet-applied products like adhesives and sealants, and many others. It’s possible to improve material health through better design decisions and product selections.
Material Health
Deep Dives
Get up to speed on complex topics. You can also earn CEUs and download PDF Spotlight Reports.
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Quick Takes
Jump straight to the essentials with these short explanations of green building concepts.
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Product Guidance
Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.
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Arreis Nonformaldehyde MDF from SierraPine
Product Review
Responding to growing concerns about formaldehyde, including a likely phaseout of urea-formaldehyde panel products in California, SierraPine, Ltd., has added a new MDF to its no-added-formaldehyde MDF product family.
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Full Line of Residential LED Lighting Arrives
Product Review
In June 2006, Permlight Products, Inc., and Progress Lighting announced the introduction of a complete line of LED residential lighting products. To be sold as the HI-EF line, the licensing of Permlight's Enbryten Down line promises high-efficacy luminaires that meet strict California energy standards.
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
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New Flame Retardants Less Toxic but Still Persistent, Says EPA
News Analysis
The agency finds no perfect solution to replace HBCD in polystyrene insulation, but one alternative appears far safer.
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EPA Finds Coal Fly Ash Safe in Concrete and Gypsum Wallboard
News Brief
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California Pioneers New Limits on Toxic Chemicals in Consumer Products
News Analysis
Trendsetting regulations in California will have manufacturers disclosing ingredients and reformulating their products.
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SCAQMD Sets First VOC Limits for Colorants
News Brief
Perspective
Thought-provoking opinions from the most trusted minds in sustainability.
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Learning Resources
Syllabus supplements and CEU content, with automatic reporting for AIA and GBCI.
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Just For Fun
Something weird happens every April at BuildingGreen...
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