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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  • What's New in Multi-Attribute Environmental Certifications

    Feature Article

    The industry is increasingly recognizing the need for a more comprehensive review of green products. We don't have perfect programs yet, but we scrutinize the most prominent programs out there and highlight how they're useful.

  • Reducing Environmental Impacts of Cement and Concrete

    Feature Article

     This article explores the environmental footprint of portland cement production and future emissions regulations and looks at the issues surrounding its most common replacement, fly ash.

  • Chemistry for Designers: Understanding Hazards in Building Products

    Feature Article

    What's in our building materials? Are there chemicals we should be afraid of? Trying to get answers to these questions can be frustrating, but there are a number of good tools available.

  • Polystyrene Insulation: Does It Belong in a Green Building?

    Feature Article

    Polystyrene is widely used as a rigid insulation in North America, offering high insulation values, moisture resistance, strength, and affordability. But a flame retardant in the material, as well as its life-cycle impacts, raise questions about whether it should be used at all.

Quick Takes

Jump straight to the essentials with these short explanations of green building concepts.


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  • Obesogens-A Fatty Issue

    Primer

    A number of common chemicals are being found to influence the development of fat cells and contribute to obesity.

  • Nanomaterials: How Big a Concern?

    Primer

    Anytime the "nano" label is applied to a product or technology, it's worth getting clear about what it means.

  • Why's That on the Red List?

    Primer

    Ever wonder why copper and Neoprene are flagged in some green building red lists and rating systems? Although they aren't the worst offenders, they're flagged for a good reason.

  • Radon Risks and Prevention

    Primer

    Radon, the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., can get into our homes and bodies without us knowing it-and its presence doesn't depend on geology or locale.

Product Guidance

Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.


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  • Cables and Wiring

    Product Guide

    When possible, products should meet the European Union’s RoHS standards and be free of halogens and PFAS.

  • Resilient Flooring

    Product Guide

    PVC-free and recycled-tire-free flooring, including linoleum and composites with low or no indoor emissions

  • Tile

    Product Guide

    Porcelain tiles that meet third-party environmental standards, and BPA-free adhesives

  • Blanket and Batt Insulation

    Product Guide

    Batts and aerogel blankets with high recycled content, reduced air-quality concerns, or superior performance

In The News

We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.


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

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