OVERVIEW
We rarely think about our building products beyond their immediate impact on a building or its indoor air quality. But we should.
How much energy does it take to make a product? What are the raw materials? How much does the product contribute to global warming?
These questions are not addressed by most green product programs, but the resources found here look at products and materials throughout their life cycles, including through:
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life-cycle assessments
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environmental product declarations
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carbon accounting
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embodied energy
With additional knowledge, you will have a more nuanced view of why products are environmentally sustainable and how they can be improved in the future.
IN-DEPTH
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Structural Engineers Unite against Climate Change
News Brief
With SE 2050, structural engineers commit to eliminating embodied carbon from buildings.
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Decarbonization Can Work in Emerging Economies but Faces Flak
News Brief
Achieving zero-carbon buildings is possible in the world’s biggest developing markets, but a new report recommends improvements.
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Pathfinder Tool Helps Landscape Designers Sequester More Carbon
News Brief
Even a garden or park can take decades to become carbon positive. With a little effort, it doesn’t have to be that way.
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Better Steel, Lower Impacts
Feature 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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Embodied Carbon Tools: Assessing the Options
News Analysis
Interest in embodied carbon is growing. Here’s a guide to the tools that can help you measure and reduce these emissions on projects.
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The Great Eight: High-Impact Material Choices for Green Building
Feature Article
We’re at a tipping point in insulation, flooring, textiles, and other product categories. Here’s what to spec and what to avoid.
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Circular Economy at Scale: Six International Case Studies
Feature Article
These teams are applying radical life-cycle thinking to entire projects—and redefining what building ownership means in the process.
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EPDs Are the Future of the Building Industry, Whether You Like It or Not
Feature Article
Environmental product declarations are taking off, but can they actually fly? Experts share the ups and downs of this promising but imperfect transparency tool.
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Raze or Retrofit? Six Extraordinary Answers to an Everyday Question
Feature Article
Saving a building is usually an environmental win, but thoughtful renovation isn’t easy. And there comes a time to tear things down.
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Cladding: More Than Just a Pretty Façade
Feature Article
Cladding materials should be chosen to minimize environmental impacts and help maximize a building’s energy performance.
