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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EonCoat: Durable Corrosion Resistance with No VOCs or Primer
Product Review
Fifteen years of corrosion resistance without VOCs or HAPs? A revolutionary coating could change everything.
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Air Renew Wallboard Absorbs Formaldehyde from Indoor Air
Product Review
Using a common building product to clean indoor air? AirRenew drywall claims to improve indoor air quality by absorbing formaldehyde and trapping it chemically in the gypsum core.
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Sansin and Vermont Natural Coatings Debut Low-VOC Stains
Product Review
Two new low-VOC interior stain systems were recently released: Vermont Natural Coatings' zero-VOC Woodtone Series Concentrated Tints and Sansin's Purity Interior 0-VOC Stain. Both systems offer a competitive option over higher VOC choices.
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Armstrong Takes Formaldehyde-Free Cabinets Mainstream
Product Review
Armstrong's Origins line of formaldehyde-free cabinets ends a long wait for a mainstream, affordable cabinet meeting both LEED and CARB indoor air quality standards.
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
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Chemical Industry, USGBC Announce Ceasefire
News Analysis
After years of anti-LEED lobbying, the American Chemistry Council says it wants to work to make LEED better.
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Healthcare Giants Boycott Furniture Containing Flame Retardants
News Brief
Sixteen major buyers, including tech firms, retailers, and U.S. cities, have pledged to purchase furniture containing no chemical flame retardants.
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Endocrine Disruptors Cost Society Millions, Says Report
News Brief
Europe could be losing 1,300 million euros a year dealing with male reproductive illnesses caused by endocrine disruptors. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
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Phthalate Levels Connected to Reproductive Troubles
News Brief
Dashing female libido and shrinking your son’s male parts are now on the list of health hazards associated with phthalates. Now do we have your attention?
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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