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
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.
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The Chemicals on Our Carpets and Textiles
Feature
The array of water-, dirt-, and mold-repellent chemicals added to carpeting and fabrics is dizzying. Which are causes for concern, and how can we minimize exposure?
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Better Choices in Low-Slope Roofing
Feature
There are big differences in environmental impacts of commercial roofing materials, but the biggest variable may be service life.
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What Makes a Product Green Today?
Feature
Lots of manufacturers call their products "green," but are they? Here's our guide to the high-performance attributes that matter.
Quick Takes
Jump straight to the essentials with these short explanations of green building concepts.
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Chemical Footprinting: Companies Take Stock of Their Toxic Impact
Explainer
Harmful chemicals are more difficult to quantify than carbon emissions but are equally destructive. Now you can track manufacturers’ chemical footprints.
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Is Particleboard Deadly? Formaldehyde Emissions Explained
Explainer
Formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products will soon be strictly regulated in the U.S., but questions remain.
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Green Chemistry Meets Green Building
Explainer
What is green chemistry, and how does it fit into LEED? We explain the relationship—and some tensions.
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The High Price of Stain Resistance: Environmental Persistence
Explainer
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances increase product longevity. Though these PFAS don’t last forever on our textiles and carpets, they do stick around in our bodies.
Product Guidance
Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.
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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.
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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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180 Walls Sets New Standard for Green Wallcovering
Product Review
A woven polyester wallcovering from Milliken, 180 Walls is cost-competitive with vinyl wallcoverings and offers a number of environmental benefits that are backed up by third-party certifications.
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New Treated Wood Uses Nonmetallic Biocides
Product Review
A new treated wood product in Arch Treatment Technologies' Wolmanized line uses a trio of organic biocides to protect the wood for outdoor, aboveground use.
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
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Groups Set Mercury Limits for Flyash in Concrete
News Analysis
Fears about mercury content in coal flyash used as recycled content in concrete are leading to new rules in green building rating systems.
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California Sets Up Toxic Chemicals Registry
News Analysis
New legislation in California requires the government to identify and prioritize toxic substances needing further assessment, but critics argue that it will delay needed action.
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Micronized Copper Wood Preservatives Becoming Industry Standard
News Analysis
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PEX Tubing Passes California Environmental Review
News 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
Something weird happens every April at BuildingGreen...
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