OVERVIEW
Materials really do matter to the health of occupants and the environment, but finding out what is in a product—and why—is not easy.
Products also have to perform as intended, so there are often tradeoffs between performance and the most sustainable materials.
Here you will find articles on:
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the least hazardous, most environmentally sustainable materials used in products
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environmental product declarations that can reveal the life-cycle impacts of materials
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standards and third-party certifications that provide important VOC criteria and other health and performance metrics
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chemicals of concern in building materials
You’ll also learn how what makes a product green can differ from product category to product category, and why multi-attribute vetting is critical no matter what product or material you’re selecting or specifying.
IN-DEPTH
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“Tall Wood” Now Code Approved
February 4, 2019News Brief
The International Code Council will allow heavy timber buildings taller than 85 feet.
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Manufacturers Find Their Voice with the Living Product 50
January 7, 2019News Brief
What began as a group of those pursuing the Living Product Challenge is now a wider platform for community and communication.
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The BuildingGreen Guide to Insulation
PDF Report
The BuildingGreen Guide to Insulation provides detailed guidance on insulation products and practices, including cost comparisons and detailed recommendations on what insulation to use, and what to avoid.
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The Sustainable Spec Language You Should Be Using
November 9, 2018Blog Post
Selecting the greenest products doesn’t do any good unless strong specifications support your choices. Here’s some language you can use.
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AIA Writes ‘Prescription’ for Healthier Materials
September 10, 2018News Brief
A new publication published by AIA provides guidance on how to put healthier material selection into practice.
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The Combined Effectiveness of Prefab, Wood, and Passive House
August 6, 2018News Analysis
Recent projects have combined modular prefabrication, wood construction, and Passive House design to address sustainability goals.
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New PVC-Free Resilient Flooring Options
August 6, 2018Product Review
Shaw is now offering biobased and recycled PET resilient flooring options for commercial and healthcare applications.
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Let’s Talk: Mainstreaming Transparency Takes More than Letters
August 6, 2018Op-Ed
To move the building industry toward greener products, there are two big things we need to do.
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Manufacturers to Architects: Buy Greener Products or They May Go Away
August 6, 2018News Analysis
Designers asked for transparency and got it. Now they need to follow through with specs, say producers.
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20 Ways to Advance Sustainability in the Next Four Years
January 4, 2017Feature Article
In this age of political revolution and environmental urgency, it’s time to step back and take a look at priorities, challenges, and opportunities
