Material Selection
Selecting building materials can be complex. You have to take into account toxicity, performance, the environmental life cycle, cost, and other factors.
Understanding what makes a building product green is a long-term prospect. Green characteristics differ from product category to product category, and multi-attribute vetting is critical.
Material Selection
Deep Dives
Get up to speed on complex topics. You can also earn CEUs and download PDF Spotlight Reports.
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Seal, Tape, Gasket: A Sticky Search for Better Materials
Feature
Given the importance of sealing hidden joints in our air and water barriers, you'd think we'd know how long our sealants, adhesives, and gaskets last.
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Behind the Logos: Understanding Green Product Certifications
Feature
The number of environmental product standards and certifications is growing rapidly, putting numerous different "green" logos on products. This article reviews the key programs and evaluates their rigor, and offers guidance in using them to accomplish project goals.
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Waste Not, Want Not: Case Studies of Building Material Reuse
Feature
Reclamation and reuse of building materials can be a tough sell and hard to design for, but many project teams have learned to make it work. Here’s how.
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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In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
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LEED Pilots Legal Wood, Expansion of Certified Wood
News Analysis
A pilot credit calls attention to illegal logging while also opening LEED to SFI and other certifications.
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New Ways to Meet LEED v4 Ingredient Disclosure
News Analysis
LEED addenda for April 2016 add BIFMA, C2C Material Health, Declare, and the Globally Harmonized System for classifying chemicals.
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Revised LEED Wood Credit Slammed from Both Sides
News Analysis
The latest draft of LEED's proposed new Forest Certification credit includes a significant change from the previous version-and stakeholders on all sides are sounding alarms.
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LEED Policy on Certified Wood Gets Only Minor Changes
News Analysis
USGBC has opened new revisions of its policy on certified wood in LEED to public comment. The changes solidify a controversial move made during the last revisions.
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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