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
Filter results:
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Why Chemical Transparency Matters
November 2, 2015Feature Article
You can’t manage what you don’t measure—especially if you don’t know it exists in the first place.
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An Embarrassment of Riches: Products and Materials at Greenbuild 2017
November 2, 2017Blog Post
A new focus on embodied carbon and LEED v4 are driving designers to dive deep into what we choose for our buildings
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What Makes Plumbing Green? BuildingGreen’s Guide to Plumbing Products
September 8, 2015Feature Article
People like a clean flush and a long shower, but water is getting scarcer. Selecting the right building products can meet both needs.
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EPDs Are the Future of the Building Industry, Whether You Like It or Not
August 3, 2015Feature 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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California Law Uses Environmental Product Declarations to Drive Low-Carbon Procurement
October 17, 2017News Analysis
Buy Clean California is the first law in the nation to address embodied carbon in construction materials.
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Finding Furniture Without Toxic Flame Retardants
April 6, 2015Feature Article
Flame retardants in upholstered furniture are easier to avoid under new rules, but they’re not gone. Here’s how to navigate the changing landscape.
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Certified Wood: How SFI Compares to FSC
March 3, 2015Feature Article
FSC-certified wood is ingrained in rating systems like LEED, but rival SFI has a revised standard. Can it show it’s just as good on the issues that matter most?
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Take Control of Your Materials: Four Empowering Lessons from Teams That Beat the Red List
February 1, 2015Feature Article
Need to streamline your product vetting process? These LBC project teams have it down to a science, and anyone can apply their methods.
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Cool Products from the Latest Greenbuild Expo
December 1, 2014Feature Article
We scoured the Greenbuild expo floor for the best new products and the most interesting updates. Then we whittled it down to these standouts.
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Cladding: More Than Just a Pretty Façade
September 2, 2014Feature Article
Cladding materials should be chosen to minimize environmental impacts and help maximize a building’s energy performance.
