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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Home Depot Rolls Out Green Labeling
News Analysis
Building supply retailer Home Depot introduces a labeling program it hopes will educate consumers about environmentally preferable products.
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Cradle to Cradle Recognized in LEED
News Analysis
The U.S. Green Building Council will allow projects using products earning Cradle to Cradle certification to qualify for an innovation credit in the LEED Rating System.
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Window and Door Makers Offer FSC-Certified Options
News Analysis
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FSC Revises Controlled-Wood Standards
News Analysis
The Forest Stewardship Council's efforts to identify wood harvested under the most controversial conditions should become more effective with some new changes and reliance on a Global Risk Registry.
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Groups Challenge Timber Companies Under SFI Rules
News Analysis
In separate actions, two environmental groups are putting Sustainable Forestry Initiative standards to the test by using its rules to challenge timber company practices.
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Steelcase Receives MBDC Certification for Workstation
News Analysis
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Recycled-Content Paint Standard Released
News Analysis
A new latex paint standard addresses product quality, performance, VOC content, and additive- and recycled-content levels.
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U.K. Homes Rating System Recognizes FSC, SFI
News Analysis
The Building Research Establishment's (BRE) EcoHomes environmental rating system for homes in Great Britain recently gave equal recognition in its guidelines to wood certified by FSC and SFI, two rival programs.
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Concerns About Broadening LEED's Wood Credit
Op-Ed
Bill Edgerton, AIA, writes about his concerns that broadening LEED's wood credit would weaken LEED and erode USGBC's credibility.
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News on the Toilet Testing Front
News Analysis
Veritec Consulting has redesigned its toilet-performance testing protocol to save soybean paste, and a new system helps consumers identify toilets that save water and flush well.
