GreenSpec: Specifications for Environmental Sustainability

by Kalin Associates, Inc., 154 Wells Avenue, Newton Center, MA 02159; 617/964-5477, 617/964-5788 (fax). Three-ring binder and diskette, 900 pages, $135 postpaid.

Green Spec (two words) that we reviewed last November consists of generic specification language for making greener buildings. This

GreenSpec is more of a product directory, with the added feature of model specification language to use in specifying each product.

As directories go, this one is not the most current or comprehensive, but it does have a good range of products across the entire spectrum of CSI specification divisions. Separate indices list the products by manufacturer and by CSI number, making it easy to navigate. The amount of detail on each item varies from almost none to quite a bit, though some of the information is repeated identically for each product in a category.

The specification language is what makes this directory unique. In some cases, this model language offers useful insights into getting the product installed correctly. For the most part, however, it is simple “boiler-plate” material. The accompanying diskette, available in any standard word-processing format, makes it easy to copy this language directly into your construction documents. If having model language available will help you to specify green materials, the

GreenSpec may be just what you’re looking for.