Sustainable Materials
Parent
Sustainable Materials
Deep Dives
Get up to speed on complex topics. You can also earn CEUs and download PDF Spotlight Reports.
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The Product Transparency Movement: Peeking Behind the Corporate Veil
Feature
Manufacturers are offering more product information than ever, but how can we know what to trust?
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What Makes a Product Green Today?
Feature
Lots of manufacturers call their products "green," but are they? Here's our guide to the high-performance attributes that matter.
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Biobased Materials: Not Always Greener
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We tend to think of biobased materials as inherently greener-but even "natural" and "rapidly renewable" materials can carry big environmental impacts.
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Exterior Paints: Long-Term Protection and Environmental Tradeoffs
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Exterior coatings protect buildings from the environment but often contain hazardous ingredients, so maximizing their durability is often the greenest option.
Quick Takes
Jump straight to the essentials with these short explanations of green building concepts.
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TSCA Reform: Chemical Regulations, at a Cost
Explainer
In a world where we can’t even ban asbestos, a new law revamps how the federal government regulates chemicals—but some worry it steps on the toes of progressive states.
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VOC Testing: What It Can and Can’t Tell You
Explainer
“Section 01350” has come a long way since it acquired its curious nickname. Here’s what it can tell you about indoor air quality—and what it can’t.
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Sand, a Surprisingly Limited Resource
Explainer
Demand for the basic raw material for glass and concrete is prompting illegal mining that’s leaving beaches and riverbeds bare.
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Hemp: A Durable, Low-Carbon Building Material
Explainer
This rapidly renewable material is excellent for textiles and non-structural concrete. (And no, it will not get you high.)
Product Guidance
Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.
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Cold Climate Heat Pump Redux
Product Review
The two-stage high-capacity cold-climate heat pump that was introduced in 2004 and then discontinued in 2005 is back, and from more than one company.
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Fiber-Optic Luminaire Mixes Sun and Electric Light
Product Review
A new system from Sunlight Direct includes a roof-mounted concentrating mirror that tracks the sun, fiber-optic cables, and conventional-looking light fixtures on the ceiling that deliver a calibrated mix of sunlight and electrical light.
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New Admixture Solves Concrete's Weaknesses
Product Review
A new concrete admixture, Hycrete, could come to replace a variety of waterproofing and corrosion-proofing membranes and coatings applied to concrete.
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180 Walls Sets New Standard for Green Wallcovering
Product Review
A woven polyester wallcovering from Milliken, 180 Walls is cost-competitive with vinyl wallcoverings and offers a number of environmental benefits that are backed up by third-party certifications.
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
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Certified Wood Credit in LEED Gets Makeover
News Analysis
After more than two years of work, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has proposed a major change for certified wood in its LEED Rating System.
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Groups Set Mercury Limits for Flyash in Concrete
News Analysis
Fears about mercury content in coal flyash used as recycled content in concrete are leading to new rules in green building rating systems.
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California Sets Up Toxic Chemicals Registry
News Analysis
New legislation in California requires the government to identify and prioritize toxic substances needing further assessment, but critics argue that it will delay needed action.
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ICC Launches Sustainability Verification for Products
News Analysis
As part of its Evaluation Service, the International Code Council has launched a program to evaluate building products for compliance with numerous sustainability criteria.
Perspective
Thought-provoking opinions from the most trusted minds in sustainability.
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Stickiness Explained! Making Building Tapes and Membranes Stay Put
Blog Post
When you use tape to seal a seam or flash a sill, you need peel-and-stick performance—not “stick-and-peel.”
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Sustainable Sealants: The Challenges of Predicting Service Life
Blog Post
Caulk joint sealants can be a major deciding factor in how long your building envelope lasts. Is there a better way to predict how long the sealants last?
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Sealing Without Stickum: Gaskets Make a Place for Themselves
Blog Post
Compressible gaskets keep air and water barriers continuous without liquid sealants or adhesive tapes. But they don’t all last equally well.
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Adhesives and Sealants: Performance First, but Materials Matter
Blog Post
Exterior adhesives and sealants are formulated for performance, but some contain chemicals that pose risks to unprotected workers or the environment.
Learning Resources
Syllabus supplements and CEU content, with automatic reporting for AIA and GBCI.
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Just For Fun
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