Sustainable Materials
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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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Can Concrete Save Us? Locking Up Carbon in Building Materials
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Concrete is responsible for a huge proportion of global carbon dioxide emissions. A few companies want to reverse this cycle by sequestering carbon in building materials.
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Are Cool Roofs Green? The Answer’s Not Black and White
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Roofing choices are complicated by heating tradeoffs, climate effects, and condensation, but proponents say reflective roofs still make sense in most climates.
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Cladding: More Than Just a Pretty Façade
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Cladding materials should be chosen to minimize environmental impacts and help maximize a building’s energy performance.
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Raze or Retrofit? Six Extraordinary Answers to an Everyday Question
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Saving a building is usually an environmental win, but thoughtful renovation isn’t easy. And there comes a time to tear things down.
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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Measuring Solar Access with the Solmetric SunEye
Product Review
The SunEye is an easy-to-use, digital tool for measuring solar shading and calculating daily and monthly solar access on building sites.
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Clean Concrete-and Air-with TX Active
Product Review
TX Active is a line of cement products that uses the photocatalytic properties of titanium dioxide to provide self-cleaning and ambient pollution-reduction.
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NightBreeze Automates Ventilation Cooling
Product Review
NightBreeze uses off-peak power to provide ventilation cooling integrated with a home's mechanical system.
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Colt's Faade Shading with Passive Control
Product Review
Colt International's Solarfin shading louvers with Girasol controller adjust automatically in response to solar exposure.
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
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Restrictions on Widely Used Chemicals Sought
News Analysis
Seven chemicals, including the flame retardant HBCD that is used in polystyrene insulation, are being recommended for inclusion in the EU's REACH "Authorization List."
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Armstrong to Produce FSC-Certified Flooring
News Analysis
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USGBC Revising Forest Certification Benchmark for LEED
News Analysis
The U.S. Green Building Council has opened recent revisions to the LEED certified wood credit to public comment.
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EPA Seeks Stronger Regulation of Chemicals
News Analysis
EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson outlined a broad set of principles that will guide Administration efforts to reform the 30-year-old Toxic Substances Control Act.
Perspective
Thought-provoking opinions from the most trusted minds in sustainability.
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Wingnut Real-World Testing of Basement Waterproofing
Blog Post
A basement testing of UGL Drylok Extreme, Koster NB1 Grey, Xypex Concentrate negative-side waterproofing
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Material Transparency for LEED v4: EPDs and HPDs for Metal Studs
Blog Post
Reducing your building’s carbon footprint or health impacts? Going after new LEED credits? Transparency documents for steel studs can help.
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The Sustainable Spec Language You Should Be Using
Blog Post
Selecting the greenest products doesn’t do any good unless strong specifications support your choices. Here’s some language you can use.
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Google Goes Public with Ambitious Carpet Tile Standard
Blog Post
With a new procurement program, Google adopted comprehensive sustainability requirements for modular carpet tile that raise the bar for major manufacturers.
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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