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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Piping in Perspective: Selecting Pipe for Plumbing in Buildings
Feature Article
Potable water supply piping and drain-waste-vent piping represent a significant fraction of a building's materials. Choosing the greenest pipe for both applications, particularly deciding between metal pipe and plastic alternatives, requires evaluating a variety of environmental and human health impacts as well as durability and performance issues.
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Cradle to Cradle Certification: A Peek Inside MBDC's Black Box
Feature Article
Cradle to Cradle is a multiple-attribute product certification program based on the philosophy of architect William McDonough and chemist Michael Braungart, and the work of their company, McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC). While MBDC's consulting services are driving breakthroughs in green manufacturing, the certification program lacks some of the comprehensiveness and transparency that are increasingly expected in the green certification market.
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Greening Your Electricity
Feature Article
Many businesses and homeowners are choosing to buy green power, including renewable energy credits (RECs). This article examines the environmental benefits of green power, including on-site renewables, what REC buyers should know about their purchases, and investing in energy conservation.
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Get a Whiff of This: The Lowdown on Product Emissions Testing
Feature Article
Analytical chemistry tools, used together with product testing chambers, are making it possible to "see" product emissions in new ways. Editor Nadav Malin discusses the science behind product emissions testing, the different product certification standards, and what's ahead for this growing field.
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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Drywall That Lowers Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Product Review
USG’s EcoSmart gypsum panels make it easier to lower a building’s overall carbon footprint while saving water as well.
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Electrical Vehicle Chargers: Keeping Up with Technology
Product Review
EV charging stations are becoming mainstream, but the technology interface and installation are still developing.
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A More Sustainable Fluorinated PVDF Metal Coating
Product Review
With the PVDF coating Fluropon Pure, “fluorinated” does not necessarily mean persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic.
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A New Foam-Free Sub-Slab Insulation
Product Review
Foam glass aggregate made from post-consumer recycled glass bottles can replace both foam insulation and aggregate below grade.
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
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How Climate Commitments Are Transforming Design
News Analysis
2030 commitments are not easy to meet, but we spoke to three architecture firms that are progressing.
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A Growing Embodied Carbon Library
News Brief
The Carbon Leadership Forum has published a whole library on embodied carbon—and it’s crowdsourcing more resources every day -
Zero-Carbon Construction Equipment?
News Brief
Embodied carbon and construction equipment are at the top of the list for four cities that have committed to halving construction emissions by 2030.
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Bezos Funds Electrification, Embodied Carbon Reductions
News Brief
The Rocky Mountain Institute has received $10 million from the Bezos Earth Fund for its building and industry decarbonization efforts.
Perspective
Thought-provoking opinions from the most trusted minds in sustainability.
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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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