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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Treated Wood in Transition: Less Toxic Options in Preserved and Protected Wood
Feature Article
Following the recent phaseout of CCA, the dominant wood preservative of the last 30 years, the treated wood industry is in major transition. Some current wood treatment technologies present familiar environmental problems, while less-toxic alternatives are just entering the market.
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Bamboo in Construction: Is the Grass Always Greener?
Feature Article
An increasingly popular building material, bamboo is celebrated for its quick growth and ability to regenerate after being harvested. But bamboo also has its downsides. In this feature article, EBN examines the pros and cons of building with bamboo.
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Polished Concrete Outshines Other Flooring Options
Feature Article
Stone-polishing techniques and mineralizing treatments are turning concrete into one of the most functional, most cost-effective, and greenest flooring options around. In this feature article, Alex Wilson explores the ups and downs of polished, densified concrete.
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How Six Affordable Housing Projects Got to Green
Feature Short
Stories of designers and developers who overcame the challenges of building affordable housing that is also green, sustainable, and healthy.
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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Blue Roofs: Smart Stormwater Systems
Product Review
Hanging Gardens’ “smart” blue-roof system stores water on roofs, monitoring weather and local stormwater to more effectively manage runoff -
Thin Glass to Change High-Performance Window Market
Product Review
Alpen is rolling out triple-pane products that are thinner and lighter—and will eventually be cheaper.
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PVC-Free Sun-Control Textile with No Halogenated Flame Retardants
Product Review
Mermet offers a fiberglass textile for interior rollershades that has good performance and material transparency.
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Groundbreaking Products from Greenbuild 2018
Product Review
The Greenbuild Expo floor had a great selection of innovative new green building products, from green-roof stormwater systems to thin triple-pane windows to rice-straw boards.
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
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AIA Adopts Materials Pledge: Spec, and You Shall Receive
News Analysis
The AIA Materials Pledge, inspired by the 2030 commitment, looks at issues from carbon to social justice.
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Interface Rolls Out Carbon-Storing Carpet
News Brief
The United Nations has awarded Interface for climate action in light of its new product and its overall Climate Take Back commitment -
Can Concrete Become Carbon Neutral?
News Brief
Carbon-neutral concrete by 2050 is the industry’s new goal. But there are lots of hoops to jump through to make up for concrete’s basic chemistry. -
Contractors Move to End Construction Waste
News Brief
Construction and demolition waste makes up nearly 70% of trash in the U.S. Contractors in the Bay Area want to bring that down to zero.
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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