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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Wood: Is It Still Good? Part One: Embodied Carbon
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The idea that wood is inherently carbon neutral has masked negative impacts. The climate stakes are too high for us to keep buying those claims.
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AEC Was Left Out of a Key Decarbonization Pilot. What’s Next?
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Science-based targets for the building sector no longer apply to design firms and most construction companies, but experts say AEC must continue leading the industry toward net zero.
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Wood: Is It Still Good? Part Two: Moving from Carbon to Climate
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Mass timber at scale could make climate change worse. Instead of embodied carbon alone, “climate-smart” practices focus on our increasingly fragile forests.
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Build Green on a Budget: Lessons from Affordable Housing
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Sustainability doesn’t have to cost more—and no one knows that better than affordable housing experts. But every project type can benefit from these 12 cost-reducing ideas that support people and the planet.
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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Masonite Offers Straw-Core Door With No Added Urea-Formaldehyde
Product Review
Masonite's Safe 'N Sound Emerald door features a wheat-straw core, FSC-certified veneers, and adhesives with no added urea-formaldehyde.
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Lime Stucco from American Clay Enterprises
Product Review
American Clay Enterprises, known for its popular natural earth plaster, has introduced a setting lime stucco to the national market.
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Sealed Blinds from Unicel Offer Flexibility, Low Maintenance
Product Review
Vision Control sealed interpane louvers, available with any type of glazing, offer numerous benefits, including energy savings and reduced maintenance compared with other blinds.
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Sherwin-Williams Debuts Low- and Zero-VOC Industrial Paints
Product Review
Sherwin-Williams now offers low- and zero-VOC paints for commercial and industrial applications.
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
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California Pioneers New Limits on Toxic Chemicals in Consumer Products
News Analysis
Trendsetting regulations in California will have manufacturers disclosing ingredients and reformulating their products.
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Is That Drywall "Just"? New Label Aims for Social Equity
News Analysis
Building product manufacturers and other organizations can now declare their performance on metrics like worker safety, diversity, and happiness.
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Flame Retardant Whack-a-Mole Continues
News Analysis
Levels of the worst chemicals are finally declining in our bodies, but health concerns about alternatives grow.
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New Flame Retardants Less Toxic but Still Persistent, Says EPA
News Analysis
The agency finds no perfect solution to replace HBCD in polystyrene insulation, but one alternative appears far safer.
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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