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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Polished Concrete Outshines Other Flooring Options
Feature
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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Bamboo in Construction: Is the Grass Always Greener?
Feature
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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Treated Wood in Transition: Less Toxic Options in Preserved and Protected Wood
Feature
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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Get a Whiff of This: The Lowdown on Product Emissions Testing
Feature
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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Radon Risks and Prevention
Explainer
Radon, the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., can get into our homes and bodies without us knowing it-and its presence doesn't depend on geology or locale.
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Why's That on the Red List?
Explainer
Ever wonder why copper and Neoprene are flagged in some green building red lists and rating systems? Although they aren't the worst offenders, they're flagged for a good reason.
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Nanomaterials: How Big a Concern?
Explainer
Anytime the "nano" label is applied to a product or technology, it's worth getting clear about what it means.
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Obesogens-A Fatty Issue
Explainer
A number of common chemicals are being found to influence the development of fat cells and contribute to obesity.
Product Guidance
Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.
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Acoustic Wall & Ceiling Panels
Product Guide
Acoustic panels with high NRC ratings and low toxicity
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Zurn Introduces Flood of Water-Conserving Products
Product Review
Zurn Plumbing Products Group's new offerings include a 1.1-gpf toilet, a dual-flush toilet, a non-water-using urinal, and a dual-flush flushometer valve.
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Kohler Highline 1.1-gpf Toilet
Product Review
With the help of a remarkably quiet pressure-flush mechanism, Kohler's newest toilet uses only 1.1 gallons of water per flush.
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Repairing Scratched Window Glass with GlasWeld
Product Review
The G Force Scratch Removal System from GlasWeld uses heat, pressure, and nontoxic chemicals to realign glass molecules, restoring a smooth surface.
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
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CSI Introduces GreenFormat
News Analysis
The Construction Specifications Institute has introduced a new product data-reporting tool, GreenFormat.
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FEMA Investigates Trailer Air Quality
News Analysis
FEMA has suspended the use of travel trailers as emergency housing pending investigation of dangerous levels of formaldehyde.
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Philips Introduces Lower Mercury Fluorescent Lamps
News Analysis
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MetroPaint Earns Green Seal Certification
News Analysis
Perspective
Thought-provoking opinions from the most trusted minds in sustainability.
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The Big Materials Dream Needs to Include Climate Change and More
Op-Ed
We’re finally getting vital toxicity information about building products. But let’s remember that sustainability is about more than avoiding health hazards.
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Building Materials and the Time Value of Carbon
Op-Ed
When you save matters. What you build matters. Here’s why we need to build well and rebuild better.
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FSC, LEED, and the Price of Perfectionism
Op-Ed
A hard line against industry-sponsored alternatives to FSC certification in the past may have unfortunate outcomes for the world’s forests.
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Building Products Matter Even More Than We Thought
Op-Ed
Operational energy use is critical, but materials might be an even bigger part of the solution to climate change and other pressing environmental issues.
Learning Resources
Syllabus supplements and CEU content, with automatic reporting for AIA and GBCI.
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Affordable Housing or Green Housing? We Can Say Yes to Both
Webcast
Yes, available funding for building and rehabilitating affordable housing is inadequate—but that’s all the more reason to get this right when we get the chance.
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Wood's Latest Move: from Carbon Neutral to Climate Smart
Webcast
If we’re going to start using a lot more wood in buildings, we need to think hard about where that wood is going to come from and how it will be harvested.
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Let’s Get Real about Wood’s Carbon Footprint
Webcast
You’ve probably heard that wood products are carbon neutral. You might also have heard that timber harvesting causes immense carbon emissions. Which is it? Could it be both?
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Selecting Optimized Products for LEED Projects
Webcast
This pragmatic webinar walks you through the v4.1 version of the three Materials & Resources credits that encourage product-related disclosure and optimization.
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