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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Choosing Windows: Looking Through the Options
Feature
We ask a lot from windows: energy efficiency, aesthetics, durability, affordability, and more. Which window frame materials and low-e glazing options balance these choices best? This article explores all the options and decodes the performance labels we see when buying windows.
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The Chemicals on Our Carpets and Textiles
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The array of water-, dirt-, and mold-repellent chemicals added to carpeting and fabrics is dizzying. Which are causes for concern, and how can we minimize exposure?
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Better Choices in Low-Slope Roofing
Feature
There are big differences in environmental impacts of commercial roofing materials, but the biggest variable may be service life.
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LEDs: The Future Is Here
Feature
LEDs have finally become an economically viable lighting option, but choosing the best LED products still takes knowledge and skill.
Quick Takes
Jump straight to the essentials with these short explanations of green building concepts.
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Green Chemistry Meets Green Building
Explainer
What is green chemistry, and how does it fit into LEED? We explain the relationship—and some tensions.
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The High Price of Stain Resistance: Environmental Persistence
Explainer
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances increase product longevity. Though these PFAS don’t last forever on our textiles and carpets, they do stick around in our bodies.
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The Lacey Act and the Building Industry: Sourcing Legal Wood
Explainer
Lumber Liquidators will pay millions for importing illegal wood products. Could architects or contractors be fined for buying them?
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Phthalate Plasticizer Toxicity Explained
Explainer
Phthalates are used as plasticizers in vinyl. Some are toxic, some less so—yet many manufacturers are avoiding them altogether.
Product Guidance
Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.
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Unique American Teak Offers FSC-Certified Flooring
Product Review
A new supplier is offering prefinished teak flooring from Costa Rica certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.
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High-Efficiency Refrigerators and Freezers from SunDanzer
Product Review
SunDanzer offers small, DC-powered, highly insulated refrigerators and freezers.
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Delta-Dry Takes New Approach to Housewrap
Product Review
A new entry in the category of housewraps offering a textured drainage surface, Delta-Dry housewrap is also vapor-impermeable.
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Zurn Offers Urinal With a Pint-Sized Flush
Product Review
The new EcoVantage urinal from Zurn flushes with an eighth of a gallon of water.
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
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FSC National Standard Friendly to Small Forests
News Analysis
The U.S. affiliate of the Forest Stewardship Council is moving towards a national standard that incorporates some of the streamlined procedures used for smaller forests.
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Nanotech Textile Finish Gets (Mixed) Environmental Ratings
News Analysis
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Furniture Gets Multiple-Attribute Sustainability Certification
News Analysis
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FSC Certification Available for All SierraPine Composites
News Analysis
Perspective
Thought-provoking opinions from the most trusted minds in sustainability.
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SFI Takes Issue with Recent Wood Certification Report
Op-Ed
In a letter to the editor, the Sustainable Forestry Initiative details eight objections to BuildingGreen’s evaluation of its programs.
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Tape It? Seal It? Glue It? Sealing Weather Barrier Seams
Blog Post
Lots of building products offer some help in keeping air, water, and heat in our buildings, but without attention to the joints, you lose critical continuity in your barriers.
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Transparency in Action: Health Product Declaration Ramping Up
Blog Post
Life-cycle assessment, environmental product declarations, and corporate social responsibility reporting are a great start. But can we talk about health?
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How to Choose a Sealant That Works
Blog Post
Any sealant can perform well in the right application, but knowing which to pick for your job is another thing. Our guide to sealants and how to use them.
Learning Resources
Syllabus supplements and CEU content, with automatic reporting for AIA and GBCI.
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Just For Fun
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