Table Of Content

I o Edited by Alex W ilson and Mark Piepkorn FOREWORD BY SARAH SUSANKA G R E E N B U I L D I N G P R O D U C T S 3rd Edition The GreenSpec®G uide to Residential Building Materials Alex Wilson and Mark Piepkorn . EDITORS Nadav Malin· CO-EDITOR, GREENSPEC Angela Battisto . GREENSPEC MANAGER Jennifer Atlee . RESEARCH DIRECTOR Brent Ehrlich· PRODUCT EDITOR Frank Richter· Assoc. PRODUCT EDITOR BuildingGreen Authoritotive Information on Environmentally Responsible Building Design and Construction Green Building Products 3rd Edition: The GreenSpec®G uide to Residential Building Materials Cataloging in Publication Data: A catalog record for this publication is available from the National Library of Canada. Paperback ISBN-13: 978-0-86571-600-1 Copyright © 2008 by BuildingGreen, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher. GreenSpeC® is a registered trademark of BuildingGreen, Inc. Cover photo by Randi Baird of a home designed and built by South Mountain Company, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. Used by permission. Product photos were provided by the manufacturers and are used by permission. Production notes: Text design by Joy Wallens-Penford. Layout by Julia Jandrisits. Cover design by DC Design. In keeping with the copublishers' mission to build an ecologically sustainable society through their work and actions, this book is printed on acid-free paper that is 100% old-growth forest free (100% post-consumer recycled), processed chlorine free, and printed with vegetable-based, low VOCinks. Printed in Canada. Inquiries regarding requests to reprint all or part of this book should be addressed to BuildingGreen, Inc., at the address below. Copublished by: BuildingGreen, Inc., 122 Birge Street, Suite 30, Brattleboro, VT 05301, USA 802-257-7300 BuildingGreen's mission is to provide accurate, unbiased, and timely information that will help building professionals improve the environmental performance of buildings and surrounding landscapes. For further information and to learn about our other information resources, please visit our website at: www.BuildingGreen.com. New Society Publishers, P.O. Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC VOR 1XO, Canada 250-247-9737 New Society Publishers' mission is to publish books that contribute in fundamental ways to building an ecologically sustainable and just society, and to do so with the least possible impact on the environment, in a manner that models this vision. For further information, or to browse our full list of books and purchase securely, visit our website at: www.newsociety.com. ~ GREEN BUILDING PRODUCTS FOREWORD by Sarah Susanka .......................................... v FOUNDATIONS, FOOTERS & SLABS INTRODUCTION ............................................................ vi Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Blocks ............................... 40 Bentonite Waterproofing .............................................. 40 SITEWORK & LANDSCAPING Cast-in-Place Concrete ................................................. 41 Aggregate Surfacing ..................................................... 2 Cast-in-Place Concrete Forms ........................................ 41 Brick Pavers ................................................................ 3 Concrete Accessories ................................................... 42 Erosion Protection ........................................................ 3 Concrete Blocks .......................................................... 43 flexibLe Paving ............................................................ 4 Concrete Curing .......................................................... 43 Hydro-MuLching ........................................................... 4 Concrete Form-Release Agents ....................................... 44 Irrigation .................................................................... 6 Concrete Maintenance and Rehabilitation ....................... 46 Landscape Edging ........................................................ 6 Concrete Pigments ...................................................... 46 Landscape Timbers ....................................................... 7 Foundation and Load-Bearing ELements .......................... 47 Native Plants and Seeds ................................................ 9 Foundation and Slab Drainage ....................................... 47 Operation and Maintenance of Plantings ......................... 10 Masonry Mortaring ...................................................... 48 Parking Bumpers (Car Stops) ......................................... ll Moisture-proofi ng ....................................................... 48 Pest Control Devices .................................................... 14 Precast Concrete Panels ............................................... 49 Plastic Fences and Gates .............................................. 14 Sheet Waterproofing .................................................... 49 Porous Pavers, Plastic .................................................. 15 Stay-in-Place Insulating Concrete Forms ......................... 50 Porous Pavers, Precast Concrete ..................................... 16 Water Repellent Coatings ............................................. 55 Precast Concrete Pavers ............................................... 17 Water Repellents ......................................................... 55 Rigid Paving ............................................................... 17 Waterproof Coatings for Concrete and Masonry ................. 57 Sound Barriers ............................................................ 18 Turf and Grasses .......................................................... 18 STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS& COMPONENTS Adobe BLocks ............................................................. 60 OUTDOOR STRUCTURES Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Blocks ............................... 60 Exterior Sun Control Devices ......................................... 20 Carpentry Accessories .................................................. 61 Marine Construction and Equipment ............................... 20 Cast Concrete Roof Decks ............................................. 61 Outdoor Seating and Tables, Other ................................. 21 Cementitious Reinforced Panels ..................................... 61 Outdoor Seating and Tables, Plastic ............................... 21 Clay Blocks ................................................................ 62 Outdoor Seating and Tables, Wood ................................. 24 Concrete Blocks .......................................................... 62 Plastic Fences and Gates .............................................. 25 Engineered Lumber Products ......................................... 63 Recycling Equipment ................................................... 26 FSC-Certified Heavy Timber ........................................... 63 FSC-Certified Wood Framing Lumber ............................... 65 DECKING FSC-Certified Wood Paneling ......................................... 68 FSC-Certified Wood Decking .......................................... 28 Log Construction ......................................................... 69 Plastic Lumber ............................................................ 30 Masonry Accessories .................................................... 69 Preservative-Treated Wood and Treatment Products ........... 30 Masonry Mortaring ...................................................... 70 Preservative-Treated Wood Decking ................................ 31 Metal-Web Wood Joists ................................................ 70 Reclaimed-Wood Decking .............................................. 31 Precast Concrete Panels ............................................... 71 Solid Plastic Decki ng ................................................... 33 Preservative-treated Framing Lumber ............................. 72 Wood-Plastic Composite Lumber .................................... 37 Preservative-Treated Wood and Treatment Products .......... .73 Preservative-treated Wood Sheathing Panels .................... 74 Reclaimed-Wood Framing Lumber ................................... 74 Copyright C BuildingGreen, Inc. Contents GREEN BUILDING PRODUCTS ~ Reclaimed-Wood Heavy Timber ...................................... 77 Metal Doors and Frames ............................................. 128 Sheathing (including Plywood & OSB) ............................ 82 Operation and Maintenance of Doors and Frames ............ 129 Stay-in-Place Insulating Concrete Forms ......................... 85 Wood Doors .............................................................. 129 Structural Insulated Panels ........................................... 90 WINDOWS Structural Plastic Lumber ............................................. 93 Composite Windows ................................................... 132 Structural Steel Framing ............................................... 94 Domed Unit Skylights ................................................ 133 Wall Panels ................................................................ 94 General Information, Windows and Doors ...................... 133 Wood Framing Fasteners ............................................... 95 Glazi ng .................................................................... 134 Wood Trusses .............................................................. 95 Metal-Framed Skylights .............................................. 135 SHEATHING Plastic Windows ........................................................ 135 Air Barriers ................................................................ 98 Roof Windows ........................................................... 137 Fire-resistant Sheathing Board ...................................... 98 Solar-Control Window Film .......................................... 137 Insulating Sheathing ................................................... 99 Tubular Skylights ...................................................... 138 Sheathing (including Plywood & OSB) .......................... 100 Window Shades ......................................................... 139 Window Treatment Hardware ....................................... 140 EXTERIOR FINISH & TRIM Wood Windows ......................................................... 141 Air, Vapor, and Moisture Barriers .................................. 106 INSULATION Artificial Stone ......................................................... 106 Acoustic Blanket Insulation ........................................ 144 Composition Siding ................................................... 107 Air, Vapor, and Moisture Barriers .................................. 144 Fiber Cement Siding .................................................. 107 Blanket Insulation .................................................... 145 FSC-Certified Wood Siding ........................................... 108 Board Insulation ....................................................... 146 Insulated Metal Wall Panels ........................................ 109 Foam Joint Sealants .................................................. 148 Masonry Accessories .................................................. 110 Foamed-in-Place Insulation ........................................ 149 Reclaimed-Wood Siding .............................................. 110 HVAC Insulation ........................................................ 150 Vapor-Retarding Coatings ........................................... 114 Insulated Metal Wall Panels ........................................ 150 Wood Shingles and Shakes .......................................... 114 Insulation Baffles ..................................................... 151 Wood-Alternative Trim ............................................... 114 Loose-Fill Insulation .................................................. 151 ROOFING Preformed Joint Seals ................................................ 155 Clay Roofing Tiles ...................................................... 116 Radiant Barrier Paints ................................................ 156 Fiber-Cement Roofing Shingles .................................... 117 Radiant Barriers ........................................................ 156 Green Roof Components ............................................. 117 Sprayed Acoustic Insulation ........................................ 157 Green Roof Planti ng Media ......................................... 118 Sprayed Insulation .................................................... 158 Green Roof Plants ..................................................... 118 Structural Insulated Panels ......................................... 160 Green Roof Systems ................................................... 119 Thermal Insulation .................................................... 163 Gutters and Downspouts ............................................ 120 FLOORING & FLOORCOVERINGS Metal Shingles .......................................................... 121 Plastic and Rubber Shingles ........................................ 121 Acoustical Underlayment ............................................ 167 Ridge and Soffit Vents ................................................ 123 Backing Boards and Underlayments .............................. 167 Roof Accessories ....................................................... 123 Bamboo Flooring ....................................................... 168 Roofing Panels .......................................................... 124 Brick Flooring ........................................................... 170 Slate Shingles .......................................................... 124 Carpet Cushion ......................................................... 170 Thermoplastic Membrane Roofing ................................. 126 Carpet Recycling ....................................................... 172 Wood Shingles and Shakes .......................................... 126 Carpet Tile ............................................................... 172 Cementitious Underlayment ........................................ 172 DOORS Ceramic Tile ............................................................. 173 Composite Doors ....................................................... 128 Concrete Finishing .................................................... 173 General Information, Windows and Doors ...................... 128 Concrete Pigments .................................................... 175 ii Copyright ~ BuHdingGreen, Inc. ~ GREEN BUILDING PRODUCTS Contents Cork Flooring ............................................................ 175 Foam Joint Sealants .................................................. 227 Flooring Adhesives .................................................... 177 Preformed Joint Seals ................................................ 227 Flooring Underlayment ............................................... 177 Wood, Plastic, and Composite Fastenings ...................... 228 FSC-Certified Wood Flooring ........................................ 178 PAINTS & COATINGS Natural Fiber Floor Mats ............................................. 182 Plastic Flooring ......................................................... 182 Coatings for Steel ..................................................... 230 Reclaimed-Wood Flooring .......................................... 183 Decorative Finishes ................................................... 230 Recycled-Glass Tile .................................................... 190 Exterior Paints .......................................................... 230 Resilient Sheet Flooring ............................................. 191 Exterior Stains and Finishes ........................................ 232 Resilient Tile Flooring ................................................ 192 Interior Paints .......................................................... 233 Sheet Carpet ............................................................ 192 Interior Stains and Finishes ........................................ 237 Subflooring .............................................................. 193 Mastic Removers ....................................................... 239 Suppressed Wood Flooring .......................................... 195 Moisture-proofing ..................................................... 239 Terrazzo ................................................................... 195 Mold-Resistant Coatings ............................................. 239 Thin-Set Tiling ......................................................... 196 Other Plastering ........................................................ 240 Tiling Adhesive ......................................................... 196 Paint Removers ......................................................... 241 Radiant Barrier Paints ................................................ 241 INTERIOR FINISH & TRIM Recycled Paints ........................................................ 242 Acoustical Ceilings .................................................... 198 Traffic Coatings ......................................................... 243 Acoustical Wall Finishes ............................................. 198 Vapor-Retarding Coatings ........................................... 243 Agfiber Millwork ........................................................ 198 Water Repellent Coatings ........................................... 243 Ceramic Tile ............................................................. 199 Water Repellents ....................................................... 243 Certified-Wood Stairs and Railings ............................... 199 Waterproof Coatings for Concrete and Masonry ............... 245 Cork Wall Covering .................................................... 200 MECHANICAL SYSTEMS/HVAC Countertops ............................................................. 200 Fiberboard and Particleboard Panels ............................. 202 Air Conditioning Equipment.. ...................................... 248 Fiberboard Millwork ................................................... 203 Air Outlets and Inlets ................................................ 249 Fiberboard Trim ........................................................ 204 Air-to-Air Energy Recovery Ventilation .......................... 249 FSC-Certified Millwork ................................................ 204 Bathroom Vent Fans .................................................. 251 FSC-Certified Wood Paneling ....................................... 206 Central Cooling Equipment.. ........................................ 252 Gypsum Board .......................................................... 207 Condensing Boilers .................................................... 252 Gypsum Board Accessories .......................................... 208 Convection Heating and Cooling .................................. 253 Gypsum Board Taping and Finishing ............................. 209 Dampers .................................................................. 254 Plastic Paneli ng ........................................................ 209 Duct Mastic .............................................................. 254 Prefinished Paneling .................................................. 211 Evaporative Air-Cooling Equipment .............................. 254 Reclaimed-Wood Millwork ........................................... 213 Furnaces .................................................................. 255 Recycled-Glass Tile .................................................... 217 Heat Pumps ............................................................. 256 Residential Cabi netry ................................................. 218 Heating Boilers ......................................................... 258 Textile Wall Coverings ................................................ 220 Humidity Control Equipment ....................................... 259 Wall Covering ........................................................... 221 HVAC Air Cleaning Devices .......................................... 259 Wall Covering Adhesives ............................................. 222 HVAC Air Handlers ..................................................... 261 Wood Veneer ............................................................ 222 HVAC Ducts and Casings ............................................. 261 Wood-Alternative Trim ............................................... 223 HVAC Fans ................................................................ 261 Wood-Veneer Paneling ............................................... 223 HVAC Insulation ........................................................ 262 Instrumentation and Control for HVAC .......................... 263 CAULKS & ADHESIVES Masonry Fireplaces .................................................... 264 Caulk Joint Sealants .................................................. 226 Mastic Removers ....................................................... 264 Duct Mastic .............................................................. 226 Packaged Water Chillers ............................................. 264 Copyright C BuildingGreen, Inc. Contents GREEN BUILDING PRODUCTS ~ Powered Attic Exhaust Fans ........................................ 265 Furniture ................................................................. 317 Space Heaters .......................................................... 266 Natural Fiber Fabrics .................................................. 318 Portable Partitions, Screens, and Panels ........................ 318 PLUMBING Reclaimed-Wood Furniture .......................................... 318 Recycled-Content Furniture ......................................... 320 Composting Toilet Systems ......................................... 268 Residential Cabinetry ................................................. 321 Domestic Water Heat Exchangers ................................. 269 Storage Shelving ....................................................... 322 Domestic Water Heaters ............................................. 269 Tackboards ............................................................... 323 Domestic Water Piping ............................................... 272 Tub and Shower Doors ............................................... 323 Greywater Systems .................................................... 273 Window Shades ......................................................... 323 Irrigation ................................................................. 274 Rainwater Harvesting ................................................. 274 RENEWABLE ENERGY Residential Faucets, Showerheads, and Controls ............. 275 Residential Lavatories and Sinks .................................. 278 Alternative Energy Balance of Systems Components ........ 326 Residential Toilets ..................................................... 278 Batteries for Alternative Energy Systems ....................... 327 Residential Urinals .................................................... 282 Building Integrated Photovoltaic Roofing ..................... 328 Sanitary Waste and Vent Piping ................................... 282 Masonry Fireplaces .................................................... 328 Swimming Pool Plumbing Systems ............................... 283 Packaged Solar Heating Equipment .............................. 329 Water Filtering .......................................................... 284 Photovoltaic Collectors .............................................. 331 Water Storage Tanks .................................................. 285 Solar Concentrating Collectors ..................................... 333 Solar Flat-Plate Collectors .......................................... 334 ELECTRICAL Solar Heating Balance of System Components ................ 335 Alternative Energy Balance of Systems Components ........ 288 Solar Vacuum-Tube Collectors ...................................... 337 Batteries for Alternative Energy Systems ....................... 289 Swimming Pool Plumbing Systems ............................... 337 Building Integrated Photovoltaic Roofing ..................... 290 Wind Energy Equipment ............................................. 338 Data Cables .............................................................. 290 Lighting Controls and Building Automation ................... 291 DISTRIBUTORS & RETAILERS Microturbines ........................................................... 292 Distributors/Retailers, Energy Conservation ................... 342 Photovoltaic Collectors .............................................. 292 Distributors/Retailers, FSC-Certified Wood ..................... 342 Raceway and Boxes for Electrical Systems ..................... 294 Distributors/Retailers, Green Building Materials ............. 344 Wind Energy Equipment ............................................. 294 Distributors/Retailers, Renewable Energy Equipment ....... 347 LIGHTING Distributors/Retailers, Used Building Materials .............. 349 Compact Fluorescent Lamps ........................................ 298 MISCELLAN EOUS Exterior Lighting ....................................................... 300 Air Quality Monitoring and Assessment ......................... 356 Fluorescent Lamps ..................................................... 301 Communication Wiring ............................................... 356 Induction Lamps ....................................................... 302 Detection and Alarm .................................................. 356 Interior Luminaires ................................................... 302 Electricity Metering ................................................... 358 LED lighting ............................................................. 303 Facility Remediation .................................................. 358 Special Purpose Lighting ............................................ 304 Outdoor Trash and Recycling Receptacles ...................... 359 APPLIANCES Pest Control Devices .................................................. 361 Recycling Equipment ................................................. 362 Residential Dishwashers ............................................. 306 Recycling Programs ................................................... 363 Residential Laundry Appliances ................................... 308 Wood Products Certification and Information ................. 363 Residential Refrigerators and Freezers .......................... 310 FURNITURE & FURNISHINGS INDEX OF PRODUCTS & MANUFACTURERS ....................... 365 ABOUT THE EDITORS .................................................. 375 Bedroom Furnishings ................................................. 316 ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS STATEMENT .......................... 375 FSC-Certified Wood Furniture ....................................... 316 iv ~ Copyright ~ BuHdingGreen, Inc. ~ GREEN BUILDING PRODUCTS by Sarah Susanka The book you have in your hands is an important and With a house design that's properLy taiLored to the ac much-needed tooL in buiLding a house that is green-a tivities of your Life, and with spaces proportioned to fit house that respects the vaLue of our pLanet's naturaL our human scaLe, it is then time to seLect the products resources, that protects its occupants, and that rec that support your efforts to make a heaLthy environment ognizes the impact and Legacy it wiLL Leave for future for your househoLd, without hurting the pLanet in the generations. process. For many years, this has presented a quandary. You've known what you WANT to be abLe to do-to make When I first became an architect, back in the 1980s, I product seLections that aLign with your vaLues. You've was a passive soLar "nut," convinced that it was time to known that you want to do what's best for the Earth and Loosen our dependence on fossiL fueLs and embrace the for future generations, and onLy purchase items that are abundant energy avaiLabLe from the sun. Then I moved in keeping with the naturaL order of things. But untiL now to Minnesota and discovered that, though this might the probLem has been how to find them. SimpLy having be an excellent strategy for warmer climates and Lower the vaLues is not enough. You need a guide to heLp find Latitudes, in Minneapolis in December there just aren't the companies that share your goaLs and have made the enough hours of sunLight, even on a really sunny day, to effort to create sustainabLe products that can fuLfiLL your make passive soLar strategies work effectiveLy. So I turned dream for a truLy green home. into an energy-efficiency nut instead, Learning everything I couLd about how to minimize heat Loss in the winter This book is that guide. It's written in a way that makes and heat gain in the summer, while still designing homes it easy to find the information and product advice you that were comfortabLe as weLL as a deLight to Live in. need, and it's a must for anyone-buiLder, designer, ar chitect, or homeowner-who wants to know the unbiased Over the twenty years I practiced residentiaL architecture and unembeLLished truth about what's really "green." The and energy-efficient design in the Twin Cities, my coL editors at BuiLdingGreen, including ALex WiLson and Mark Leagues and I deveLoped a strategy for buiLding better, not Piepkorn, are among the most knowLedgeabLe peopLe in bigger, which came to be known as buiLding Not So Big. the worLd on sustainabiLity, energy efficiency, and en My first book, The Not So Big House, pubLished in 1998 vironmentaL characteristics of building products. They by Taunton Press, speLLed out a recipe for a more sustain provide an enormous service to aLL of us in document abLy made house-one that was about a third smaller ing, in Laypersons' Language, the ins and outs of product than you thought you needed, with every space used seLection for a green home. every day. Such a house is filled with the speciaL detaiLs of design and construction that make its structure Last Green Building Products provides the most comprehensive for centuries rather than decades, and with a character and usefuL resource for fuLfiLLing the dreams that so many that encourages generations of inhabitants to take care of us share for a sustainabLe future for our pLanetary-as of it, and make it their own, just Like the homes of the weLL as our personaL-home. Together we CAN make a Arts and Crafts movement did a century ago. difference, and this book points the way, giving us the tooLs to make the decisions that wiLL ensure a better, I beLieve that the very first step in buiLding a green home though not necessariLy bigger, future. is to build it just the right size for the way you want to Live-you can read more about how to make this happen in the Not So Big House series of books, as weLL as my Sarah Susanka is an architect and author of the highly acclaimed Latest, Home By Design. Not So Big House series of books, published by Taunton Press. Copyright ~ BuildingGreen, Inc. v GREEN BUILDING PRODUCTS ~ GREEN HOMES ARE SAFE TO LIVE IN, AFFORDABLE TO Why Choose Green Building Products? operate, and less damaging to the local, regional, and There are really three stakeholders to benefit from the global environments. use of green building products: the people who work with Interest in green building has been growing by leaps and the materials (not only on the job site but also in the bounds in recent years for a number of reasons. Home factories where the products are made); the homeowners owners are alarmed by news about mold and asthma and who live with those materials; and the local, regional, about the alphabet soup of toxic chemicals that enters and global environment that is protected through the our homes through building products, furnishings, and production and use of these materials. consumer goods. We want the place where we live to be The direct benefits of green building products to workers safe. We spend 90% of our time indoors and a significant and homeowners are the easiest to justify. Manufacturing chunk of that in our homes; these spaces should not make facilities and construction companies can save money if us sick. A green home is a healthy home. employees don't have to use special protective gear and Some people are worried that rising energy prices could if they stay healthier, losing less time to sick leave. And make their homes too expensive to live in. In recent years, the importance of a safe, healthy home goes almost with we have seen dramatic increases in the price of gasoline, out saying. Since we spend so much of our time indoors, natural gas, electricity, and heating oil. Evidence that it's imperative that our indoor environments don't make worldwide oil production may be nearing a peak even us sick. Asthma now affects one in eight children, and as demand continues to grow leads to the concern that medical experts are increasingly pointing to homes even higher prices may be just around the corner. (The and the products we put in them-as the culprits that prices of natural gas and electricity tend to rise and fall cause respiratory illnesses. Further, there are a slew of with the price of oil.) With more and more people nearing chemicals we introduce to our homes whose health effects retirement age and facing the prospect of living on a fixed we know almost nothing about, such as the plasticizers income, many are wisely concerned about the rising costs that make vinyl shower curtains and wallcoverings flex of operating their homes. This includes energy costs but ible, brominated flame retardants in foam cushions, and also the costs of maintaining the home. A green home fluoropolymers such as Teflon® used to insulate some is affordable to operate-its energy use is low, and it is wiring and a component in some finishes. Some of these made with durable, low-maintenance materials. chemicals are now showing up in the blood of humans worldwide and are being linked to behavioral and devel Finally, more and more homeowners are beginning to opmental problems. recognize that their actions can make a difference. There Homeowners benefit directly from many products in the is growing awareness about our impacts on the environ operation of their homes: heating, cooling, water use, ment, and an increasing willingness to do something maintenance, and repairs. Some green building products about it. Surveys show that efforts to make their homes are more energy-efficient or more water-efficient than more environmentally friendly are high priorities for conventional products; others are more durable or require homeowners and potential homebuyers-even if those less maintenance. These direct benefits will save people measures increase costs. money or time over the life of their homes and can easily Doing the right thing by creating a green home makes be justified on those grounds. sense all around. It's good for your family's health, it Selecting green products solely because they protect the saves money, and it's good for the environment. environment can be more difficult to justify-but is no less important. While most homeowners will be sympa thetic to concerns about rainforest destruction, ozone depletion, or toxic chemical releases from manufacturing vi ~ Copyright ~ BuHdingGreen, Inc. ~ GREEN BUILDING PRODUCTS Introduction plants, those impacts are far away, and most of them coming years and decades, it may become easier to draw don't affect us directly. However, growing awareness the connection between our purchasing decisions and a about global warming is helping people understand the wide range of impacts. If that happens, the environment fact that actions in one place can have environmental could become a much bigger factor in the way we think, impacts elsewhere. If, as most scientists believe, global act, and make purchasing decisions. warming is going to become a lot more apparent over the When it comes to choosing green building products, both direct and indirect benefits are important. The relative priorities of these benefits, though, will vary significantly Product Selection is Only One Part of from person to person. Green Building While this book focuses on the selection of prod What Makes a Product Green? ucts for building and remodeling to make a home This is a very complicated question. Many different fac more environmentally friendly, it is important tors come into play in determining the "greenness" of to point out that green building is about much products and materials; very often the distinctions are more than products. Green building is also about not black-and-white. Much of the complexity in examining such issues as: the environmental and health impacts of materials results • Energy-efficient design and construction from the fact that the impacts can occur at different where windows are located, how much points in the life cycle of a product, and those impacts insulation is installed, and how effectively can vary tremendously from product to product. air leakage is controlled; The science of examining the environmental and health • House size-not building a larger home impacts of products is referred to as life-cycle assessment, than is needed; or LCA. This process examines a product from "cradle to grave," considering environmental and health issues • Where the house is built-so that use involved with all aspects of resource extraction, manu of automobiles can be minimized and facture, use, and disposal. Instead of "cradle to grave," important natural areas can be protected; some prefer to think of this cycle as "cradle to cradle," • Design and construction detailing to avoid recognizing the idea of taking a product at the end of moisture problems-the leading cause of its useful life and turning it into the raw material for indoor air quality problems in houses. something else-recycling. While the products and materials used in a home A green product is one whose life-cycle impacts are low. are often the most visible aspects of "green," A floor tile made from recycled glass is considered green these other issues are at least as important-and because it is made from a waste material-something often significantly more important. Indeed, it that would otherwise end up in a landfill. A mineral is possible to build a compact, energy-efficient silicate paint is green because it is highly durable and home close to alternative transportation that won't require frequent recoating or other treatment would be considered green by any measure with throughout its life. Metal cabinets can be green if they very few products and materials that are spe don't emit VOCs (volatile organic compounds) or other cifically considered "green." Conversely, a house pollutants. A compact fluorescent light bulb is green could be built from 100% green products yet not because it reduces energy consumption in the home. be very green at all-because it isn't energy Sometimes, more than one environmental attribute ap efficient, because it's much bigger than necessary, ply to a product-for example, recycled plastic decki ng or because building it damaged an ecologically that is made from a waste product, is more durable than sensitive area. standard wooden decking, and doesn't release copper or other chemicals that can harm the environment (as can Selecting green building products is a very impor conventional pressure-treated wood). tant aspect of green design, but it's not the whole story. Be sure to pay attention to the broader A challenge in choosing green products is balancing all issues. For more information on green building, of these different-and often unrelated-considerations. visit www.BuildingGreen.com. A product might be made of recycled material but release harmful levels of VOCs; another might be durable Copyright ~ BuildingGreen, Inc. ~ vii

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I o Edited by Alex W ilson and Mark Piepkorn FOREWORD BY SARAH SUSANKA G R E E N B U I L D I N G P R O D U C T S 3rd Edition The GreenSpec®G uide to Residential Building Materials Alex Wilson and Mark Piepkorn . EDITORS Nadav Malin· CO-EDITOR, GREENSPEC Angela Battisto . GREENSPEC MANAGER Jennifer Atlee . RESEARCH DIRECTOR Brent Ehrlich· PRODUCT EDITOR Frank Richter· Assoc. PRODUCT EDITOR BuildingGreen Authoritotive Information on Environmentally Responsible Building Design and Construction Green Building Products 3rd Edition: The GreenSpec®G uide to Residential Building Materials Cataloging in Publication Data: A catalog record for this publication is available from the National Library of Canada. Paperback ISBN-13: 978-0-86571-600-1 Copyright © 2008 by BuildingGreen, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher. GreenSpeC® is a registered trademark of BuildingGreen, Inc. Cover photo by Randi Baird of a home designed and built by South Mountain Company, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. Used by permission. Product photos were provided by the manufacturers and are used by permission. Production notes: Text design by Joy Wallens-Penford. Layout by Julia Jandrisits. Cover design by DC Design. In keeping with the copublishers' mission to build an ecologically sustainable society through their work and actions, this book is printed on acid-free paper that is 100% old-growth forest free (100% post-consumer recycled), processed chlorine free, and printed with vegetable-based, low VOCinks. Printed in Canada. Inquiries regarding requests to reprint all or part of this book should be addressed to BuildingGreen, Inc., at the address below. Copublished by: BuildingGreen, Inc., 122 Birge Street, Suite 30, Brattleboro, VT 05301, USA 802-257-7300 BuildingGreen's mission is to provide accurate, unbiased, and timely information that will help building professionals improve the environmental performance of buildings and surrounding landscapes. For further information and to learn about our other information resources, please visit our website at: www.BuildingGreen.com. New Society Publishers, P.O. Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC VOR 1XO, Canada 250-247-9737 New Society Publishers' mission is to publish books that contribute in fundamental ways to building an ecologically sustainable and just society, and to do so with the least possible impact on the environment, in a manner that models this vision. For further information, or to browse our full list of books and purchase securely, visit our website at: www.newsociety.com. ~ GREEN BUILDING PRODUCTS FOREWORD by Sarah Susanka .......................................... v FOUNDATIONS, FOOTERS & SLABS INTRODUCTION ............................................................ vi Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Blocks ............................... 40 Bentonite Waterproofing .............................................. 40 SITEWORK & LANDSCAPING Cast-in-Place Concrete ................................................. 41 Aggregate Surfacing ..................................................... 2 Cast-in-Place Concrete Forms ........................................ 41 Brick Pavers ................................................................ 3 Concrete Accessories ................................................... 42 Erosion Protection ........................................................ 3 Concrete Blocks .......................................................... 43 flexibLe Paving ............................................................ 4 Concrete Curing .......................................................... 43 Hydro-MuLching ........................................................... 4 Concrete Form-Release Agents ....................................... 44 Irrigation .................................................................... 6 Concrete Maintenance and Rehabilitation ....................... 46 Landscape Edging ........................................................ 6 Concrete Pigments ...................................................... 46 Landscape Timbers ....................................................... 7 Foundation and Load-Bearing ELements .......................... 47 Native Plants and Seeds ................................................ 9 Foundation and Slab Drainage ....................................... 47 Operation and Maintenance of Plantings ......................... 10 Masonry Mortaring ...................................................... 48 Parking Bumpers (Car Stops) ......................................... ll Moisture-proofi ng ....................................................... 48 Pest Control Devices .................................................... 14 Precast Concrete Panels ............................................... 49 Plastic Fences and Gates .............................................. 14 Sheet Waterproofing .................................................... 49 Porous Pavers, Plastic .................................................. 15 Stay-in-Place Insulating Concrete Forms ......................... 50 Porous Pavers, Precast Concrete ..................................... 16 Water Repellent Coatings ............................................. 55 Precast Concrete Pavers ............................................... 17 Water Repellents ......................................................... 55 Rigid Paving ............................................................... 17 Waterproof Coatings for Concrete and Masonry ................. 57 Sound Barriers ............................................................ 18 Turf and Grasses .......................................................... 18 STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS& COMPONENTS Adobe BLocks ............................................................. 60 OUTDOOR STRUCTURES Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Blocks ............................... 60 Exterior Sun Control Devices ......................................... 20 Carpentry Accessories .................................................. 61 Marine Construction and Equipment ............................... 20 Cast Concrete Roof Decks ............................................. 61 Outdoor Seating and Tables, Other ................................. 21 Cementitious Reinforced Panels ..................................... 61 Outdoor Seating and Tables, Plastic ............................... 21 Clay Blocks ................................................................ 62 Outdoor Seating and Tables, Wood ................................. 24 Concrete Blocks .......................................................... 62 Plastic Fences and Gates .............................................. 25 Engineered Lumber Products ......................................... 63 Recycling Equipment ................................................... 26 FSC-Certified Heavy Timber ........................................... 63 FSC-Certified Wood Framing Lumber ............................... 65 DECKING FSC-Certified Wood Paneling ......................................... 68 FSC-Certified Wood Decking .......................................... 28 Log Construction ......................................................... 69 Plastic Lumber ............................................................ 30 Masonry Accessories .................................................... 69 Preservative-Treated Wood and Treatment Products ........... 30 Masonry Mortaring ...................................................... 70 Preservative-Treated Wood Decking ................................ 31 Metal-Web Wood Joists ................................................ 70 Reclaimed-Wood Decking .............................................. 31 Precast Concrete Panels ............................................... 71 Solid Plastic Decki ng ................................................... 33 Preservative-treated Framing Lumber ............................. 72 Wood-Plastic Composite Lumber .................................... 37 Preservative-Treated Wood and Treatment Products .......... .73 Preservative-treated Wood Sheathing Panels .................... 74 Reclaimed-Wood Framing Lumber ................................... 74 Copyright C BuildingGreen, Inc. Contents GREEN BUILDING PRODUCTS ~ Reclaimed-Wood Heavy Timber ...................................... 77 Metal Doors and Frames ............................................. 128 Sheathing (including Plywood & OSB) ............................ 82 Operation and Maintenance of Doors and Frames ............ 129 Stay-in-Place Insulating Concrete Forms ......................... 85 Wood Doors .............................................................. 129 Structural Insulated Panels ........................................... 90 WINDOWS Structural Plastic Lumber ............................................. 93 Composite Windows ................................................... 132 Structural Steel Framing ............................................... 94 Domed Unit Skylights ................................................ 133 Wall Panels ................................................................ 94 General Information, Windows and Doors ...................... 133 Wood Framing Fasteners ............................................... 95 Glazi ng .................................................................... 134 Wood Trusses .............................................................. 95 Metal-Framed Skylights .............................................. 135 SHEATHING Plastic Windows ........................................................ 135 Air Barriers ................................................................ 98 Roof Windows ........................................................... 137 Fire-resistant Sheathing Board ...................................... 98 Solar-Control Window Film .......................................... 137 Insulating Sheathing ................................................... 99 Tubular Skylights ...................................................... 138 Sheathing (including Plywood & OSB) .......................... 100 Window Shades ......................................................... 139 Window Treatment Hardware ....................................... 140 EXTERIOR FINISH & TRIM Wood Windows ......................................................... 141 Air, Vapor, and Moisture Barriers .................................. 106 INSULATION Artificial Stone ......................................................... 106 Acoustic Blanket Insulation ........................................ 144 Composition Siding ................................................... 107 Air, Vapor, and Moisture Barriers .................................. 144 Fiber Cement Siding .................................................. 107 Blanket Insulation .................................................... 145 FSC-Certified Wood Siding ........................................... 108 Board Insulation ....................................................... 146 Insulated Metal Wall Panels ........................................ 109 Foam Joint Sealants .................................................. 148 Masonry Accessories .................................................. 110 Foamed-in-Place Insulation ........................................ 149 Reclaimed-Wood Siding .............................................. 110 HVAC Insulation ........................................................ 150 Vapor-Retarding Coatings ........................................... 114 Insulated Metal Wall Panels ........................................ 150 Wood Shingles and Shakes .......................................... 114 Insulation Baffles ..................................................... 151 Wood-Alternative Trim ............................................... 114 Loose-Fill Insulation .................................................. 151 ROOFING Preformed Joint Seals ................................................ 155 Clay Roofing Tiles ...................................................... 116 Radiant Barrier Paints ................................................ 156 Fiber-Cement Roofing Shingles .................................... 117 Radiant Barriers ........................................................ 156 Green Roof Components ............................................. 117 Sprayed Acoustic Insulation ........................................ 157 Green Roof Planti ng Media ......................................... 118 Sprayed Insulation .................................................... 158 Green Roof Plants ..................................................... 118 Structural Insulated Panels ......................................... 160 Green Roof Systems ................................................... 119 Thermal Insulation .................................................... 163 Gutters and Downspouts ............................................ 120 FLOORING & FLOORCOVERINGS Metal Shingles .......................................................... 121 Plastic and Rubber Shingles ........................................ 121 Acoustical Underlayment ............................................ 167 Ridge and Soffit Vents ................................................ 123 Backing Boards and Underlayments .............................. 167 Roof Accessories ....................................................... 123 Bamboo Flooring ....................................................... 168 Roofing Panels .......................................................... 124 Brick Flooring ........................................................... 170 Slate Shingles .......................................................... 124 Carpet Cushion ......................................................... 170 Thermoplastic Membrane Roofing ................................. 126 Carpet Recycling ....................................................... 172 Wood Shingles and Shakes .......................................... 126 Carpet Tile ............................................................... 172 Cementitious Underlayment ........................................ 172 DOORS Ceramic Tile ............................................................. 173 Composite Doors ....................................................... 128 Concrete Finishing .................................................... 173 General Information, Windows and Doors ...................... 128 Concrete Pigments .................................................... 175 ii Copyright ~ BuHdingGreen, Inc. ~ GREEN BUILDING PRODUCTS Contents Cork Flooring ............................................................ 175 Foam Joint Sealants .................................................. 227 Flooring Adhesives .................................................... 177 Preformed Joint Seals ................................................ 227 Flooring Underlayment ............................................... 177 Wood, Plastic, and Composite Fastenings ...................... 228 FSC-Certified Wood Flooring ........................................ 178 PAINTS & COATINGS Natural Fiber Floor Mats ............................................. 182 Plastic Flooring ......................................................... 182 Coatings for Steel ..................................................... 230 Reclaimed-Wood Flooring .......................................... 183 Decorative Finishes ................................................... 230 Recycled-Glass Tile .................................................... 190 Exterior Paints .......................................................... 230 Resilient Sheet Flooring ............................................. 191 Exterior Stains and Finishes ........................................ 232 Resilient Tile Flooring ................................................ 192 Interior Paints .......................................................... 233 Sheet Carpet ............................................................ 192 Interior Stains and Finishes ........................................ 237 Subflooring .............................................................. 193 Mastic Removers ....................................................... 239 Suppressed Wood Flooring .......................................... 195 Moisture-proofing ..................................................... 239 Terrazzo ................................................................... 195 Mold-Resistant Coatings ............................................. 239 Thin-Set Tiling ......................................................... 196 Other Plastering ........................................................ 240 Tiling Adhesive ......................................................... 196 Paint Removers ......................................................... 241 Radiant Barrier Paints ................................................ 241 INTERIOR FINISH & TRIM Recycled Paints ........................................................ 242 Acoustical Ceilings .................................................... 198 Traffic Coatings ......................................................... 243 Acoustical Wall Finishes ............................................. 198 Vapor-Retarding Coatings ........................................... 243 Agfiber Millwork ........................................................ 198 Water Repellent Coatings ........................................... 243 Ceramic Tile ............................................................. 199 Water Repellents ....................................................... 243 Certified-Wood Stairs and Railings ............................... 199 Waterproof Coatings for Concrete and Masonry ............... 245 Cork Wall Covering .................................................... 200 MECHANICAL SYSTEMS/HVAC Countertops ............................................................. 200 Fiberboard and Particleboard Panels ............................. 202 Air Conditioning Equipment.. ...................................... 248 Fiberboard Millwork ................................................... 203 Air Outlets and Inlets ................................................ 249 Fiberboard Trim ........................................................ 204 Air-to-Air Energy Recovery Ventilation .......................... 249 FSC-Certified Millwork ................................................ 204 Bathroom Vent Fans .................................................. 251 FSC-Certified Wood Paneling ....................................... 206 Central Cooling Equipment.. ........................................ 252 Gypsum Board .......................................................... 207 Condensing Boilers .................................................... 252 Gypsum Board Accessories .......................................... 208 Convection Heating and Cooling .................................. 253 Gypsum Board Taping and Finishing ............................. 209 Dampers .................................................................. 254 Plastic Paneli ng ........................................................ 209 Duct Mastic .............................................................. 254 Prefinished Paneling .................................................. 211 Evaporative Air-Cooling Equipment .............................. 254 Reclaimed-Wood Millwork ........................................... 213 Furnaces .................................................................. 255 Recycled-Glass Tile .................................................... 217 Heat Pumps ............................................................. 256 Residential Cabi netry ................................................. 218 Heating Boilers ......................................................... 258 Textile Wall Coverings ................................................ 220 Humidity Control Equipment ....................................... 259 Wall Covering ........................................................... 221 HVAC Air Cleaning Devices .......................................... 259 Wall Covering Adhesives ............................................. 222 HVAC Air Handlers ..................................................... 261 Wood Veneer ............................................................ 222 HVAC Ducts and Casings ............................................. 261 Wood-Alternative Trim ............................................... 223 HVAC Fans ................................................................ 261 Wood-Veneer Paneling ............................................... 223 HVAC Insulation ........................................................ 262 Instrumentation and Control for HVAC .......................... 263 CAULKS & ADHESIVES Masonry Fireplaces .................................................... 264 Caulk Joint Sealants .................................................. 226 Mastic Removers ....................................................... 264 Duct Mastic .............................................................. 226 Packaged Water Chillers ............................................. 264 Copyright C BuildingGreen, Inc. Contents GREEN BUILDING PRODUCTS ~ Powered Attic Exhaust Fans ........................................ 265 Furniture ................................................................. 317 Space Heaters .......................................................... 266 Natural Fiber Fabrics .................................................. 318 Portable Partitions, Screens, and Panels ........................ 318 PLUMBING Reclaimed-Wood Furniture .......................................... 318 Recycled-Content Furniture ......................................... 320 Composting Toilet Systems ......................................... 268 Residential Cabinetry ................................................. 321 Domestic Water Heat Exchangers ................................. 269 Storage Shelving ....................................................... 322 Domestic Water Heaters ............................................. 269 Tackboards ............................................................... 323 Domestic Water Piping ............................................... 272 Tub and Shower Doors ............................................... 323 Greywater Systems .................................................... 273 Window Shades ......................................................... 323 Irrigation ................................................................. 274 Rainwater Harvesting ................................................. 274 RENEWABLE ENERGY Residential Faucets, Showerheads, and Controls ............. 275 Residential Lavatories and Sinks .................................. 278 Alternative Energy Balance of Systems Components ........ 326 Residential Toilets ..................................................... 278 Batteries for Alternative Energy Systems ....................... 327 Residential Urinals .................................................... 282 Building Integrated Photovoltaic Roofing ..................... 328 Sanitary Waste and Vent Piping ................................... 282 Masonry Fireplaces .................................................... 328 Swimming Pool Plumbing Systems ............................... 283 Packaged Solar Heating Equipment .............................. 329 Water Filtering .......................................................... 284 Photovoltaic Collectors .............................................. 331 Water Storage Tanks .................................................. 285 Solar Concentrating Collectors ..................................... 333 Solar Flat-Plate Collectors .......................................... 334 ELECTRICAL Solar Heating Balance of System Components ................ 335 Alternative Energy Balance of Systems Components ........ 288 Solar Vacuum-Tube Collectors ...................................... 337 Batteries for Alternative Energy Systems ....................... 289 Swimming Pool Plumbing Systems ............................... 337 Building Integrated Photovoltaic Roofing ..................... 290 Wind Energy Equipment ............................................. 338 Data Cables .............................................................. 290 Lighting Controls and Building Automation ................... 291 DISTRIBUTORS & RETAILERS Microturbines ........................................................... 292 Distributors/Retailers, Energy Conservation ................... 342 Photovoltaic Collectors .............................................. 292 Distributors/Retailers, FSC-Certified Wood ..................... 342 Raceway and Boxes for Electrical Systems ..................... 294 Distributors/Retailers, Green Building Materials ............. 344 Wind Energy Equipment ............................................. 294 Distributors/Retailers, Renewable Energy Equipment ....... 347 LIGHTING Distributors/Retailers, Used Building Materials .............. 349 Compact Fluorescent Lamps ........................................ 298 MISCELLAN EOUS Exterior Lighting ....................................................... 300 Air Quality Monitoring and Assessment ......................... 356 Fluorescent Lamps ..................................................... 301 Communication Wiring ............................................... 356 Induction Lamps ....................................................... 302 Detection and Alarm .................................................. 356 Interior Luminaires ................................................... 302 Electricity Metering ................................................... 358 LED lighting ............................................................. 303 Facility Remediation .................................................. 358 Special Purpose Lighting ............................................ 304 Outdoor Trash and Recycling Receptacles ...................... 359 APPLIANCES Pest Control Devices .................................................. 361 Recycling Equipment ................................................. 362 Residential Dishwashers ............................................. 306 Recycling Programs ................................................... 363 Residential Laundry Appliances ................................... 308 Wood Products Certification and Information ................. 363 Residential Refrigerators and Freezers .......................... 310 FURNITURE & FURNISHINGS INDEX OF PRODUCTS & MANUFACTURERS ....................... 365 ABOUT THE EDITORS .................................................. 375 Bedroom Furnishings ................................................. 316 ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS STATEMENT .......................... 375 FSC-Certified Wood Furniture ....................................... 316 iv ~ Copyright ~ BuHdingGreen, Inc. ~ GREEN BUILDING PRODUCTS by Sarah Susanka The book you have in your hands is an important and With a house design that's properLy taiLored to the ac much-needed tooL in buiLding a house that is green-a tivities of your Life, and with spaces proportioned to fit house that respects the vaLue of our pLanet's naturaL our human scaLe, it is then time to seLect the products resources, that protects its occupants, and that rec that support your efforts to make a heaLthy environment ognizes the impact and Legacy it wiLL Leave for future for your househoLd, without hurting the pLanet in the generations. process. For many years, this has presented a quandary. You've known what you WANT to be abLe to do-to make When I first became an architect, back in the 1980s, I product seLections that aLign with your vaLues. You've was a passive soLar "nut," convinced that it was time to known that you want to do what's best for the Earth and Loosen our dependence on fossiL fueLs and embrace the for future generations, and onLy purchase items that are abundant energy avaiLabLe from the sun. Then I moved in keeping with the naturaL order of things. But untiL now to Minnesota and discovered that, though this might the probLem has been how to find them. SimpLy having be an excellent strategy for warmer climates and Lower the vaLues is not enough. You need a guide to heLp find Latitudes, in Minneapolis in December there just aren't the companies that share your goaLs and have made the enough hours of sunLight, even on a really sunny day, to effort to create sustainabLe products that can fuLfiLL your make passive soLar strategies work effectiveLy. So I turned dream for a truLy green home. into an energy-efficiency nut instead, Learning everything I couLd about how to minimize heat Loss in the winter This book is that guide. It's written in a way that makes and heat gain in the summer, while still designing homes it easy to find the information and product advice you that were comfortabLe as weLL as a deLight to Live in. need, and it's a must for anyone-buiLder, designer, ar chitect, or homeowner-who wants to know the unbiased Over the twenty years I practiced residentiaL architecture and unembeLLished truth about what's really "green." The and energy-efficient design in the Twin Cities, my coL editors at BuiLdingGreen, including ALex WiLson and Mark Leagues and I deveLoped a strategy for buiLding better, not Piepkorn, are among the most knowLedgeabLe peopLe in bigger, which came to be known as buiLding Not So Big. the worLd on sustainabiLity, energy efficiency, and en My first book, The Not So Big House, pubLished in 1998 vironmentaL characteristics of building products. They by Taunton Press, speLLed out a recipe for a more sustain provide an enormous service to aLL of us in document abLy made house-one that was about a third smaller ing, in Laypersons' Language, the ins and outs of product than you thought you needed, with every space used seLection for a green home. every day. Such a house is filled with the speciaL detaiLs of design and construction that make its structure Last Green Building Products provides the most comprehensive for centuries rather than decades, and with a character and usefuL resource for fuLfiLLing the dreams that so many that encourages generations of inhabitants to take care of us share for a sustainabLe future for our pLanetary-as of it, and make it their own, just Like the homes of the weLL as our personaL-home. Together we CAN make a Arts and Crafts movement did a century ago. difference, and this book points the way, giving us the tooLs to make the decisions that wiLL ensure a better, I beLieve that the very first step in buiLding a green home though not necessariLy bigger, future. is to build it just the right size for the way you want to Live-you can read more about how to make this happen in the Not So Big House series of books, as weLL as my Sarah Susanka is an architect and author of the highly acclaimed Latest, Home By Design. Not So Big House series of books, published by Taunton Press. Copyright ~ BuildingGreen, Inc. v GREEN BUILDING PRODUCTS ~ GREEN HOMES ARE SAFE TO LIVE IN, AFFORDABLE TO Why Choose Green Building Products? operate, and less damaging to the local, regional, and There are really three stakeholders to benefit from the global environments. use of green building products: the people who work with Interest in green building has been growing by leaps and the materials (not only on the job site but also in the bounds in recent years for a number of reasons. Home factories where the products are made); the homeowners owners are alarmed by news about mold and asthma and who live with those materials; and the local, regional, about the alphabet soup of toxic chemicals that enters and global environment that is protected through the our homes through building products, furnishings, and production and use of these materials. consumer goods. We want the place where we live to be The direct benefits of green building products to workers safe. We spend 90% of our time indoors and a significant and homeowners are the easiest to justify. Manufacturing chunk of that in our homes; these spaces should not make facilities and construction companies can save money if us sick. A green home is a healthy home. employees don't have to use special protective gear and Some people are worried that rising energy prices could if they stay healthier, losing less time to sick leave. And make their homes too expensive to live in. In recent years, the importance of a safe, healthy home goes almost with we have seen dramatic increases in the price of gasoline, out saying. Since we spend so much of our time indoors, natural gas, electricity, and heating oil. Evidence that it's imperative that our indoor environments don't make worldwide oil production may be nearing a peak even us sick. Asthma now affects one in eight children, and as demand continues to grow leads to the concern that medical experts are increasingly pointing to homes even higher prices may be just around the corner. (The and the products we put in them-as the culprits that prices of natural gas and electricity tend to rise and fall cause respiratory illnesses. Further, there are a slew of with the price of oil.) With more and more people nearing chemicals we introduce to our homes whose health effects retirement age and facing the prospect of living on a fixed we know almost nothing about, such as the plasticizers income, many are wisely concerned about the rising costs that make vinyl shower curtains and wallcoverings flex of operating their homes. This includes energy costs but ible, brominated flame retardants in foam cushions, and also the costs of maintaining the home. A green home fluoropolymers such as Teflon® used to insulate some is affordable to operate-its energy use is low, and it is wiring and a component in some finishes. Some of these made with durable, low-maintenance materials. chemicals are now showing up in the blood of humans worldwide and are being linked to behavioral and devel Finally, more and more homeowners are beginning to opmental problems. recognize that their actions can make a difference. There Homeowners benefit directly from many products in the is growing awareness about our impacts on the environ operation of their homes: heating, cooling, water use, ment, and an increasing willingness to do something maintenance, and repairs. Some green building products about it. Surveys show that efforts to make their homes are more energy-efficient or more water-efficient than more environmentally friendly are high priorities for conventional products; others are more durable or require homeowners and potential homebuyers-even if those less maintenance. These direct benefits will save people measures increase costs. money or time over the life of their homes and can easily Doing the right thing by creating a green home makes be justified on those grounds. sense all around. It's good for your family's health, it Selecting green products solely because they protect the saves money, and it's good for the environment. environment can be more difficult to justify-but is no less important. While most homeowners will be sympa thetic to concerns about rainforest destruction, ozone depletion, or toxic chemical releases from manufacturing vi ~ Copyright ~ BuHdingGreen, Inc. ~ GREEN BUILDING PRODUCTS Introduction plants, those impacts are far away, and most of them coming years and decades, it may become easier to draw don't affect us directly. However, growing awareness the connection between our purchasing decisions and a about global warming is helping people understand the wide range of impacts. If that happens, the environment fact that actions in one place can have environmental could become a much bigger factor in the way we think, impacts elsewhere. If, as most scientists believe, global act, and make purchasing decisions. warming is going to become a lot more apparent over the When it comes to choosing green building products, both direct and indirect benefits are important. The relative priorities of these benefits, though, will vary significantly Product Selection is Only One Part of from person to person. Green Building While this book focuses on the selection of prod What Makes a Product Green? ucts for building and remodeling to make a home This is a very complicated question. Many different fac more environmentally friendly, it is important tors come into play in determining the "greenness" of to point out that green building is about much products and materials; very often the distinctions are more than products. Green building is also about not black-and-white. Much of the complexity in examining such issues as: the environmental and health impacts of materials results • Energy-efficient design and construction from the fact that the impacts can occur at different where windows are located, how much points in the life cycle of a product, and those impacts insulation is installed, and how effectively can vary tremendously from product to product. air leakage is controlled; The science of examining the environmental and health • House size-not building a larger home impacts of products is referred to as life-cycle assessment, than is needed; or LCA. This process examines a product from "cradle to grave," considering environmental and health issues • Where the house is built-so that use involved with all aspects of resource extraction, manu of automobiles can be minimized and facture, use, and disposal. Instead of "cradle to grave," important natural areas can be protected; some prefer to think of this cycle as "cradle to cradle," • Design and construction detailing to avoid recognizing the idea of taking a product at the end of moisture problems-the leading cause of its useful life and turning it into the raw material for indoor air quality problems in houses. something else-recycling. While the products and materials used in a home A green product is one whose life-cycle impacts are low. are often the most visible aspects of "green," A floor tile made from recycled glass is considered green these other issues are at least as important-and because it is made from a waste material-something often significantly more important. Indeed, it that would otherwise end up in a landfill. A mineral is possible to build a compact, energy-efficient silicate paint is green because it is highly durable and home close to alternative transportation that won't require frequent recoating or other treatment would be considered green by any measure with throughout its life. Metal cabinets can be green if they very few products and materials that are spe don't emit VOCs (volatile organic compounds) or other cifically considered "green." Conversely, a house pollutants. A compact fluorescent light bulb is green could be built from 100% green products yet not because it reduces energy consumption in the home. be very green at all-because it isn't energy Sometimes, more than one environmental attribute ap efficient, because it's much bigger than necessary, ply to a product-for example, recycled plastic decki ng or because building it damaged an ecologically that is made from a waste product, is more durable than sensitive area. standard wooden decking, and doesn't release copper or other chemicals that can harm the environment (as can Selecting green building products is a very impor conventional pressure-treated wood). tant aspect of green design, but it's not the whole story. Be sure to pay attention to the broader A challenge in choosing green products is balancing all issues. For more information on green building, of these different-and often unrelated-considerations. visit www.BuildingGreen.com. A product might be made of recycled material but release harmful levels of VOCs; another might be durable Copyright ~ BuildingGreen, Inc. ~ vii

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