| Green is the new black, so to speak. Everybody is | | | | and they are free from formaldehyde off-gassing. A |
| talking about going green and even building green. So | | | | product with multiple benefits could qualify for |
| what does it really mean to build green? | | | | GreenSpec on the basis of its overall environmental |
| Defining green has been a challenge, even for those | | | | performance, even if it doesn't meet a threshold in |
| who are as green as you can get. To sum up green, | | | | any one category alone. Conversely, a product with |
| the question would be - what type of environmental | | | | one or more green attributes might not qualify if it |
| impact does the materials you are using have? | | | | also carries significant environmental burdens. For |
| Assessing impact can mean on the front end or the | | | | example, wood treated with toxic preservatives has |
| back end. For example, in some instances, the | | | | advantages in terms of durability, but it would not be |
| product you use in building your home might not be | | | | listed in GreenSpec due the health and environmental |
| green to build, but the results of that product can be | | | | hazards it represents. |
| beneficial. A good example would be if a window is | | | | The primary intent with any green building products |
| installed in a way that maximizes the collection of low | | | | directory is to simplify the product selection process. |
| winter sunlight and blocks the summer sun, this saves | | | | Another way to build green is to conform to what is |
| energy and is green. | | | | called LEED Standards. LEED or 'The Leadership in |
| Because defining green is difficult, standards are | | | | Energy and Environmental Design' is a Green Building |
| starting to be organized and listed in the GreenSpec | | | | Rating System(TM) that encourages and accelerates |
| directory. This directory bases decisions about | | | | global adoption of sustainable green building and |
| products on categories such as energy-consuming | | | | development practices through the creation and |
| appliances and VOC-emitting paints, specific | | | | implementation of universally understood and |
| thresholds can be established relatively easily. But for | | | | accepted tools and performance criteria. |
| many criteria, the lines are much fuzzier and | | | | There are many resources available for consumers so |
| judgment calls are required. | | | | that they can adapt their building materials and design |
| It is important also to note that multiple criteria often | | | | to LEED standards. Building this way is probably the |
| apply-in other words, a product may be considered | | | | simplest way to go and there are many resources |
| green for more than one reason. Take recycled | | | | available to assist you. |
| plastic lumber, for example: it's made from recycled | | | | So should you build green because it is popular? Not |
| waste, it's highly durable, and it can obviate the need | | | | necessarily. You should build green because it is what |
| for pesticide treatments. Straw particleboard | | | | will ultimately provide a 'green' future and not a black |
| products are made from agricultural waste materials, | | | | one. |