Green Building

What is a Green Building Product?

Green Building Materials

We tend to evaluate green products on the basis of the material itself. For example, sisal rugs, made from fast-growing plants, are non-toxic and biodegradable. But reducing a building's environmental impact also means using building products and fixtures which may significantly lower energy and water use. Other considerations when selecting green products include whether they contain recycled and locally-produced materials. A product's durability, maintenance cost, ease of reuse, and recyclability should also factor into your decisions.

Assessing how green a building material is, or if its function is consistent with your green building goals, can be complicated. However, there are resources available to help you through this process.

Material Selection Resources

These organizations and businesses provide information and specifications on selecting environmentally preferable building products:

Beautiful and durable, bamboo flooring is a
"rapidly renewable" alternative to hardwood floors

Product Stewardship

Product stewardship encourages manufacturers and consumers to take responsibility for designing, making, purchasing, and managing products in a way that minimizes a product's environmental impacts. For more information on product stewardship for building materials such as paint, mercury thermostats, and electronic equipment, please visit the Northwest Product Stewardship Council and the Product Stewardship Institute websites.