Green Building Product Selection Criteria

By Mike Valenti

By Mike Valenti

EnviroCitizen.org learned that the concept of sustainable building involves and integrates a variety of strategies during the design, construction and operation of building projects. The use of green building materials and products represents one important strategy in the design of a building. Using green building materials and products promotes conservation of nonrenewable resources internationally. In addition, integrating green building materials into building projects can help reduce the environmental impacts associated with the extraction, transport, processing, fabrication, installation, reuse, recycling and disposal of these building industry source materials.

These are six typical criteria of a green building project:

Resource efficiency

Indoor air quality

Energy efficiency

Water conservation

Budgeting

Aesthetics

Resource efficiency can be accomplished by utilizing materials such as the ones described in this paragraph. Buying products with identifiable recycled content, including postindustrial content with a preference for postconsumer content helps save virgin materials. Try buying materials that have been proven sustainable such as materials harvested from managed sources and preferably have an independent certification deteremined by an independent third party, such as the Rainforest Alliance. When you are buying things, be conscious of how they were manufactured. Products manufactured with resource-efficient processes should include reduced energy consumption, minimized waste and reduced greenhouse gases. Purchase building materials, components and systems found locally or regionally, saving energy and resources in transportation to the project site. You can also reuse things and make them into a part of your project. Buying salvaged or reclaimed materials can mean saving a material from disposal and renovating, repairing, restoring or generally improving the appearance, performance, quality, functionality or value of a product. Buy things that will last. Materials that are longer lasting or are comparable to conventional products with long life expectancies are chosen for durability.

Indoor air quality is enhanced by utilizing materials that are shown to follow environmentally sound concepts such as:

Materials that emit little or no carcinogens or irritants as demonstrated by the manufacturer through appropriate testing are called nontoxic.

Products that have minimal emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) often fall in this category as products that also maximize resource and energy efficiency while reducing chemical emissions.

Products and systems that resist moisture or inhibit the growth of biological contaminants in buildings are moisture resistant.

Water Conservation can be done by utilizing materials and systems that help reduce water consumption in buildings and conserve water in landscaped areas. Energy efficiency can be maximized by utilizing materials and systems that help reduce energy consumption in buildings and amenities. Affordability can be considered when building product life-cycle costs are comparable to conventional materials or as a whole, are within a defined percentage of the overall budget. Lastly, the aesthetic appeal can help a project. EnviroCitizen.org suggests that if you are going to be living sustainably, create a look of distinction to your taste that will show how sustainbility can also be lovely.

Green Building Product Selection Criteria

By: EnviroCitizen

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