Selection makes it easy for contactors to be green.

In the last few years, green building has progressively changed the face of the architecture and construction industries, revolutionizing how we think about high performance, sustainable design. What initially began as a fashionable trend is on its way to becoming the standard practice of designing buildings in which we live and work. Unlike other industries, which eventually steer toward dematerialization, our industry will always be in need of the next generation of supplies to service these environmentally sensitive structures. With the term "green" so widely, and sometimes carelessly, used, the question becomes: how do we know what are the best products?

Due to the fierce demand for green materials in the marketplace, there are a myriad of different variations to choose from, making it extremely difficult for design professionals to judge a product simply by one single attribute. It might be recycled content, it might be recyclable, it might have a very low volatile organic content or it might be wood from a certified forest. The problem is that if you only look at that one attribute, there might be other aspects of the product that can negatively impact the environment. The key to successfully designing a green project is to take a holistic approach to it. The same can be said for product selection. The design professional must weigh each of a product's attributes and arrive at the best decision for the project.

Some building products offer alternatives to conventional materials that are made from chemicals considered as environmentally problematic. Such substitutes, which may not be particularly green due to their high level of VOCs, are considered relatively green due to the products that they are replacing--allowing material savings elsewhere. Examples include drywall clips that eradicate corner studs, engineered stair stringers which cuts down on lumber waste and concrete pigments that eliminate the need for conventional finish flooring.

Because these "green" materials are no longer considered as specialty products, stores have lowered their prices, making them more readily available to professionals within the building and construction industry. There are several types of products on the market that have a lot of green options. Carpet is probably the most "green" of all the finished materials. Drywall with recycled content gypsum can be easily found. Today, several manufacturers make resilient flooring. And, of course, there's paint.

Green building design and construction is an investment that improves health and productivity. Changing the type of materials used to construct eco-sensitive structures is everyone's responsibility.

ROSS G. SPIEGEL

SENIOR SPECIFICATION WRITER

FLETCHER THOMPSON, INC.