There is a great interest in green building products propelled by environmentalists, owners, architects and engineers. At the recent GreenBuild show in Boston the convention center was filled with exhibitors promoting their green/sustainable products. Most of the exhibitors promoted products that support sustainability; however some were of questionable merit. So how can you tell the difference?

Green building products usually have one or more of the following characteristics.

• Green Process
• Regionally extracted, processed and manufactured
• Improved sustainability
• Recycled content
• Recyclable
• Low toxicity
• Biodegradable

In the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system materials account for approximately 20% of the total points available. Examples of materials that are green include the following:

• Low or zero VOC paints and sealants
• Post consumer recycled carpet and ceiling tiles
• Environmentally friendly clean materials
• Synthetic gypsum
• FSC (Forest Steward Council) Certified Wood
• Rapidly renewable materials
• Salvaged materials

At the present time there is not a master list of green materials. The above list of materials and characteristics provide a bases for analysis. Questions arise when a material is consistent with one or two of the characteristics but flagrantly violates another characteristic. For example, a material that is rapidly renewable but must be shipped great distances.

Claims from product manufacturer’s that their products are green must be carefully evaluated. Identifying green products is very subjective. In general, green products are those that maintain or improve the human environment while diminishing the impact of their use on the natural environment.