The Green Building Materials Manual : A Reference to Environmentally Sustainable Initiatives and Evaluation Methods

Evaluating building materials for environmental sustainability is a complex prospect. How do governmental agencies and the design industry actually measure sustainable initiatives and environmental impacts? This book breaks down the technical vocabulary and principles that define environmentally sustainable choices across interior and exterior architectural products to help the reader understand: Material ingredient selection Energy and water use Emissions, including greenhouse gases Human health and toxicity Social accountability assessment This guide explains the structure of green certifications, standards and ecolabels, life cycle assessment, environmental regulations, and more. It presents a historic timeline for context and a snapshot of current trends and future objectives. It is a comprehensive reference for interior designers, architects, building owners, contractors, and students enrolled in interior design and architecture. Acknowledgments Prologue A Letter from the Authors Contents Chapter 1: Introduction 1.1 Defining Sustainability 1.1.1 World Commission on the Environment and Development 1.1.2 The Sustainable Development Goals 1.1.3 The Hannover Principles 1.2 Measuring Sustainability 1.3 The Triple Bottom Line References Chapter 2: Describing Building Materials and Products 2.1 Introduction 2.2 What Is a Building Material? 2.3 How Are Building Materials and Products Used? 2.3.1 Performance 2.4 How Are Building Materials and Products Made? 2.4.1 Chain of Custody 2.4.2 Trade Secrets 2.5 Why Is the Size or Unit of a Building Material or Product Important? 2.6 Where Are Building Materials and Products Made? 2.7 How Are Building Materials and Products Selected? 2.7.1 Who Represents Building Materials and Products? References Chapter 3: Decoding the Ways to Measure Sustainability and Life Cycle Thinking 3.1 Decoding the Ways to Measure Sustainability 3.2 Life Cycle Thinking 3.3 Life Cycle Assessment 3.3.1 Life Cycle Stages and System Boundaries 3.3.2 The Four Steps of Life Cycle Assessment 3.3.2.1 Step 1: Goal and Scope Definition 3.3.2.2 Step 2: Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) 3.3.2.3 Step 3: Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) 3.3.2.4 Step 4: Interpretation 3.3.3 Comparing Life Cycle Assessments References Chapter 4: Resource Use 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Selecting Sustainable Ingredients 4.2.1 Resource (Raw Material) Extraction Sites 4.2.1.1 Ecosystem and Biodiversity Impacts 4.2.1.2 Local Sourcing 4.2.2 Non-renewable Resources 4.2.2.1 Quarries, Mines, and Wells 4.2.2.2 Conflict Resources 4.2.3 Renewable Resources 4.2.3.1 Biobased Content 4.2.3.2 Rapidly Renewable Content 4.2.3.3 Wood Sourcing 4.2.3.4 Carbon Sequestering (Carbon-Storing) Materials 4.2.4 Circular Feedstocks: Reused, Reclaimed, and Recycled Resources 4.2.4.1 Reused Material Content 4.2.4.2 Reclaimed Material Content 4.2.4.3 Recycled Content 4.3 Designing Products to Minimize Resource Use: Dematerialization 4.4 End of Life: Waste Recovery and Circularity 4.4.1 Circularity 4.4.2 Biodegradability 4.4.3 Compostable 4.4.4 Recyclability 4.4.5 Design for Disassembly 4.4.6 Manufacturing Waste Recovery and Resource Conservation 4.4.7 Material Recovery and Manufacturer “Take-Back” Programs References Chapter 5: Energy Use 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Energy Sources 5.2.1 Primary Energy Fuel 5.2.2 Secondary Energy Fuel or Energy Currency 5.2.3 Energy Carrier 5.2.4 Renewable Energy 5.2.5 On-Site Renewable Energy 5.2.6 Exported Energy 5.3 Energy Savings and Efficiency 5.3.1 Energy Consumption 5.3.2 Energy Audits 5.3.3 Energy Efficiency 5.4 Excess and Potential Energy Throughout Life Cycle 5.4.1 Energy Recovery 5.4.2 Energy from Waste 5.4.3 Bioenergy from Waste References Chapter 6: Water Use 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Extraction: Water Sourcing 6.2.1 Body of Water Protection 6.2.2 Freshwater Versus Potable Water 6.3 Manufacturing and Use: Water Volume Reduction 6.3.1 Water Audits: Identifying Inefficiencies 6.3.2 Water-Efficient Manufacturing Tools 6.3.3 Net Zero Water Use 6.4 Water Origin Related to Ecology and Social Accountability 6.4.1 Embodied Water 6.4.2 Water Footprint 6.4.3 Water Stewardship 6.4.4 Worker Water Supply 6.5 End of Life: Water Recycling and Water Quality 6.5.1 Water Recycling 6.5.2 Water Quality and Character 6.5.3 Antidegradation Requirements 6.5.4 Water Quality Testing Requirements References Chapter 7: Emissions 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Carbon Dioxide and Greenhouse Gas Emissions 7.2.1 Global Warming Potential 7.2.2 Embodied Carbon 7.2.3 Greenhouse Gas Accounting and Emissions Reporting 7.2.4 Carbon Offsets 7.3 Acidification 7.4 Nutrient Pollution and Eutrophication 7.5 (Stratospheric) Ozone Depletion 7.6 Photochemical Ozone Creation (Smog) Potential References Chapter 8: Toxicity and Human Health 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Toxicity Exposure: Hazard Versus Risk 8.3 Exposure Pathways 8.4 Levels of Toxic Impacts 8.5 Effect of Toxins 8.6 Measuring Toxicity 8.6.1 Evaluating Chemicals for Toxicity and Controlling Their Use and Release 8.6.2 Bans on Specific Chemicals 8.6.3 Chemical Red Lists 8.6.4 Chemical Class 8.6.4.1 Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances 8.6.4.2 Antimicrobials 8.6.4.3 Flame Retardants 8.6.4.4 Bisphenols and Phthalates 8.6.4.5 Some Solvents 8.6.4.6 Certain Metals 8.6.5 Characterizing, Optimizing, and Managing Chemicals References Chapter 9: Social Accountability 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Labor and Human Rights 9.2.1 Assessing and Addressing Child Labor and Forced Labor 9.2.2 Discrimination 9.2.3 Working Hours 9.3 Unions and Collective Bargaining 9.4 Management Processes and Social Accountability 9.4.1 Social Impact Indicators 9.4.2 Risk Assessment 9.4.3 Safe Working Environments 9.4.4 Requirements for Grievance Mechanisms 9.4.5 Third-Party Audit or Accreditation 9.5 Animal Welfare References Chapter 10: Laws, Regulations, Standards, Certifications, and Ecolabels 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Laws and Regulations 10.3 Executive Orders 10.4 Court Challenges to the Constitution, Laws, Executive Orders, and Regulations and Case Law 10.5 De Facto Regulations 10.6 Codes 10.7 Standards and Certifications 10.7.1 Types of Standards 10.7.2 What Is Being Evaluated? 10.7.3 How Is the Building Material or Product Evaluated in Relation to the Standard? 10.7.4 How Is the Measurement of Environmental Impacts Achieved? 10.8 Standard Development and the Certification Process 10.8.1 Standard Developing Originating Organization 10.8.2 Standards Developing Organization 10.8.3 ANSI Standards, ANSI-Accredited Standards Developing Organizations, and ANSI-Accredited Certifying Organizations 10.8.4 Governmental Standards 10.8.5 Conformity Assessment Bodies 10.8.6 Auditors and Consultants 10.9 Ecolabel or Certification Mark References Chapter 11: Transparency 11.1 Introduction 11.2 Disclosure 11.3 Material Inventories and Characterization 11.4 Environmental Product Declarations 11.4.1 Product Category Rules 11.5 Health Disclosures 11.5.1 Health Product Declarations 11.5.2 The Declare Label 11.6 Data at Your Fingertips: Databases References Chapter 12: Conclusion 12.1 Introduction 12.1.1 Why People? 12.2 A Timeline 12.2.1 Pre-1960 12.2.2 1960–1979 12.2.3 1980–1999 12.2.3.1 Corporate Social Responsibility and the Carpet Industry 12.2.3.2 Green Chemistry 12.2.4 2000–2020 12.2.4.1 Sustainable Ingredients 12.2.4.2 Social Accountability, Social Justice, and Equity 12.3 From Individual to Collective Action References Index Evaluating building materials for environmental sustainability is a complex prospect. How do governmental agencies and the design industry actually measure sustainable initiatives and environmental impacts? This book breaks down the technical vocabulary and principles that define environmentally sustainable choices across interior and exterior architectural products to help the reader understand: Material ingredient selection Energy and water use Emissions, including greenhouse gases Human health and toxicity Social accountability assessment This guide explains the structure of green certifications, standards and ecolabels, life cycle assessment, environmental regulations, and more. Itpresents a snapshot of current trends and future objectives, and a historic timeline for context. It is a comprehensive reference for interior designers, architects, building owners, contractors, and students enrolled in interior design and architecture.