Green Building Products: The GreenSpec Guide to Residential Building Materials [Apr 01, 2005] Wilson, Alex; Piepkorn, Mark and Susanka, Sarah

Interest in sustainable, green building practices is greater than ever. Whether concerned about allergies, energy costs, old-growth forests, or durability and long-term value, homeowners and builders are looking for ways to ensure that their homes are healthy, safe, beautiful, and efficient.

In these pages you'll find descriptions and manufacturer contact information for more than 1,400 environmentally preferable products and materials from ag-fiber panels to zero-VOC paints. All phases of residential construction, from sitework to flooring to renewable energy, are covered. Products are grouped by function, and each chapter begins with a discussion of key environmental considerations, and what to look for in a green product. Categories of products include:

• Sitework and landscaping
• Outdoor structures
• Decking
• Foundations, footers and slabs
• Structural systems and components
• Sheathing
• Exterior finish and trim
• Roofing
• Doors and windows
• Insulation
• Flooring and floor coverings
• Interior finish and trim
• Caulks and adhesives
• Paints and coatings
• Mechanical systems/HVAC
• Plumbing, electrical and lighting
• Appliances
• Furniture and furnishings
• Renewable energy
• Distributors and retailers

A miscellaneous section also lists products for hazardous materials testing and remediation, insect control, recycling, and wood products certification. An index of products and manufacturers makes for easy navigation. There is no more comprehensive resource for both the engaged homeowner, as well as all those who design and build homes.

Alex Wilson is President of Building-Green, an authoritative source for information on environmentally responsible design and construction, which also publishes Environmental Building News. Co-editor Mark Piepkorn has extensive experience with natural and traditional building methods.

Mark Piepkorn is associate editor of Environmental Building News and the lead products researcher for GreenSpec, both publications of BuildingGreen, Inc. Active in the natural building movement, Mark has also been the editor of The Last Straw, an international newsletter about straw-bale construction and natural building.