| Around the globe there is a growing emphasis on | | | | Low-impact materials - Environmental impact is |
| protecting our environment. Sometimes referred to | | | | reduced by using products that can be grown or |
| as reducing the carbon footprint, this movement has | | | | naturally replenished or cleansed at a rate that |
| resulted in an outpouring of products relabeled as | | | | exceeds human depletion of the resource. For |
| green. Buyers are motivated by emotions and often | | | | instance, bamboo is a rapidly renewable resource, |
| will pay more money to support planet-friendly | | | | whereas certain kinds of stone, fossil fuels, etc., are |
| products and operations. The challenge for buyers is | | | | finite resources. The process of extracting stone or |
| determining when a claim is valid (green) and when | | | | fossil fuels degrades the environment, and decreases |
| the message is just clever word play (greenwashing). | | | | the value and viability of the land for its inhabitants. |
| It seems that every company has launched a line of | | | | The two examples following demonstrate different |
| GREEN products to show that they are | | | | levels of participation in environmental responsibility. |
| environmentally friendly. In some cases, the various | | | | "The company only uses 100% reclaimed lumber to |
| operations and processes are deemed to be green | | | | manufacture their widgets". "The mining operations |
| because of minimal waste. With or without some kind | | | | rely on wind turbines to produce the energy needed |
| of formal certification, it is possible to demonstrate | | | | for extracting metal ores from the earth." |
| the "green" nature of a product. Some of the factors | | | | Low Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's) - Volatile |
| that are analyzed during an environmental impact | | | | Organic Compounds are organic chemical compounds |
| assessment are harmful emissions, recycled content, | | | | that can significantly vaporize and enter the |
| water use, energy efficiency, and reliance on | | | | atmosphere during use, application or drying out of |
| renewable resources. | | | | paint or other coatings. This process can lead to |
| Check the specifics of certifications for applicability to | | | | unsafe toxins that can be inhaled by workers or |
| your project needs. Be alert to the use of buzz | | | | inhabitants. Manufacturers must disclose the VOC |
| words and take time to carefully assess product | | | | content of products on Material Safety Data Sheets, |
| options as they relate to the needs of your | | | | and management should utilize all available resources |
| application. | | | | to create a safe and healthy workspace where |
| Following is a brief listing of some certifications that | | | | VOCs are present. Evaluate the claims in the context |
| are available in different areas. Links to websites will | | | | of your project requirements. How much less is |
| provide more detailed information about the different | | | | enough to make a difference? "the company's green |
| ways a company can move towards greater | | | | products have x% less VOCs than the competition", |
| environmentally responsible management. | | | | the company has eliminated all VOCs from its product |
| Cradle-to-Cradle (C2C) - this certification sets a high | | | | line" |
| standard by examining the entire life cycle of | | | | Renewable energy - Energy derived from resources |
| environmentally safe and healthy materials. | | | | that are regenerative, rapidly replenished, or for all |
| Energy Star - this identification is placed on products | | | | practical purposes cannot be depleted. Examples: solar |
| that use substantially less energy than comparable | | | | photovoltaic power generation and solar thermal |
| products. Used in North America, Europe, Australia | | | | energy; biomass from landfill gas, municipal solid |
| and elsewhere. | | | | waste gasification, and wood-waste; and geothermal, |
| Environmental Choice - This is a Canadian | | | | hydro, and wind power generation. "The company |
| organization, and similar to C2C, it certifies a product's | | | | installed three wind turbines this week, and expects |
| environmental responsibility based on life cycle | | | | that they will produce 75% of the plant's electricity |
| analysis of harmful emissions, recycled content, water | | | | requirement." |
| use, energy efficiency and other factors. | | | | Energy-efficient - A product or building technique that |
| European Eco-Label - This EU organization has | | | | reduces energy waste, thereby helping to reduce |
| established strict scientific criteria for minimizing | | | | energy bills. "the company installed a living rooftop |
| environmental impacts. | | | | and expects a 30% reduction in costs to heat and |
| Good Environmental Choice - Australia has this | | | | cool the plant". |
| independent organization that identifies products and | | | | Embodied energy - Embodied energy is an accounting |
| services that have a smaller ecological footprint that | | | | methodology which aims to find the sum total of the |
| their competitors. | | | | energy necessary for an entire product lifecycle. This |
| Green Guard - This institute certifies low-emission | | | | lifecycle includes raw material extraction, transport,[1] |
| building materials and indoor products.. | | | | manufacture, assembly, installation, disassembly, |
| Green Seal - certifies low-emission paints, adhesives | | | | deconstruction and/or decomposition. It is difficult, if |
| and cleaning products. | | | | not impossible to quantify, and there is no accepted |
| Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) - certifies food, | | | | standard for calculating it. |
| flowers, fish, electricity, wood products and | | | | Carbon footprint - The sum of carbon emissions |
| manufactured goods, for various levels of | | | | associated with a lifestyle, building or activity. This |
| environmental performance. The Indoor Advantage | | | | term is usually used to illustrate the higher or lower |
| cert guarantees that products used indoors have | | | | amount of carbon dioxide emitted between |
| minimal or no VOC (volatile organic compounds). | | | | otherwise comparable alternatives, such as the |
| Aside from certifications, there are some words and | | | | difference between shipping products by air (which |
| terms commonly used to designate a product or | | | | has a large carbon footprint), or driving them using |
| process as having attributes that are environmentally | | | | biodiesel (which has a low carbon footprint). This is a |
| responsible. It is useful to become familiar with these | | | | difficult calculation with many variable factors. |
| terms as they relate to the goals of your application. | | | | Carbon emissions - Greenhouse gases include carbon |
| Green - not only is this the name of a familiar hue on | | | | dioxide, methane and fluorocarbons, all of whose |
| the color palette, it is also used to indicate | | | | absorption of solar radiation has possibly contributed |
| environmentally friendly products or processes. In the | | | | to the greenhouse effect and global warming. Carbon |
| following two examples using this word, the first | | | | emissions are a greenhouse gas. Methane is also a |
| statement can be easily supported with physical | | | | greenhouse gas, and is more severe on a molecular |
| evidence, while the second case it tells the buyer | | | | level than carbon. However, greenhouse gas |
| nothing specific about the company's commitment to | | | | emissions' most apparent and concerning source are |
| environmental responsibility and bears deeper | | | | carbon emissions. |
| investigation. | | | | Carbon-neutral - A term used to describe a building |
| "Company uses only recycled packaging made from | | | | design that consumes no fuels that will release |
| 100% post-consumer materials."[can be proved on | | | | carbon dioxide, or a design that has used renewable |
| inspection]. | | | | fuels as energy sources to ensure that the total |
| "Every employee of the company has a GREEN | | | | production of carbon dioxide related to the project is |
| focus".[statement has no substance] | | | | zero. |
| Sustainable - The US Dept of Commerce defines | | | | In summary, the ever-increasing focus on sustainable |
| sustainable manufacturing as the creation of | | | | living has extended to virtually every aspect of our |
| manufactured products that use processes that | | | | existence. Compliance requirements vary from one |
| minimize negative environmental impacts, conserve | | | | country to another. A wealth of informational |
| energy and natural resources, are safe for | | | | resources are available online. Voluntary participation in |
| employees, communities, and consumers and are | | | | taking action to reduce one's carbon footprint is |
| economically sound. "The company recycles 100% of | | | | encouraged; "green" product offerings may well |
| production waste into energy using their onsite | | | | complement a company's existing environmental |
| trash-to-steam generator to produce half of the | | | | management plan, and the links provided above will |
| plant's total energy needs." | | | | be useful resources. |