What is a Green Building Material?
The ideal building material should support the health and well being of occupants, construction personnel, the public, and the surrounding environment and should have no negative environmental impacts. Green Building Materials: • Are typically low in toxicity & materials with reduced toxin levels or nontoxic products that avoid using carcinogenic compounds and ingredients. • Not ozone depleting (free of HCFCs and halons) • Manufactured from a waste material (such as straw or fly ash) or a waste-reducing process • Give off minimal emissions & low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) particularly indoors. • Easily recyclable or reusable when no longer needed. • To be renewable and resource efficient in its manufacture, installation, use, and removal • Designed to conserve energy, minimize waste, and reduce green house gas emissions. • Water efficient or conserving • Low maintenance and require no toxic cleansers • Minimally packaged and/or wrapped with r
