The fine green line: Green, Greener, Greenest
Determining a green building product is not always the most simple process. It is not always possible to quantify the impact on the environment throughout the life cycle of each product. Because green criteria can have fuzzy lines, judgment calls are required.

Good Green Building vs Great Green Building
A green building cannot necessarily be measured by the sum of the green building products included in the project. A green product is one that is being properly installed and utilized in the design so that environmental impact is minimized. Therefore, if installed and utilized improperly, green product may not be environmentally responsible. In a well-thought-out building design, however, substituting green products for conventional products can make the difference between a good building and a great one.

Our Green Building Supply Store
We use the following criteria to help us define individual green products that we represent. If these products are properly installed and utilized in your design, we feel confident that they will have a favorable impact on our environment and you.

Criteria for Green Building Products

Is the product made from salvaged, recycled or agricultural waste content?

• Salvaged materials: Whenever a product can be reused instead of produced from either raw materials or even recycled materials we save on energy and resource use.
• Post-Consumer Recycled Content: These products are preferable to pre-consumer recycled content because they more likely diverted from land fields.
• Post-Industrial Recycled Content: These are industrial by-products. Agricultural Waste

Does the product conserve natural resources?

• Is the product exceptionally durable and low maintenance, so that they need to be replaced less or that their maintenance has a low environmental impact?
• Wood products that are third party certified for coming from a well-managed / sustainable forest.
• Rapidly renewable products that have short harvest rotations. Our desire is ten years or less.
• Does the product reduce material usage in other areas of the project?

Is the product non-toxic and non emitting?

• Is th product natural or minimally processed using little energy and low risk of chemical release during manufacture?
• Is the product an alternative to a product made from ozone-depleting material?
• Is the product an alternative to a product that is made from a hazardous material?
• Will the product reduce or eliminate pesticide treatment?
• Will the product reduce storm water pollution?
• Will the product reduce the impact from construction or demolition activities?
• Will the product reduce pollution or waste from operations?

Products that conserve energy and water

• Will the product reduce heating and cooling loads?
• Will the product conserve and or manage energy consumption?
• Will the product enable us to use renewable energy instead of fossil fuels and conventional electricity?
• Will the product conserve water consumption?

Products that contribute to a safe and healthy built environment

• Will the product to release significant pollutants into the building?
• Will the product block the introduction, development, or spread of indoor contaminants?
• Will the product remove indoor pollutants?
• Will the product warn the occupant of health hazards in the building?
• Will the product improve light quality?
• Will the product help control noise?
• Will the product enhance the community well-being?