ENERGY
STAR ENERGY STAR rated products are found in more than 50 categories.
They use less energy, save money, and help protect the environment. ENERGY STAR
is a program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department
of Energy. The ENERGY STAR label can be found on products related to the building
industry in the following categories: Appliances, Heating and Cooling, Water Heaters,
Home Envelopes, Home Electronics and Lighting.
GREENGUARD
GREENGUARD Certification Standards for Low-Emitting Products The GREENGUARD Environmental
Institute (GEI) has established performance based standards to define goods with
low chemical and particle emissions for use indoors, primarily building materials,
interior furnishings, furniture, cleaning and maintenance products, electronic
equipment, and personal care products. The standard establishes certification
procedures including test methods, allowable emissions levels, product sample
collection and handling, testing type and frequency, and program application processes
and acceptance. Greenguard Certification programs test and certifies a products
emissions (Including VOC's and formaldehyde). They certify a range of products
from adhesives and flooring to paints and floor finishes. Testing follows ASTM,
EPA and State standards.The mission of GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI)
is to improve public health and quality of life through programs that improve
indoor air quality. In accordance with that mission, GEI currently has three third-party
certification programs.
GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified
Product certification program for low emitting interior building materials, furnishings,
and finish systems. All GREENGUARD Certified Products have been tested for their
chemical emissions performance and can be found in the GREENGUARD Online Product
Guide.
GREENGUARD for Children & Schools Product certification program
for low emitting interior building materials, furnishings, and finish systems
used in educational, office and other sensitive environments. All GREENGUARD Children
& SchoolsSM products have been tested for their chemical emissions performance
according to CA 1350 and can be found in the GREENGUARD Online Product Guide.
GREENGUARD for Building Construction Building certification program
for newly constructed multifamily and commercial properties that follow best practice
guidelines for preventing mold during the design, construction and ongoing operations.
Green
Seal Green Seal is a third party non-profit organization devoted
to environmental standard setting, product certification, and public education.
Green Seal's mission is to work towards environmental sustainability by identifying
and promoting environmentally responsible products, purchasing, and production
through its standard setting, certification and education programs. Green Seal
Certification ensures that a product meets rigorous, science-based environmental
leadership standards. This gives manufacturers the assurance to back up their
claims and purchasers confidence that certified products are better for human
health and the environment. Green Seal offers certification to all products covered
by its Standards. Manufacturers may submit their products for evaluation by Green
Seal. Those which comply with Green Seal's requirements may be authorized to use
the Green Seal Certification Mark on products and in product advertising. Manufacturers
authorized to use the Green Seal Certification Mark on their product are subject
to an ongoing program of testing, inspection and enforcement.
EPA
WaterSense WaterSense which is a partnership program sponsored
by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is making it easy to find and
select water-efficient products with a label backed by independent testing and
certification. WaterSense will also recognize professional service programs that
incorporate water efficiency.
Generally speaking, WaterSense labeled products
will be about 20 percent more water efficient than their less efficient counterparts
in the same category. In addition, WaterSense labeled prod ucts perform their
intended function as well as or better than their less efficient counterparts.
Scientific
Certification Systems (CSC) A third -party certifier, SCS certifies
a wide range of products for such attributes as recycled content and biodegradradability.
Their environmental claims certification program is a truth -in-labeling seal.
SCS certifies Environmentally Perferrable Products for their impact on the environment.
SCS also provides audits of forests under FSC guidelines and certifies claims
in other categories such as biodegradable, indoor air quality, poison free materials,and
recycled, postconsumer material content.
Master
Painters Institute (MPI) MPI (Master Painters Institute) vision;
a paint & coatings industry that develops and uses paints and coatings with balanced
performance, safely and appropriately.To do this, the Institute developed the
MPI Green Performance Standard and a "green" Approved Products List that takes
into consideration not only toxins and VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) and their
emissions, but performance (i.e durability) as well.
The
Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) CRI's Green
Label and Green Label Plus programs, which test for and certify low emissions
from carpet, carpet cushion and adhesive, comply with the International Organization
for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
Guide 65, General requirements for bodies operating product certification programs.
ANSI certification is a further assurance that the products tested and certified
by CRI are green building products that meet high standards for indoor air quality.
The CRI ANSI certification process started in 2006 and involved audits of the
green carpet programs by Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation Institute, an ANSI
team and CRI's third party indoor laboratory, Air Quality Science of Atlanta.
Sustainable
Forest Initiative (SFI) The SFI forest certification standard
is based on principles that promote sustainable forest management, including measures
to protect water quality, biodiversity, wildlife habitat, species at risk, and
forests with exceptional conservation value.
The Sustainable Forestry Initiative
(SFI) label is a sign you are buying wood and paper products from well-managed
forests, backed by a rigorous, third-party certification audit. The SFI program
at large is made up of the following components.
The SFI program at large is
made up of the following components.
SFI forest certification promotes
responsible forestry practices. To be certified, forest operations across the
United States and Canada must be audited against the SFI forest standard.
SFI
chain-of-custody certification extends into the marketplace by tracking fiber
content from certified lands through production and manufacturing to the end product.
Consumers who buy products with the SFI "percent-content" label know they are
buying assurance of well-managed forests.
SFI fiber sourcing requirements
address the reality of global fiber markets and the fact that only 10 percent
of the world's forests are certified. Program participants must ensure the raw
material in their supply chain comes from legal and responsible sources, whether
the forests are certified or not.
SFI labels are recognized globally
and provide a visual cue to help customers source certified forest products.
SFI
program requirements are audited by independent, third-party certification bodies
to ensure they conform.
NAHB
Research Center Products for which the manufacturer has received
a Certificate from the NAHB Research Center and the right to use the NAHB Research
Center Green Approved mark are products that the Research Center has approved
as being eligible to contribute points toward certification of a building under
the National
Green Building Standard. Such products, when appropriately used, enable builders
to earn points toward certification of the building. The NAHB Research Center
Green Approved mark is intended to assist builders, designers, and specifiers
in identifying products that can contribute points toward building certification.
The National Green Building Standard does not define criteria for certifying
products as "green." A product bearing the NAHB Research Center Green Approved
mark is not certified as being "green." Rather, the product has been approved
as eligible for earning points under the National Green Building Standard toward
green certification of a building if the product is used in a qualifying way (for
example, in sufficient quantity or under certain conditions as noted in the Certificate).
Many criteria in the National Green Building Standard require the use of products
with certain attributes. The Research Center has verified that products bearing
the NAHB Research Center Green Approved mark do indeed have such attributes (for
example, a product might meet the criterion of having recycled content exceeding
25%). Where appropriate, an independent assessment or accredited test report is
required for recognition of product attributes eligible for points. Products
entitled to use the NAHB Research Center Green Approved mark are approved for
points only for specific practices, as indicated on the Certificate provided to
the manufacturer. A copy of the Certificate should be available from the manufacturer.
ENERGY
STAR Qualified Homes ENERGY STAR qualified homes are independently
verified to meet strict guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency. These homes save money on utility bills, provide a more comfortable
living environment with better indoor air quality, and help protect the environment.
ENERGY STAR homes are verified to be at least 30% more energy efficient than homes
built to the 1993 national Model Energy Code or 15% more efficient than those
built to state energy codes, whichever is more rigorous.
Typical features to
look for in ENERGY STAR qualified homes include:
An Efficient Home
Envelope, with effective levels of wall, floor and attic insulation properly
installed, comprehensive air barrier details, and high-performance windows
Efficient
Air Distribution, where ducts are installed with minimum air leakage and are
effectively insulated
Efficient Equipment for heating, cooling,
and water heating
Efficient Lighting, including fixtures that earn
the ENERGY STAR
Efficient Appliances, including ENERGY STAR qualified
dishwashers, refrigerators, and clothes washers.
Leadership
in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) LEED is a third-party
certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction
and operation of high performance green buildings and homes. LEED gives builders,
building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable
impact on their buildings and homes' performance. LEED promotes a whole-building
approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human
and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy
efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.
There are
four tiers of LEED certification. Basic LEED; LEED Silver; LEED Gold; and LEED
Platinum. To qualify for each level you must acquire the appropriate LEED points
thru the USGBC rating system. Different points are given for each element of the
building process that promotes sustainability.
National
Green Building Standard (NAHB) The ANSI approved ICC-700-2008
National Green Building Standard (NGBS) establishes a much-needed and nationally-recognizable
standard definition of green building. The Standard includes single and multifamily
homes, residential remodeling projects and site development projects while allowing
for the flexibility required for regionally-appropriate best green practices.
The Standard also introduces a new, fourth score - Emerald - to denote the pinnacle
of achievement in residential green construction.
Certified
Green Professional (NAHB) The Certified Green Professional designation
is another way building professionals can become educated in, and involved with
green building. The designation requires 24 hours of NAHB-approved training, and
additional continuing education every two years. Subjects covered in training
discuss how green homes provide buyers with lower energy costs and higher value,
and will include strategies for incorporating green-building principles into homes
without driving up the cost of construction.
Bruce Hall Home Center. Building a solid foundation. Great customer service. Large selection of top quality lumber and building materials. 206 Main Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326. Building materials, lumber, fuel, concrete, kitchens, plumbing, water conditioning, paint, Radio Shack.
