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		NATURAL, HEALTHY & SUSTAINABLE BUILDING MATERIALS life cycle analysis prioritizing links to online resources related articles
	Materials used in construction represent a significant portion of total consumed resources. If these products are toxic, they can effect the health of our indoor environment. If products are not sustainable or renewable, we deplete finite resources. Selecting natural, healthy and sustainable building materials is often about making an informed choice. Choosing "green" products can help improve a building's overall environmental impact. *Down to Earth* will help identify healthy and sustainable building materials that are appropriate to a specific project. We evaluate projects to find each building material category for which there are environmentally sound alternatives. We then provide product listings for each category identified. Each product recommendation is based on performance requirements and evaluated through life cycle analysis.
	LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS	Materials are reviewed following life cycle analysis (LCA), which examines the total environmental impact of a product through each stage of its existence. Environmental impacts are assessed from raw materials acquisition, manufacturing processes, packaging, and shipping, through installation, indoor air quality, durability and performance, and end-of-use resource recovery. By evaluating products in this manner, we are able to choose healthy and sustainable building materials minimize detrimental impacts on the environment. Note that life cycle analysis differs from embodied energy in that LCA is qualitative and embodied energy is quantitative. Embodied energy quantifies the total energy required to acquire raw materials, produce a product, and transport to point-of-use. This can be useful when comparing two different materials, however, the validity of the data is highly dependent on the method of evaluation.
		RAW MATERIALS ACQUISITION uses salvaged materials maximizes recycled content uses renewable resources uses sustainably harvested woods uses non-toxic constituents avoids high embodied energy materials minimizes environmental impacts of raw material acquisition (strip mining, dredging, etc.)
		MANUFACTURING PROCESS facility is local to raw material acquisition closed-loop material use (no scrap generated) minimizes energy used in production uses renewable energy in production minimizes water used in production uses closed-loop water systems
		PACKAGING minimizes use of packaging packaging is reusable maximizes recycled content in packaging packaging is recyclable SHIPPING minimizes shipping distances utilizes energy efficient shipping methods
		INSTALLATION provides no risk to installers zero-VOC installation materials creates minimal installation waste installation waste can be recycled can be installed with conventional tools and methods
		INDOOR AIR QUALITY & MAINTENANCE emits no VOCs emits no other toxic compounds does not support microbial growth maintained with non-toxic cleaning materials and methods
		DURABILITY & PERFORMANCE material is suitable for intended application material is long-lasting patterns and colors available are not "fads"
		RESOURCE RECOVERY installation technique allows material to be removed without damage material is reusable materials is biodegradable material is recyclable
		COMPANY PROFILE does the company have an overall environmental policy? do they pursue third party environmental certification? does the facility have a recycling program for all waste? are company facilities constructed such that they are themselves examples of sustainable design?
	IDEALLY THIS FORMS A CLOSED-LOOP RESOURCE MODEL where recovery becomes the raw material resource for a new product
	PRIORITIZING SELECTION CRITERIA	1. reduced: lower total burden create smaller compact plans use structural elements as finishes optimize material use 2. reused: longer lifespan incorporate salvaged materials design for dismantle and reuse create flexible designs (that don’t need to be redesigned as often) 3. renewable: replenished by natural systems specify agriculture-based products specify certified sustainably harvested wood 4. recycled: waste becomes a resource specify products with a minimum of 25% post-consumer or 40% post-industrial waste 5. healthy: non-toxic avoid products with ozone depleting potential or global warming potential avoid toxic chemicals or minerals (see list) avoid products that support pathogens or bio-contaminants (such as mold/mildew, fungus, bacteria) create details that protect materials from water damage select materials that are easy to maintain 6. local: less transportation energy give preference to locally manufactured materials 7. durable: longer lifespan specify high quality, long-lasting products specify materials that can be partially replaced as needed (such as carpet tiles) create details that protect materials from premature damage 8. post-use: avoid disposal select materials that can be salvaged, reused, recycled (with no down-grading) select materials that are biodegradable

	LINKS TO ONLINE CATALOGS OF GREEN BUILDING MATERIALS The following list is intended solely to help others research products that meet their goals for healthy indoor air quality and sustainable construction. *Down to Earth Design* does not in anyway endorse websites, products, or vendors identified, and assumes no liability for their use.
		Build Recycle.net a free information exchange for companies and individuals to buy, sell, and trade used building materials build.recycle.net Building for Health Materials Center a full online catalog of natural and healthy construction materials and home appliances www.buildingforhealth.com Construction Resources (London, England) Britain's first ecological builders' merchant provides products that promote natural building (including insulation, interior finishes, paints, etc.) as well as energy efficiency and renewable energy www.ecoconstruct.com Cool Roofing Materials Database assists in selecting roofing materials that reflect, or otherwise reject, the sun's radiant energy (prepared by the Heat Island Project within Berkeley Laboratory's Environmental Energy Technologies Division) eetd.lbl.gov/CoolRoofs/ Eco-House, Inc. (New Brunswick, Canada) natural chemistry products for healthier homes, farms and gardens, and a safer environment www.eco-house.com EcoMall self-proclaimed "Earth's Largest Environmental Shopping Center" www.ecomall.com Eco Wise green building materials and earth-friendly home-furnishings in Austin Texas www.ecowise.com Efficient Windows Collaborative online information and interactive window selection tool for deciding which types of windows provide appropriate energy efficiency for your climate www.efficientwindows.org Energy Star Products searchable and downloadable databases of Energy Star rated products www.energystar.gov Environmental Depot green building materials distributor in New York City www.environproducts.com Environmental Home Center green building materials distributor in Seattle www.environmentalhomecenter.com Environmental Home Store green building materials distributor in Pennsylvania www.environmentalhomestore.com EPA Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines recycled content product listings and product fact sheets, including recommended recycled content www.epa.gov/cpg Forest Certification Resource Center searchable online database of sustainably harvested wood and wood products www.certifiedwood.org Forest World a portal for several wood product related searchable databases, as well as classified ads for buying and selling wood-related products www.forestworld.com Green Pages Online (Co-Op America) Publishes "National Green Pages", a listing of products and services that promote environmental and social responsibility www.coopamerica.org Green Building Pages information and resources on sustainable design and green building products www.greenbuildingpages.com GreenProducts distributor of bio-based building products www.greenproducts.net GreenSpec (Environmental Building News Product Directory) environmentally preferable building product listings available online with a paid subscription www.greenspec.com Minnesota Building Materials Database online database provides information and allows comparison of sustainable materials and systems www.buildingmaterials.umn.edu Natural Building Technologies (United Kingdom) a range of natural products (including plasters, insulation, and paints) www.natural-building.co.uk/ Nature Neutral green building materials supplier in Charlottesville Virginia www.natureneutral.com NSF searchable database of NSF certified water filtration products www.nsf.org Originate natural building material showroom in Tucson Arizona www.originateNBM.com Real Goods & GAIAM products dealing primarily with healthy home furnishings, renewable energy systems, and natural building accessories www.realgoods.com Recycled Content Product Database (by California's Integrated Waste Management Board) Searchable database of recycled-content products, including a used material exchange www.ciwmb.ca.gov/RCP/ REDI Guide one of the first searchable online databases of environmentally responsible building products oikos.com Sustainable Sources Guidebook searchable database of life cycle analysis information for building material categories www.greenbuilder.com/sourcebook/
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