Environmental Products Guide

GREEN BUILDING MATERIALS THE ULTIMATE USER’S MANUAL TO GREEN BUILDING MATERIALS To properly select and specify green building materials, successful architects need authoritative, real-world advice on how to select and use nontoxic, recycled, and recyclable products, and how to integrate these products into the design process in order to capitalize on the many practical and economic advantages of “going green.” Green Building Materials, Third Edition is the most reliable, up-to-date resource to meet today’s green building challenges—from reducing waste and improving energy efficiency to promoting proper code compliance and safeguarding against liability claims. Written by two nationally known experts on green building methods and materials, Green Building Materials, Third Edition offers in-depth, practical information on the product selection, product specification, and construction process. This new Third Edition is an excellent hands-on guide to today’s newest range of green building materials: what they are, where to find them, how to use them effectively, and how to address LEED requirements. Organized by CSI MasterFormat® category for fast access to specific information, it features: A new chapter on eco-labels, green standards, and product certification A new appendix providing reference information for sustainability standards and standards development organizations New sample specifications, including green power requirements, vegetated green roof systems, rainwater harvesting, and water reuse systems Revised and updated review of trends affecting the future of green building materials Updated approach and reference information for the product selection process Green Building Materials, Third Edition is an essential tool for designing environmentally friendly buildings—ones made from materials that preserve the Earth’s natural legacy for future generations.

With a growing commitment to environmental awareness and protection on the part of corporations and governments, there has never been a greater need for an integrated toolkit and management framework for achieving long-term sustainability targets. Dixon Thompson responds to this need by presenting a set of twenty-two environmental management tools that can be applied to a local, national, and international situation. Each tool is described using specific examples, in addition to highlighting the legal requirements and standards, and how best to apply each tool. Included as well is an exhaustive list of newsletters, journals, and useful references for staying informed and up-to-date with a host of environmental issues. Tools for Environmental Management: A Practical Introduction and Guide is essential for industry professionals charged with environmental responsibilities, academics and students, or anyone concerned with environmental stewardship. With contributions by: Edie Adams Karla Berg Andrew Higgins Stephen Hill Maureen Hill Lynne Kailan Lisa-Henri Kirkland Linda Miller Michael S. Quinn William A.Ross Christine Shuh Dixon Thompson Ron Wardell Mel Wilson

There is a huge scarcity of good, practical resources for designers and students interested in minimizing the environmental impacts of products. Design + Environment has been specifically written to address this paucity. The book first provides background information to help the reader understand how and why design for environment (DfE) has become so critical to design, with reference to some of the most influential writers, designers and companies in the field. Next, Design + Environment provides a step-by-step approach on how to approach DfE: to design a product that meets requirements for quality, cost, manufacturability and consumer appeal, while at the same time minimising environmental impacts. The first step in the process is to undertake an assessment of environmental impacts, using life-cycle assessment (LCA) or one of the many simpler tools available to help the designer. From then on, DfE becomes an integral part of the normal design process, including the development of concepts, design of prototypes, final design and development of marketing strategies. Environmental assessment tools and strategies to reduce environmental impacts, such as the selection of appropriate materials, are then discussed. Next, some of the links between environmental problems, such as global warming, ozone depletion, water and air pollution and the everyday products we consume are considered. In order to design products with minimal environmental impact, we need to have a basic understanding of these impacts and the interactions between them. The four subsequent chapters provide more detailed strategies and case studies for particular product groups: packaging, textiles, furniture, and electrical and electronic products. Guidelines are provided for each of the critical stages of a product's life, from the selection of raw materials through to strategies for recovery and recycling. Finally, Design + Environment takes a look at some of the emerging trends in DfE that are offering us the opportunity to make a more significant reduction in environmental impacts. Both the development of more sustainable materials and technologies and the growing interest in leasing rather than selling products are examined. Design + Environment is organized as a workbook rather than an academic text. It should be read once, and then used as a key reference source. This clear and informative book will prove to be invaluable to practising designers, to course directors and their students in need of a core teaching and reference text and to all those interested in learning about the tools and trends influencing green product design. The authors have all been involved in an innovative demonstration programme called "EcoReDesign", which was developed by the Centre for Design at RMIT University with funding from the Australian government. The Centre successfully collaborated with Australian companies to improve the environmental performance of their products by following DfE principles.

Looks at improving the environmental quality and competitiveness of manufactured products. Shows the commercial and environmental value of implementing the EcoReDesign process and minimising environmental impacts at every stage of a product's life, from materials extraction and processing through to manufacture, distribution, use and recycling or disposal. Five diverse case studies are presented, including a dishwasher, a packaging system, an electric kettle, an office furniture system and a vending machine.

Provides nontoxic, environment-friendly cleaning products.

"Ecoholic" is an eye-opening guide to the maze of green products lining store shelves. This work names names and gives the dirt on what not to buy and why, as well as the dish on great clothes, beauty products, home supplies, and more.