Green/Sustainable Materials

Question 1

Renewable

Answer 1

More of the material can be produced

Plant or animal based so can grow more

Recycled content that will continue to become available

EX— lumber, jute, leather

Question 2

Sustainable

Answer 2

The time and resources needed to producer the material

EX— managed forestry

Question 3

Recyclable

Answer 3

The material can be put to some other use at the end of its current use

EX— used concrete can be broken and become aggregate in new concrete work

Question 4

Recycled concrete

Answer 4

Material that would have gone to a landfill is used as an ingredient in new products

Question 5

Down-cycling

Answer 5

Used products are turned into items of greater value than the original item

EX— old carpet turned into cad bumpers for parking lots

Question 6

Up-cycling

Answer 6

Used products are turned into items of greater value than the original item

EX— Recycled newspaper turned into solid surfacing for countertops

Question 7

Cradle-to-cradle

Answer 7

Old products turned into new versions of themselves

EX— Carpet fiber reclaimed and turned into new carpet fiber

Question 8

Postconsumer

Answer 8

The item has been used and was destined for a landfill when it was diverted from the waste stream into a new purpose

EX— aluminum cans recycled into aluminum for storm doors

Question 9

Preconsumer

Answer 9

Scraps from production are cycled back into the material stream at a fabricator’s place of manufacture

EX— glass trimmings from production are melted into new batches of glass

Question 10

Durable

Answer 10

This refers to the physical fit was of the material for its intended location as well as the longevity of its design

EX— stone mosaics in the Pantheon

Question 11

Adaptability

Answer 11

The item can be reused in its current form in a new location

EX— carpet tiles moved into a new facility

Question 12

Low-embodied energy

Answer 12

Little energy was consumed in producing and transporting the item. Materials that are regionally manufactured or regionally harvested

EX— using stone from a local quarry rather than an overseas source

Question 13

Sustainably maintained

Answer 13

The material does not require excessive maintenance for its location

EX— porcelain tile that can be easily maintained without the use of noxious chemicals

Question 14

Nontoxic

Answer 14

Compounds that are unhealthy for humans and the environment are not used

EX— specify inert components that do not off-gas VOCs so they do not affect indoor air quality (IAQ)

Question 15

Biodegradable

Answer 15

Material that will deteriorate harmlessly into safe components

EX—

Question 16

Biodegradable

Answer 16

Material that will deteriorate harmlessly into safe components

EX— Specify plant-based materials that are not treated with toxic chemicals and will degrade into harmless components when exposed to living organisms if possible

Question 17

Carbon neutral

Answer 17

Production of the material does not increase the amount of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere

EX— select materials that have low energy use or manufacturers that offset carbon dioxide by, say, planting trees

Question 18

Remanufactured

Answer 18

Material that is reworked to extend its life

EX— carpeting is one example of a material that can be overprinted to refresh its appearance if it “uglier out” before it wears out

Question 19

Reuse

Answer 19

Secondhand items salvaged from other sites

EX— architectural salvage and furniture have established markets so convenient reuse of some product categories is available