Green Building Products

About the Authors

Alex Wilson is President of Building-Green, an authoritative source for information on environmentally responsible design and construction, which also publishes Environmental Building News. Co-editor Mark Piepkorn has extensive experience with natural and traditional building methods.

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Mark Piepkorn is associate editor of Environmental Building News and the lead products researcher for GreenSpec®, both publications of BuildingGreen, Inc. Active in the natural building movement, Mark has also been the editor of The Last Straw, an international newsletter about straw-bale construction and natural building.

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Green Building Products

The GreenSpec® Guide to Residential Building Materials -- 3rd Edition

edited by Alex Wilson
foreword by Sarah Susanka
with Mark Piepkorn

Interest in sustainable, green building practices is greater than ever. Whether concerned about allergies, energy costs, old-growth forests, or durability and long-term value, homeowners and builders are looking for ways to ensure that their homes are healthy, safe, beautiful and efficient.

In these pages are descriptions and manufacturer contact information for more than 1,400 environmentally preferable products and materials. All phases of residential construction, from sitework to flooring to renewable energy, are covered. Products are grouped by function, and each chapter begins with a discussion of key environmental considerations, and what to look for in a green product. Over 40% revised, this updated edition includes over 120 new products. Categories of products include:

Sitework and landscaping
Outdoor structures
Decking
Foundations, footers and slabs
Structural systems and components
Sheathing
Exterior finish and trim
Roofing
Doors and windows
Insulation
Flooring and floor coverings
Interior finish and trim
Caulks and adhesives
Paints and coatings
Mechanical systems/HVAC
Plumbing, electrical and lighting
Appliances
Furniture and furnishings
Renewable energy
Distributors and retailers

An index of products and manufacturers makes for easy navigation. There is no more comprehensive resource for both the engaged homeowner and those who design and build homes.