February 14, 2005—The newly released fifth edition of the GreenSpec Directory reflects new standards for determining which building products and materials are environmentally preferable.
The directory includes more than 1,850 product listings that designers, builders, and building owners can use in identifying products that can improve the environmental performance of their buildings. More than 200 product listings have been added since the 4th edition came out, while about 100 were dropped. Products may be dropped because they have been discontinued, because the manufacturing has changed (reduced recycled content, for example), or because the GreenSpec criteria have been tightened so the lowest-performing products are removed.
One of the biggest changes deals with toilets. In 2004, a new testing protocol was developed for toilets that accurately measures flush performance. This “Maximum Performance” (or MaP) testing protocol was jointly developed by water conservation agencies in Canada and the United States and has become one of the criteria used for evaluating toilets for GreenSpec. To be listed in GreenSpec, toilets must evacuate at least 65 grams of solid waste per liter of flush water, as tested under the MaP protocol.
In some GreenSpec categories, thresholds for volatile organic compound (VOC) levels have been significantly tightened. GreenSpec criteria for a number of appliances have also been tightened.
The criteria used for screening products for GreenSpec have been refined over more than ten years by the editors of Environmental Building News. GreenSpec, published by BuildingGreen, does not charge for listings, so it maintains editorial independence, according to the company.
The 464-page GreenSpec Directory costs $89, plus $5 shipping and handling. To order a copy, visit the BuildingGreen Web site.
BuildingGreen is an independent, 13-person company based in Brattleboro, Vermont. The company celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2005.
