Green Building Handbook: Volume 1 A Guide to Building Products and their Impact on the Environment

Updated from the "Green Building Digest Journal," this handbook provides a detailed reference for environmentally concerned puchasers of building products. Containing at-a-glance tables for buyers and specifiers, the handbook also includes an overview of the concepts and resulting literature covering this highly contentious subject, policy thinking, covering methodology for specifiers, case studies, a guide to books an dorganizations and what the future may hold, all in an accessible and user friendly format. Practical examples of using green materials have also been included.

Environmentally responsible building involves resolving many conflicting issues and requirements. Each stage in the design process from the fundamental decisions about what, where and even whether to build has implications for the environment. Evolving out of the success of Green Building Digest, a publication described by Building Design as well-researched, authoritative and exhaustive, this practical new handbook considers the environmental issues which relate to the production, use and disposal of key building products and materials. It is designed to help specifiers and purchasers gain awareness of the potential environmental impact of their decisions. Chapter by chapter Green Building Handbook looks at a different sector of the trade from flooring to roofing, comparing the environmental effects of commonly available products with less well known green alternatives. A Best Buy section then ranks these products from lowest to highest impact.

Part 1: Introduction Green Building. How to Set About Green Building. Examples of Green Building. Part 2: Product Analysis and Materials Specification Energy. Insulation Materials. Masonry. Timber. Composite Boards. Timber Preservatives. Window Frames. Paints and Stains for Joinery. Roofing Materials. Rainwater Goods. Toilets and Sewage Disposal. Carpets and Floorcoverings. Further Reading. Useful Organisations. The Organisations Behind the Digest. Index