G

City of Santa Monica

reen building materials

SELECTION AND
SPECIFICATION GUIDE

Developed by Global Green USA through a partnership with the City of Santa Monica

Made possible through a grant from the California Integrated Waste Management Board
TA B L E OF CO N T E N T S

Purpose of the Guide .........................................................................................................................................................3

Green Building in Santa Monica ......................................................................................................................................3

Part I: Green Building Materials – An Overview

Benefits of Using Green building Materials .....................................................................................................................................5
Issues in Using Green Building Materials ........................................................................................................................................5

Part II: Selecting and Specifying Green Building Materials

Selection Criteria ..................................................................................................................................................................................7
Green Building Materials Selection Checklist..................................................................................................................................8
Ten-Step Selection Process ..................................................................................................................................................................9
Product Selection Example—Carpet .................................................................................................................................................10
Specifying Green Building Materials ................................................................................................................................................12
Specification Language........................................................................................................................................................................13

Appendix A
Green Specification Criteria by CSI Division ...................................................................................................................................15

Appendix B
Resource Directory...............................................................................................................................................................................19
Green Building Materials Selection and Specification Guide Page 2
GREEN BUILDING MATERIALS SELECTION & SPECIFICATION GUIDE
PURPOSE OF THE GUIDE
The Green Building Materials Selection and Specification Guide
is a tool for City staff and City consultants, as well as
private-sector architects, developers, and others involved
with the design and construction of buildings in Santa
Monica. The Guide provides:
§ an overview of the benefits of green building materials
§ criteria for selecting green materials
§ a ten-step process for identifying green materials
§ practices and strategies for specifying green materials
§ sample specifications
§ resources for more information
GREEN BUILDING I N SANTA MONICA
The City of Santa Monica initiated their green building
program in 1998, as a means of implementing the City’s
Sustainable City Program. Current green building
activities in the City are directed by the following:
§ Green Building Design and Construction Guidelines.
Developed in 1999 as a resource for architects, builders,
and developers in the City, the Guidelines outline
additional green building practices that are
recommended for projects in the City. City projects are
required to incorporate all of the practices identified in
the Guidelines that are cost effective (result in less than
a three percent increase in construction costs). Various
aspects of the Guidelines are being applied to several
upcoming city projects including the Public Safety
Facility, Main Library expansion, and the
Transportation Maintenance Facility.
§ LEED Silver Rating. In October 2001, the City adopted
a requirement that all new municipal construction meet
the Silver standard of the U.S. Green Building Council’s
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
(LEED) Rating system.

§ The Green Building Ordinance. Adopted in 1999, the

Green Building Ordinance outlines a series of required
green building practices for both public and private-
sector projects being developed in the City. The
required practices include improving energy efficiency
above the State of California’s Title 24 requirements (10
–15 percent depending in the building type); increasing
water efficiency, and specifying recycled content
materials (consistent with EPA guidelines). The
Ordinance went into effect in September 2001.

Green Building Materials Selection and Specification Guide Page 3

Green Building Materials Selection and Specification Guide Page 4
PART I: GREEN BUILDING MATERIALS – AN OVERVIEW
BENEFITS OF USING GREEN BUILDING
MATERIALS
Green building materials add value to building projects
and reduce harmful impacts on the environment.
Green materials usually have one or more of the following
qualities:
§ Resource efficient (energy, water, and natural resource-
conserving)
§ Healthy (benign or beneficial) for occupants and
installers
§ Healthy (benign or beneficial) for the environment and
the public at large
Raw materials extraction, manufacturing processes, and the
transportation of the materials to the project site have a
multitude of impacts on the environment. These include
the disruption of habitats and ecological systems, use of
water, and, through energy use, the emissions of air
pollutants and climate change gases.
Building materials also have major impacts on the building
occupants. The EPA estimates that over 30 percent of
buildings (including new buildings) have poor indoor air
quality. Poor air quality reduces employee productivity.
This has significant economic implications, when you
consider that over a 30-year period, employee salaries
account for approximately 98 percent of the building
operation costs.
Through efficient manufacturing processes, incorporating
recycled materials as feedstock, and minimizing or
eliminating toxic ingredients, green building materials
Green Building Materials Selection and Specification Guide
greatly reduce immediate and long-term impacts to the
environment.
Low- and non-toxic materials also reduce the exposure of
building occupants to harmful substances, which improves
health and productivity. Furthermore, many green
building materials are more durable, thus reducing
maintenance costs for the building owner.
ISSUES I N USING GREEN MATERIALS
Selecting and specifying green building materials is often a
complicated process. Because green materials provide
multiple benefits, it can be difficult to compare the costs
and benefits and assess the trade-offs between various
green product options in a comprehensive fashion. The
tools and strategies described below are useful in analyzing
the relative benefits of different materials.
Life-Cycle Assessment. LCA is a comprehensive analysis that
takes into consideration all aspects of a material over its
entire lifetime: raw materials extraction; manufacturing and
processing; transport; use; and post-use recycling, reuse, or
disposal. This approach enables a true “apples to apples”
comparison between materials. The BEES system (Building
for Environmental and Economic Sustainability
www.bfrl.nist.gov/oae/software/bees.html) developed by
the National Institute of Standards and Technology is the
most widely used methodology. BEES provides materials
with a score that can be compared to other similar
products. At this time, however, a fairly limited number of
materials have completed the BEES analysis.
Page 5
Life-Cycle Costing. Life-Cycle Costing is an analysis of the
short- and long-term costs associated with a material, from
purchase to ultimate recycling or disposal. This includes
frequency of replacement, maintenance costs, and costs that
are avoided through use of the material (or system). LCC is
useful in looking beyond a comparison based solely on first
costs. Similar to LCA, this type of analysis is not available
for all materials, but a back-of-the-envelope calculation is
usually fairly easy to work up.

Certification. Many conventional building products are

approved or certified by independent third party or
government groups. The Forest Stewardship Council
certifies the certifiers (SmartWood and SCS) that assess
whether forestry companies are using sustainable
management practices to harvest wood. The Carpet and
Rug Institute provides a Green Label for carpets that meet
certain low-VOC criteria. GreenGuard certifies products
that meet strict indoor air quality criteria. The Department
of Energy’s Energy Star label identifies equipment and
appliances that meet or exceed standards for energy Several certification systems address issues such as indoor air quality,
efficiency. Scientific Certification Systems and GreenSeal forest stewardship, and energy efficiency.
certify recycled-content claims and other green product
claims made by manufacturers. Refer to the Appendix B
list of resources for the website addresses of these
certification groups.

Green Building Materials Selection and Specification Guide Page 6

PART II: SELECTING & SPECIFYING GREEN BUILDING MATERIALS
SELECTION CRITERIA
Questions to be considered when selecting green building
materials address the various impacts of each product
throughout its entire life cycle:

§ Which raw materials and ingredients make up the

product?
§ How were its raw materials extracted?
§ How was it manufactured, processed, and fabricated?
§ How far would it need to be transported from raw
materials extraction through site delivery?
§ How well does it perform?
§ How long will it last?
§ How is it maintained, can non-toxic cleaners be used on
the product?
§ How could it affect the health of installers and building
occupants? Certified wood is stamped with the FSC logo.
§ What can be done with the product at the end of its
useful life?

Resource-efficiency impacts include natural resource, solid

waste, energy, and water resource impacts. Health impacts
include impacts to the health of building occupants and
materials installers, as well as impacts to the public at large
and our shared environment.

A detailed checklist of green building materials selection

criteria is provided on the following page. Typically, only a
few of these criteria will apply to each type of building
product.

Recycled cotton insulation is a low-toxic, high recycled-

content alternative to fiberglass bats.

Green Building Materials Selection and Specification Guide Page 7

GREEN BUILDING MATERIALS SELECTION CRITERIA CHECKLIST
Resource Efficiency Criteria
NATURAL RESOURCES & SOLID WASTE
q Is the product…
q Salvaged or reused?
q Refurbished or remanufactured?
q Made with recycled-content materials
q Readily recyclable or reusable?
q Made with a waste material (e.g., flyash, slag; straw)?
q Durable?
q A product that indirectly reduces materials use (e.g.,
concrete w/ integrated pigment to preclude the use of
floor finish)
q Wrapped with no or minimal packaging or with recycled-
content and recyclable packaging?
q Manufactured using a waste-reducing process?
q Made of materials that were sustainably
extracted/harvested (e.g., FSC-certified wood)?
q Made of a rapidly renewable material (e.g., bamboo)?
q Made of a renewable, instead of non-renewable, resource?
ENERGY
q Energy efficient (e.g., high R-value insulation, low-e
glass)?
q Energy conserving (e.g. automatic shut-off light sensors)?
q Locally/regionally extracted, processed, and/or
manufactured
q Low in embodied/manufacturing energy?
Health Criteria
OCCUPANT & INSTALLER HEALTH
Is the product…
q A zero/low emissions product (for reduced offgassing
of toxic chemicals, such as volatile organic compounds
(VOCs) including formaldehyde (especially urea
formaldehyde)?
q Moisture and mold-resistant?
q A product that prevents the need to use toxins (e.g.,
anti-termite borate-treated products or low-
maintenance products that don’t need to be cleaned
with toxic chemicals)?
q An indoor pollutant remover (e.g., air filters)?
q Designed to monitor and warn occupants of health
hazards or poor ventilation in the building (e.g., CO
and CO2 detectors)?
PUBLIC & ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
q Manufactured using a low-pollution process (in terms
of inputs and by-products)?
q Free of ozone-depleting substances (HCFCs and
Halons)?
q Free of toxic heavy metals (e.g., lead, mercury)
q PVC-free?
q Arsenic-free? (treated wood)

WATER
q Water efficient (e.g., low-flow fixtures, waterless urinals)?
q Water conserving (e.g., sensors, drought-tolerant plants)?
q Manufactured using a water-efficient process?

Green Building Materials Selection and Specification Guide Page 8

TEN-STEP SELECTION PROCESS FOR GREEN BUILDING MATERIALS
Outlined below is a process for selecting green materials:
1 . Establish Green Building Priorities and Criteria.
All
members of the design team should discuss the overall
goals of the project and what emphasis will be placed
on the various aspects of green building. For example,
the decision may be made to emphasize natural
resource preservation in one project, by using as many
recycled-content materials as possible, while another
project may emphasize improving indoor air quality by
not using any materials that offgas volatile organic
compounds.
2 . Identify Needed Materials. Clearly, each project has
different material requirements for the structure,
envelope, and finished surfaces. In order to derive the
greatest benefit from the use of green materials, it is
important to first consider those materials that are used
in the greatest quantities. These typically include
foundation and framing materials, and the finish
materials of the large surface areas—walls, floors, and
ceilings. Using the priorities established in Step 1, the
design team should develop a list of all green materials
to be considered.
3 . Conduct Initial Research. Materials should be researched
thoroughly to determine their compatibility with the
design and use characteristics of the specific project.
Databases, such as those provided by the California
Integrated Waste Management Board and Alameda
County Waste Management Authority (see the
Resources section at the end of this guide), as well as
the City’s Green Building Materials Library should be
utilized. Ideally, three alternative products should be
identified for each application.
Green Building Materials Selection and Specification Guide
4 . Contact Product Manufacturers. Detailed information can
be requested from product manufactures such as
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), emissions data,
detailed performance test results, and information on
various in-the-field installations.
5 . Evaluate the Products Using Selection Criteria. Each
product should be evaluated based on the criteria
developed in Step 1. Because many materials may meet
more than one criterion or may have environmental
disadvantages as well as advantages, it is important to
keep in mind the overall project priorities when
deciding whether to move ahead with a specific
strategy or product.
6 . Request Product Demonstrations. Seeing how a material
looks in the field and thoroughly understanding the
installation process can further assist in making a final
selection. Product representatives are often willing to
give presentations to architectural staff.
7 . Prepare Mock-ups and Test Installations. Every building is
different, so it is valuable to test a new material in the
space prior to a full installation.
8 . Incorporate into Project Specifications.
Specifications must
be written carefully to ensure that specific types of
products are purchased and installed correctly in the
project. Detailed information on unique installation
practices should also be included in the specifications.
Additional strategies for specification are provided in
Part III of this guide.
Page 9
9 . Conduct Meetings with Contractor. Coordination with the
contractor is key to the successful implementation and
installation of green materials. It is very important that
the contractor understands which materials or
installation practices may be unfamiliar, why they are
important to the design and function of the building,
and what verification measures are part of the
construction administration effort.
10. Transfer Knowledge to the Next Project. Identifying
green materials that meet the diverse criteria of owners,
designers, contractors, and maintenance staff is a time-
consuming process. It is important to document the
reasoning behind the selection of each material and to
monitor its performance in the field. In this way, future
projects can benefit from the initial investment in
research and analysis.
PRODUCT SELECTION EXAMPLE – CARPET
There are many considerations involved in selecting a
“green” carpet. The carpet industry has responded to
many of the concerns of its clients and green options are
now readily available in the marketplace. However, it is
important to note that building owners and designers
sometimes choose not to use carpet at all, and hard flooring
instead, for both health and resource efficiency reasons.
Key criteria to consider when comparing carpet options are
as outlined below.
These criteria address the issues targeted by the US Green
Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED) rating system including
use of recycled-content products (Materials and Resources
credit 4), locally manufactured products (Materials and
Resources credit 5), and low-emitting materials (Indoor
Environmental Quality credit 4).
Green Building Materials Selection and Specification Guide
Resource Efficiency Criteria
NATURAL RESOURCES & SOLID WASTE
§ Made with recycled-content materials—Many carpet
lines now have recycled content. However, the levels of
total recycled content vary considerably; some products
only have recycled content in the backing, whereas
others have recycled content face fibers, as well. It is
possible to find carpets that have almost 100% recycled-
content in both the face fiber and the backing. Some use
post-industrial recycled content, while others use post-
consumer recycled content (generally considered even
more environmentally sound). Also look for carpet
cushions with high levels of recycled content.
§ Readily recyclable or reusable—Some carpet
companies have lease or reclamation programs and will
take old or soiled carpeting back to either completely
recycle it back into new carpeting (which is considered
to be true “recycling,” as opposed to “downcycling” the
materials into another lower-grade product), or will
repair and re-dye the carpeting for their customers.
§ Durable—If one carpet doesn’t get worn down as
quickly as another, it won’t need to be disposed of or
replaced with new carpeting as quickly, thereby saving
resources.
§ Indirectly reduces materials use—Carpet tiles have
replacement advantages over sheet/broadloom
carpeting, as they can be replaced one at a time rather
than in bulk.
ENERGY
§ Low in embodied/manufacturing energy—Some
carpet manufacturers provide information on
manufacturing process improvements that save energy
and water.
§ Locally manufactured —Products manufactured close
to the project site require less energy to be expended for
transportation.
Page 10
WATER
q Manufactured using a water-efficient process—See
energy section above.

Health Criteria

OCCUPANT & INSTALLER HEALTH

§ Low-VOC emissions—Most carpets now meet the
Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) Green Label criteria for
VOC limits, and some meet more stringent standards,
such as the State of Washington guidelines. (The CRI
Green Label limits are posted at www.carpet-rug.org.)
Carpet adhesives and cushions also should not exceed Low-VOC, recycled-content carpet is available in both traditional rolls
such VOC limits. Some carpets come with a dry and carpet tiles.
adhesive, peel-and-stick backing.
§ Maintenance—Most carpets can be cleaned and
maintained with non-toxic cleaners. Check with the
manufacturer to confirm. In addition some companies
provide their own line of non-toxic cleaners that are
made specifically for their products.

PUBLIC & ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

§ PVC-free—Most carpets still have PVC backing, but a
few alternatives do exist.
§ Made of natural fibers—Carpets made of wool, sisal,
jute, and other natural fibers are available, avoiding the
use of nylon and other synthetic materials.
§ Manufactured using a low-pollution process—When
carpets are manufactured through an efficient dyeing
process, such as solution dyeing, fewer chemicals and
dyes need to be used and water and energy resources
are also saved.

Green Building Materials Selection and Specification Guide Page 11

SPECIFYING GREEN BUILDING MATERIALS
Specifying green materials presents unique challenges in
the context of public buildings. Public projects typically
require that a specification identify a minimum of three
alternatives for each product. Furthermore, it is standard
practice for contractors to substitute materials for
“acceptable equivalents.” These aspects of specification
and construction can be problematic when a green material
plays an important role in the overall design and/or
operation of the building or is unique in the marketplace.
There are, however, a number of strategies that can be
employed to better ensure that products with specific
environmental attributes are incorporated into construction
projects:
§ Identifying Three Alternative Products
This is the most straightforward way of specifying
green building materials. The number and quality of
green building materials is increasing at a rapid rate
and thorough research can often identify three viable
options for commonly used materials such as carpet,
ceiling tiles, and paint.
§ Approved Price by Another Government Agency
Materials that have unique characteristics and have
already gone through a competitive bid process with a
federal, state, or local agency, such as Los Angeles
County, the California Department of General Services
and the Federal General Services Administration can be
specified for public projects without listing any
alternatives. The approving agency must be identified.
Green Building Materials Selection and Specification Guide
§ Performance Specifications
If three alternatives cannot be identified, the designer
can provide a performance specification that describes
in detail the various attributes required for a given
material. For example, the specification could describe
a counter substrate that is formaldehyde free and
contains a certain percentage of post-consumer recycled
waste. It is acceptable to have only one or two
products that meet this specification.
§ Unique Qualities or Characteristics
In some instances, it is acceptable to specify a specific
product brand because of its one-of-a-kind
characteristics. If the product is sufficiently specialized
and meets a clear need of the project, then this should
be explained in the specification per City Ordinance
2.24.071: Public Works Contracts.
§ Separate Procurement Process
Another option is for the City to purchase unique
materials or equipment through a separate “owner
purchased/ contractor installed” procurement process
that is not part of the overall project bid. The unique
materials are then delivered to the project and installed
by either a specialized subcontractor or member of the
contractor's team. Refer to City Ordinance 2.24.100:
Formal Bidding Procedures.
Page 12
SPECIFICATION LANGUAGE
The process of developing a national library of specification
language for green building materials is underway.
However, there is not one centralized source for green
specifications available at this time. The most significant
efforts at this time are:

§ GreenSpec. This is a product manufacturer listing guide

that includes guideline specification language. The
specifications are written in a generic Construction
Specifications Institute (CSI) format and can be
modified for specific applications. It is distributed by
Building Green, Inc., the publisher of Environmental
Building News.

§ Reference Specifications for Energy and Resource Efficiency.

Developed by Eley Associates for the California Energy
Commission, these specifications include general
Division 1 sections on Special Environmental
Requirements, Site Waste Management Program, and
Building Commissioning. The Special Environmental
Requirements section is quite comprehensive, and
includes IAQ emissions testing limits for various
chemicals found in building materials. The
specifications also include Divisions 2-16. All sections
can currently be downloaded for free.

§ AIA Masterspec. The City of Santa Monica uses the CSI

format as its standard format. Masterspec, the provider
of updated specification language to the City, is in the
process of providing environmental information about
each of the products in the Masterspec directory.
Designers can use this information to compare
materials from a green perspective. The environmental
information listed for specific products can be used as
the basis for building a green performance spec.

Green Building Materials Selection and Specification Guide Page 13

Green Building Materials Selection and Specification Guide Page 14
APPENDIX A: Green Specification Criteria, By CSI Division
The following are criteria that should be considered when DIVISION 2 – SITEWORK
specifying green building materials. Criteria are provided
for CSI Sections 1 – 10 and 12 as these sections involve 02060 – Aggregate
many materials decisions. Sections 11 and 13 - 17 focus on q Recycled content (concrete, stone)
equipment and mechanical systems, which are more
appropriately addressed by energy efficiency standards 02220 – Site Demolition
than the material criteria outlined in this guide. q Recycling and reuse (refer to 01565-Site Waste
Management Program section)
DIVISION 1 – GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
For the following four sections, refer to the green criteria in 02230 – Site Clearing
the CEC Reference Specifications for Energy and Resource q Protect natural resources (avoid loss of topsoil and
Efficiency (www.eley.com). contamination of waterways)

01350 – Special Environmental Requirements 02340 – Soil Stabilization

q Definitions, goals, and requirements for energy q Specify natural clay binders
efficiency, resource efficiency, and indoor
environmental quality measures 02360 – Soil Treatment
q LEED documentation requirements and submittals q Low-toxic treatments
for contractor and others
q Other submittals (e.g., MSDS and green 02370 – Erosion and Sedimentation Control
certifications) q Recycled content and natural fiber blankets
q Product substitution procedures q Retain existing trees
q Building flush-out period q Utilize plantings
q Operations and maintenance instructions,
procedures manuals, etc. 02500 – Utility Services
q Renewable energy sources
01565 – Site Waste Management Program/Plan q Rainwater collection systems
q On-site natural wastewater treatment systems
01810 – Building Commissioning
02660 – Ponds and Reservoirs
01820 – Systems Demonstration q Graywater filtration systems
q Natural clay soil liners

Green Building Materials Selection and Specification Guide Page 15

02670 – Constructed Wetlands DIVISION 4 – MASONRY
(Consult with civil engineer and landscape
architect) 04200 – Concrete Unit Masonry
q High flyash or slag content
02700 – Paving
q Recycled content 04300 – Brick Masonry
q High-volume flyash-content concrete q Specify recycled brick
q High albedo
04440 – Stone
02795 – Pervious Pavement q Specify local stone
q Interlocking pavers
q Recycled content (plastic, etc.) DIVISION 5 – METALS
02800 – Site Amenities and Furnishings
05100 – Structural Steel Framing
q Recycled content or certified wood—benches, waste
q High percentage recycled content
receptacles, bicycle racks, playground equipment,
etc.)
DIVISION 6 – WOOD
02900 – Landscaping
q Native, climate-appropriate plantings 06070 – Wood Treatment
q Xeriscaping q Low/non-toxic (e.g., borate; not arsenic)
q Integrated pest management
q Water efficient irrigation 06100 – Rough Carpentry
q Sustainably harvested (FSC-certified), or salvaged
DIVISION 3 – CONCRETE (reclaimed)
q Recycled-plastic lumber (does not need to be

03100 – Concrete Formwork painted)

q Recycled content
06160 – Sheathing
q Insulating formwork
q No formaldehyde (e.g. specify formaldehyde-free

03200 – Concrete Reinforcement MDF instead of particleboard)

q Exterior grade particleboard (phenyl formaldehyde)
q Recycled content (steel, typically)
instead of interior grade (urea formaldehyde)
03300 – Cast-in-Place Concrete
q High-volume flyash or waste slag
06200 – Finish Carpentry
q Made from agricultural waste (e.g., strawboard) OR

03400 – Precast Concrete other recycled content

q Zero-emissions (no formaldehyde, low VOC)
q AAC lightweight concrete

Green Building Materials Selection and Specification Guide Page 16

DIVISION 7 – THERMAL & MOISTURE 08200 – Wood Doors
PROTECTION q FSC-certified sustainably-harvested wood/veneers
or composite or salvaged (reclaimed/reused) wood
07200 – Thermal Protection q Zero emission (no formaldehyde/particleboard)

q Energy efficient (high R value)

q Recycled content (cellulose, or recycled fiberglass)
08500 - Windows
insulation q Recycled content (aluminum) or FSC-certified wood

q Zero emissions (no formaldehyde) frames

q Energy efficient, low-E
q Natural, rapidly renewable fibers (cotton, wool)

07310 – Shingles 08900 – Glazed Curtain Wall

q High albedo (light-colored) q Consider photovoltaic curtainwall panel system.
q 100% recycled plastic or cellulose
q Durable DIVISION 9 – FINISHES
q Consider photovoltaic shingles
09300 - Tile
07320 – Roof Tiles q Recycled content (recycled ceramic glass tiles are
q Energy Star compliant available from multiple manufacturers)
q Recycled-content fiber cement, clay, or recycled
metal 09510 – Acoustical Ceiling Panels
q Durable q Recycled content (mineral fiber/waste paper,
fiberglass)
07330 – Roof Coverings q Made of waste material (mineral slag)
q Garden/sod roof systems q Zero emissions (no formaldehyde)

07500 – Membrane Roofing 09650 – Resilient Flooring

q Energy Star compliant; high albedo q Durable
q Low-VOC, water-based adhesives q PVC-free (e.g., linoleum or other natural
materials—bamboo, recycled tile—instead of vinyl).
07900 – Joint Sealers (Natural linoleum is made of linseed oil, pine resins,
q Low-VOC cork, and jute.)

DIVISION 8 – DOORS & WINDOWS 09680 – Carpet

q Recycled content (face fiber, backing, and cushion)
08100 – Metal Entry Doors q Recyclable/reusable
q Energy efficient q Reclaimed and recycled by the company
q Free of ozone-depleting HCFCs (fire-rated doors) q Durable
q Easily maintained/replaced (carpet tiles)
q Low-VOC (Carpet and Rug Institute standards or
stricter)

Green Building Materials Selection and Specification Guide Page 17

 q Low embodied energy
q Water- and energy-efficient manufacturing
q Solution-dyed; low pollution manufacturing

09720 – Wall Coverings

q Recycled content
q Low/no VOC
q PVC-free

09900 – Paints & Coatings

q Zero/low VOC (see Green Seal standards,
www.greenseal.org)
This also applies to all stains, sealants, adhesives, and
caulking products.

DIVISION 10 – SPECIALTIES

10170 – Toilet Compartments

q Recycled content (plastic, steel)

10270 – Access Flooring

q Recycled content (steel, aluminum),
salvaged/refurbished, or MDF

DIVISION 12 – FURNISHINGS

12050 - Fabrics
q Recycled content
q Natural fibers
q Low-pollution manufacturing: non-toxic dyes

12400 – Furnishings/Furniture
q Recycled content (metal, plastic) or sustainably-
harvested wood or agricultural waste products
q VOC-free (no formaldehyde) fabrics and structural
materials

Green Building Materials Selection and Specification Guide Page 18

APPENDIX B
Resource Directory
GREEN SPECIFICATIONS Green Building Resource Guide
John Hermannsson, AIA / The Architectural Machine
GreenSpec: Product Directory Binder (Manufacturers’ Print and CD-ROM versions. $35 for the book. $90 for the CD.
Literature) and Guideline Specifications www.greenguide.com
EBN/Building Green, Inc.
Print and CD-ROM versions. $75/$99 (EBN subscribers/non- The Harris Directory
subscribers) Online database, $150
www.buildinggreen.com www.harrisdirectory.com

Reference Specifications for Energy and Resource Efficiency Austin Green Builder Program – Municipal Guidelines
California Energy Commission/ Eley Associates Volume II: Specifying for Sustainability
PDF or Word download; free. A guide in CSI format. $120
www.eley.com/specs/index.htm www.ci.austin.tx.us/greenbuilder/publications.htm

Architectural Resource Guide

David Kibbey, Editor DATABASES AND DIRECTORIES OF GREEN PRODUCTS
ADPSR—Northern California Chapter
Print and CD-ROM versions. $25/$30 each; or $40/$50 for both Resources for Environmental Design Index (REDI) Product
(member/non-member). Directory
www.adpsr-norcal.org Oikos / Iris Communications
www.oikos.com/products
Modular Office Furniture Specification
State of California Sustainable Building Task Force Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability
www.ciwmb.ca.gov/greenbuilding/Specs/Furniture/ (BEES) 2.0
Product Lifecycle Assessment software; National Institute of
Standards and Technology
GREEN PRODUCT DIRECTORIES www.bfrl.nist.gov/oae/bees.html

Environmental Resource Guide National Park Service Sustainable Design and Construction
AIA / John Wiley and Sons Database
Print and CD-ROM versions. $125 www.nps.gov/dsc/dsgncnstr/susdb/
www.e-architect.com/pia/cote (go to the Publications link)
Architectural Record’s Green Products Guide
www.archrecord.com/green/green.asp

Green Building Materials Selection and Specification Guide Page 19

 Contract language and specifications, standards and
HOK’s Healthy and Sustainable Building Materials Database guidelines, vendor lists. Free online.
(and Product Questionnaire) http://yosemite1.epa.gov/oppt/eppstand2.nsf or
www.hok.com/sustainabledesign/database/welcome.html http://www.epa.gov/cpg/products.htm

GSA Environmental Products and Services Guide GREEN PRODUCT CERTIFICATION

www.fss.gsa.gov/environ/
Green Seal
California Integrated Waste Management Board: www.greenseal.org
Recycled-Content Construction Product Manufacturers
Databases Scientific Certification Systems (formerly Green Cross)
www.ciwmb.ca.gov/RCP/ www.scs1.com
www.ciwmb.ca.gov/ConDemo/Products/
Greenguard—Indoor Air Quality Certification
Greenpeace PVC Alternatives Database www.greenguard.org
www.greenpeace.org.au/pvc/
Forest Stewardship Council
www.fscusa.org
GUIDES ON GREEN MATERIALS SELECTION
Certified Forest Products Council
Green Building Materials: A Guide to Product Selection & www.certifiedwood.org
Specification
Ross Spiegel, Dru Meadows; 1999. $75 Energy Star (Lights, Appliances, Roofs, Equipment, etc.)
www.amazon.com www.energystar.gov

Sustainable Products Training Manual Carpet and Rug Institute Green Label
Sustainable Products Corporation. $150 www.carpet-rug.org
www.sustainableproducts.com

“Building Materials: What Makes a Product Green?”

Environmental Building News article. Free online.
www.buildinggreen.com/features/gp/green_products.htm

Whole Building Design Guide: Green Products section

National Institute of Building Sciences. Free online.
www.wbdg.org
(go to “Design Objective: Sustainable”; then under Principle, go
to: “Use Green Products”)

EPA Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Guidelines

Green Building Materials Selection and Specification Guide Page 20

 Prepared by:

Global Green USA

227 Broadway, Suite 302
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 394-7700

Miriam Landman, Green Building Program Associate

Walker Wells, RESCUE Program Director
Lynn Simon, RESCUE Program Fellow

With the input and guidance of:

City of Santa Monica

Office of the City Engineer
Architecture and Project Development
1918 Main Street, Suite 300
Santa Monica, CA 90405
(310) 393-4425

Lauren Friedman AIA, Senior Architect

Sam Aslanian AIA, Architecture Associate
Tony Lentich, City Engineer

Made possible through a grant from the California Integrated Waste

Management Board

The California Integrated Waste Management Board

1001 I Street
P.O. Box 4025
Sacramento, CA 95812-4025
(916) 341-6000

Green Building Materials Selection and Specification Guide Page 21

 Developed by Global Green USA through a partnership with the City of Santa Monica
Made possible through a grant from the California Integrated Waste Management Board

printed on recycled paper