Green Products and Materials |
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Even in the greenest of projects, many products may not be green themselves -- but the way they are used can reduce the overall environmental impact of the building. For example, a particular window may not be green in and of itself, but the way it is used maximizes the collection of low winter sunlight and blocks the summer sun. Salvaged Materials We used products salvaged from the Motherhouse, such as bricks, millwork, light fixtures, marble slabs, doors and windows. Recycled content is an important feature of many green products. Post-consumer recycled materials are more likely to be diverted from landfills. The drywall material, manufactured with recycled paper content, is 5/8-inch thick gypsum board that is moisture-resistant. Gypsum is an abundant, benign mineral. Another example is TrexTM, which consists of recycled wood and plastic that gives the appearance of a wood deck. Trex comes with a lifetime guarantee. We installed Trex on the floor of the outside veranda. Products with Post-Industrial Recycled Content The mineral wool insulation in the Motherhouse was made from iron ore slag and is an example of a post-industrial recycled material. New Wood Products New wood was obtained from judiciously managed forests. Rapidly Renewable Products The Motherhouse floor coverings include linoleum and cork. Both are examples of rapidly renewing materials. These products are biodegradable, often low in volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions and generally produced from agricultural crops. Because sunlight is generally the primary energy. Back to Site Restoration To Awards |
The use of environmentally friendly or "green" products and materials was one of the standards the IHMs required the architect to specify for the Motherhouse. 