Search

Digital collection of tools and guides to help designers, architects, homeowners, and developers make more informed choices about building materials and health.

More than 100 product guides to support practitioners in selecting products that avoid negative health impacts.

At face value, cabinetry may seem to be made of one type of wood, but its construction is much more complex. Many prefabricated cabinets are built using a combination of three or more wood composites and veneers, which typically use toxic glues containing formaldehyde, a known human carcinogen.

By comparing the material contents and construction in prefabricated cabinets, we created a spectrum that indicates the relationship between affordability and health. We typically consider the health effects during all phases of product development, but these diagrams are focused on the health effects during installation and inhabitation.

Currently, prefabricated cabinets are composed of 5%-30% healthier materials. Designers can increase this percentage by requesting manufacturers to build with NAF (no added formaldehyde) composite woods. This often comes with an increased price. Our Composite Wood Product and Spec Guidance gives a range of healthier substitutions.

Information from GreenSpec on environmental impacts of building materials, including chemicals of concern.

The National Center for Healthy Housing provides a set of policy resources for municipalities to reduce and avoid chemicals of concern in procurement

Buyer’s guide from Havard University for specifying furniture and materials free from flame retardants in university procurement

Full set of resources from the Healthy Hospitals program which includes:

• Step-by-step resources that will make it simpler for any hospital or health care organization to design, implement, and measure the success of their chemical reduction efforts;
• Guidance on healthier flooring, carpet and interiors products;
• Links to criteria documents and lists of products that meet the HH goals.

Green public procurement specification for general construction and flooring adhesives. The goal of the specification is to set a hierarchy of preferences for connecting materials together and to encourage the use of adhesives that have fewer health and environmental hazards in order to create a healthier indoor environment during both construction and building occupancy.

Green public procurement specification for general construction and flooring adhesives. The goal of the specification is to set to set a hierarchy of flooring covering preferences, establish minimum environmental goals for flooring installations in state properties, and provide recommendations for additional aspects of flooring performance, cleaning and maintenance for a healthier indoor environment.