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University of Nebraska Lincoln

Extension

Lorene Bartos

Shirley Niemeyer

Carroll Welte

Purchasing GreenWhat Does it Mean?

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Why Green and Sustainable? U.S., with 5% of world’s population, uses

about 26% of world’s energy

Buildings use about 1/3 of the energy

consumed in U.S. and 2/3rds of all electricity

Source: U.S. Department of Energy

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Why Green & Sustainable?Homes account for. . . About 21% of electrical energy

consumption

About one-fifth of greenhouse gas missions from burning fossils fuels

21% of the carbon dioxide emissions

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Why Green & Sustainable? Growth in CO2 emissions from

housing is about 32.7% of total

increase in U.S. energy-related CO2 emissions since 1990.

Improving energy efficiency of homes, practices, & products can save money conserve resources avoid more greenhouse gas

emissions (DOE; www.climatevision.gov, July 2005).

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What Does “Green” & “Sustainable” Mean?

No standardized definition of “green” - it is not regulated.

Here “green” refers to . . .Adopting environmental management practices & products to minimize damaging impact on the environment from resource depletion & pollution (Tzschentke, Kirk, & Lynch, 2008).

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“Sustainability” includes…. Ensuring our actions & decisions today do

not hinder the opportunities of future generations

Looking at how we get the resources we use Using only what is needed in a way to get the

most from them Eliminating idea of waste

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“Sustainability” includes….Using natural resources very efficiently without destroying the ecological balance of an area, region, or world & depleting or wasting natural resources

Source: http://doerr.org/html/Sustain.html

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Shades of Green Almost everything we buy, use, or have

in our homes has some environmental impact.

Few things we use are totally “green.”

Example Bamboo Flooring

Is it greener?

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5 Principles of Greener Energy Efficiency – Reduce amount of energy

required to operate home

Resource Efficiency - Reduce resources used in building, modifying, & maintaining the home

Water Conservation – Maximize efficient use of water in & around the home

Indoor Environmental Quality - Create a healthier indoor environment for occupants

Site & Community Impact - Consider the impact of the materials & the home on the land & immediate community, global community, & environment

Permission granted for use by Minnesota GreenStar® www.mngreenstar.org/

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Greenwashing is...Excessive claims for the process or product beyond what the environmental benefits really are.

These may include: Misleading consumers about environmental practices of

a company or environmental benefits of products or services. Vague wording & claims.

Implementing minimal actions & claiming strong

environmental stewardship. Irrelevant claims.

Lacking information or proof of claims or third party independent certification.

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Buying “Green” & Thinking SustainabilityConsider these questions in

making decisions about products & materials. Is item a need or a want? Is item durable, repairable, & if maintained, will it last? Are raw materials from local or regional resources?How will its use or disposal impact the environment? Can it be reused or recycled?

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What do Material Safety Data Sheets & labels say about safety or hazards?

Are certification labels present? Who certifies & based on what criteria?

Will item perform without electricity? Consider mechanical hand–operated products.

Could item be purchased with a friend or neighbor for shared use?

Is item being used in an efficient

way & according to directions?

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Your thoughts? How can consumers have less impact

on the environment & use fewer natural resources?

How can consumers

make greener choices?

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Challenges to . . .Selecting products & materials that are greener or have less environmental impact:

Finding businesses that offer products with less environmental impact

Time to research product or process

Having limited knowledge or resources to research a practice or item

Initial higher costs for some items

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LOTS OF ECO-LABELS!

European Union

Eco-Label

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Labels & Specification Sheets

Address these challenges by. . .

Reading labels Looking for third party

environmental certification Asking for the product

specification sheet or more information

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Household Products Database http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/faq.htm

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MSDS – Materials Safety Data Sheet http://hazard.com/msds/

Many products such as solvents, cleaners, maintenance products, etc. have MSDS sheets providing information on ingredients, use, potential hazards, storage, emergencies, etc.

Ask for the MSDS sheet when you buy a product

Search the web for on-line product MSDS sheets

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Government Certification Program Examples

EPA WaterSense

FTC EnergyGuide

EPA/DOE ENERGY STAR®

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Water Sense U.S. EPA voluntary certification program High performing water–efficient products

independently tested & certified to meet

EPA standards. Product or service is 20% more efficient

Waterless urinalDuel flush toilet Low-flow devices

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EnergyGuide Labels Federal Trade Commission’s Appliance

Labeling Rule requires EnergyGuide labels, www.ftc.gov/engeryguide, on clothes washers, dishwashers, freezers, refrigerators, room air conditioners, water heaters, furnaces, boilers, central air conditioners, and heat pumps

Appliances must meet the US Department of Energy

(DOE) Appliance Standards Program

Manufacturers must use standard testing procedures to prove the product’s energy use and efficiency

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EnergyGuide Labels Label provides a scale to compare

energy usage of similar models & approximate annual operating costs

Shows the highest & lowest energy consumption or efficiency estimates of similar appliance models based on DOE test procedures & where the model falls on the scale

Use guide to compare energy use & cost of operating for similar sized models with similar functions

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ENERGYSTAR® ENERGY STAR label means product meets

or exceeds the increased energy efficiency guidelines set by U.S. EPA & U.S. DOE

for that product line.

Program includes more than 40 home product categories including . . . Heating & cooling equipment Windows Roof products Home electronics/appliances Lighting/fixtures Insulation and more.

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Organization Certification Program Examples

NFRC for windows Green SealCarpet & Rug InstituteArt & Creative Materials InstituteSustainable Forest InitiativeForest Stewardship Council

GREENGAURD

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National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) label - Windows www.nfrc.org Actual ratings at http://www.nfrc.org/getratings.aspx

Compare energy ratings

─ U-value: a lower U-value = window

insulates better

─ Solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC)

─ Visible light transmittance

ENERGY STAR windows must

be NFRC rated.

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Windows NFRC labelNFRC label - voluntary program

Lower U-value means better insulated. Select .32 or below if possible

Select air leakage rating of about 0.3 cubic ft/min. or less

Select low-e (low emissivity) & selective coatings for climate

Compare SHGC – Solar Heat Gain Coefficient for climate & orientation (.30 to .60)

Label example

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Green Seal Independent non-profit

organization, issues environmental seals of approval for consumer products to identify those products that are less harmful to the environment than others in the same category.

www.greenseal.org

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Green SealProduct Environmental Impact Evaluation

done to identify product characteristic& points in manufacturing processthat could cause significant environmental harm

Standard addresses toxic chemical pollution, energy consumption, depletion & pollution of water resources, harm to wildlife and natural areas, natural resource waste, & global warming

Products only certified after testing & evaluation, including on-site plant visits.

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Carpet & Rug Institute GreenLabel & Green Label PlusCarpet & Adhesive Testing Green Label - 7 chemicals

Green Label Plus Carpet - 13 chemicals measured:

Acetaldehyde Benzene Caprolactam 2-Ethylhexanoic Acid Formaldehyde 1-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidinone

www.carpet-rug.org/

Naphthalene Nonanal Octanal 4-Phenylcyclohexene Styrene Toluene Vinyl Acetate

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Art & Creative Materials Institute - ACMI

Non-profit association of art & craft manufacturers http://www.acminet.org

All children's materials certified by ACMI are non-toxic & cannot bear health warning labels

Identifies art materials that are safe & certified in a toxicological evaluation by a medical expert to contain no materials in quantities to be toxic or injurious to humans, including children, or to cause acute or chronic health problems 

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Sustainable Forest Initiative - SFI

Independent org. focused on

supporting responsible forestry Certification standard is based on principles

to promote sustainable forest mgt. SFI certified content labels show some/all of

product’s fiber comes from certified forests Certified fiber sourcing labels show product

contains fiber from responsible sources & was

obtained in accordance with SFI Standards

www.sfiprogram.org

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Forest Stewardship Council (FCS) www.fscus.org

FCS is an independent not-for-profit organization promoting environmentally responsible management of world’s forests

Voluntary label indicates item comes from

FSC certified forests, recycled or other controlled materials

For certification, FSC defines 10 principles

that describe how forests have to be managed

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GREENGUARD Environmental InstituteGREENGUARD 3rd Party Certification Standards

for: Low-chemical Emission Products Indoor Air Quality Schools Building Construction Microbial Resistance Listing

Program

Established performance based standards to define goods with low chemical & particle emissions foruse indoors

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GREENGUARDFocus on IAQ & building construction for preventing mold Primarily 3rd Party Certification System for low-emitting …

Interior building materials Furniture, finishing systems Personal care products Interior furnishings Cleaning & maintenance products Electronic equipment

www.greenguard.org

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Testing & Certification & Commercial Labeling Programs

Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool – EPEAT

Scientific Certification System – SCS

Indoor Air Quality Program

SCS Indoor Advantage Gold

SCS Certified Recycled

Resilient Flooring Institutes FloorScore Program

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Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT)

www.epeat.net - “search product registry”

Focuses on computers, monitors Expanding to printers/copiers, TVs etc. Product must meet 23 environmental performance criteria

or attributes Compared to traditional, EPEAT-registered products are

to

• Have reduced levels of lead, cadmium, & mercury

• Be more energy efficient

• Be easier to upgrade & recycle

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Scientific Certification System

SCS provides 3rd- party certification, auditing & testing services, & standards

Where standards require lab testing, SCS works with independent labs

SCS offers standards-based product certification for green building products

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Scientific Certification System

Manufacturers can earn certification for one aspect of a product’s environmental impact such as recycled content, biodegradable products, no added formaldehyde, indoor air quality AND/OR for multiple environmental performance attributes

The certified product database is available at their website www.scscertified.com/ecoproducts/products

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SCS Indoor Air QualityOffers Indoor Advantage & Indoor Advantage Gold www.scscertified.com/sustainablechoice/

Focuses on furniture, paints and coatings, sealants & adhesives, wall coverings, insulation, furnishings & other interior products

Certification for Gold includes documentation review, on-site audit of manufacturing plant, laboratory testing of product test samples, & compliance with indoor air quality emissions standards

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SCS Certified Recycled

Material content certification assessment services for products made from recycled or biodegradable materials.

Recycled content products are made from materials that would otherwise have been discarded.

Assessment consists of a desk audit, an on-site SCS audit & in some cases, lab testing.

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Resilient Floor Covering Institute’s

FloorScore® Testing & Certification

for compliance with IAQ emissions for– Hard surface & resilient flooring

– Flooring adhesives

VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) are evaluated

– FloorScore® certifies products that do not exceed one-half of the allowable concentration limits

www.scscertified.com/gbcfloorscore.php

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LEED - Leadership in Energy & Environmental Designs

Green building rating system Nationally accepted benchmark for the

design, construction & operation of high performance green buildings

Logo used in newly constructed homes or major rehab projects that are being designed & built to be certified as meeting the criteria

http://www.usgbc.org/LEED & related logo is a trademark owned by the U.S. Green Building Council & is used by permission.

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Take Home MessageDeveloping a Greener Lifestyle is Essential Sustainable Practices are (in)valuable Environmental & Social Responsibility are

increasingly important Everyone can become greener

Start small & simple! Being greener can also

save your green!

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Purchasing GreenWhat Does it Really Mean?