What is "Green"?

The word “Green” is so often used in the context of “environmental responsibility” and “sustainability” yet is hard to quantify definitively. Green to an environmentalist may be drastically different than that of a manufacturer. The challenge is finding common ground that promotes and rewards environmental responsibility as well as product design and performance that is balanced with the rigors and challenges of manufacturing products that need to be competitive in the marketplace.

Defining “Green” and “Sustainability”

Practice sustainability by conserving today’s resources for tomorrow’s children.
“Green Design” is design and construction that significantly reduces or eliminates the negative impact of buildings on the environment and occupants in five broad areas:

• Sustainable site planning
• Safeguarding water and efficient water use
• Energy efficiency and renewable energy use
• Conservation of materials and resources
• Indoor environmental quality.

Source: US Green Building Council Design products using sustainable, renewable and recycled materials.
Establish an environmental management system.
Conserve resources with environmentally sound manufacturing practices.

• Reduce material use
• Reuse materials
• Recycle materials
• Reduce solid and hazardous waste
• Conserve water
• Control, reduce and eliminate emissions
• Use environmentally sound preservatives, adhesives and coatings

Produce products that benefit the environment.

• Sustainable materials
• Energy efficiency
• Durability
• Long product life

Use Life Cycle Analysis to analyze product design and performance.



Participate in environmental and energy efficiency programs and credible certification and ratings programs.

• National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC)
• Energy Star
• US Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) programs (examples: LEED-NC for New Commercial Construction and Major Renovation projects, and LEED-H for Homes)
• GreenBuilding Initiative (GBI) Commercial: Green Globes; Residential: National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Green BuildingGuidelines.
• Wood certification programs: (examples: Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Sustainable Forest Initiative (SFI)