Innovative program verifies sustainability of green building products

WASHINGTON, Nov. 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Building and home owners are looking for ways to reduce their expenses in today's tight economy. One solution lies in sustainable construction (http://saveprogram.icc-es.org/).

Environmentally friendly, energy-efficient construction adds little to no extra cost and actually saves money in the long run. A 2007 study conducted by Davis Langdon, a construction consultancy firm, found the average cost for constructing green buildings as compared to non-green buildings was roughly the same, but green buildings have the significant advantage of being less expensive to operate. Green construction reduces energy and water use (http://saveprogram.icc-es.org/) and is healthier overall for occupants. The benefits, both environmental and economic, become apparent when one considers that buildings account for 40% of the nation's energy consumption.

So, what are green construction products?

How do you know they are green?

How do you distinguish greenwash from verified sustainability?

More and more manufacturers say their products are green, but independent verification can prove it. A new evaluation program launched by ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES) reviews the green features of building systems and products. The SAVE program -- Sustainable Attributes Verification and Evaluation (http://saveprogram.icc-es.org/) -- systematically evaluates green building products and systems in nine environmental categories. The evaluation involves both inspection of the manufacturer's production process and reviews of independent product testing, where required. Products that meet their claims of sustainability and green receive a SAVE mark and may qualify for points under the major green rating systems, LEED, Green Globes and the new National Green Building Standard.

"Building or home owners using SAVE products in green construction almost certainly achieve higher values under the three major green rating systems," said Steve Thorsell, ICC-ES Director of Special Projects. "A SAVE report gives manufacturers proof they can show their customers that the sustainability of their product is indeed verified, a significant advantage in an increasingly competitive marketplace."

The sustainable features of building products could include, for example, use of recycled materials, produced with renewable resources, or the reduction of hazardous emissions. As the demand for sustainable design grows and governments increasingly adopt green building guidelines, the SAVE mark (http://saveprogram.icc-es.org/) provides trusted, independent verification of product attributes.

Competition in the construction industry, which is experiencing a green revolution, increasingly requires that sustainable claims are verified. If you're building to the LEED or Green Globes standards or are preparing to use the National Green Building Standard, make sure the products you buy have been verified as sustainable (http://saveprogram.icc-es.org/) by SAVE.

A list of such products will be available at saveprogram.icc-es.org/reports. Manufacturers who want their construction materials or systems evaluated under the SAVE program should visit saveprogram.icc-es.org/details.

SOURCE International Code Council