These days it seems that everyone is advertising their products as “Green”, but what really makes a product Green?  Although there are many opinions about what does or does not make a product Green, there are some questions to ask of a product that will help make the decision more clear.

• Does the product come from a sustainable source?
  The product should be rapidly renewable or engineered, and not cause a huge strain on our environment when it’s harvested or manufactured.  If at all possible the product should contain recycled materials.
  
  
• How far does the product travel from manufacturer to final installation?
  The amount of energy used to extract, manufacture, and transport a product to its final destination is called embodied energy.  The product should have the smallest embodied energy price tag possible.
  
  
• Is the product durable?
  The product should last for many, many years after it’s installed.  Replacing poor performing products creates an unnecessary demand on energy and resources.
  
  
• Is the product difficult to maintain, or require maintenance often?
  The product should require little or no maintenance after installation.  High maintenance products require time, energy and money to keep looking new, and performing as designed.
  
  
• Does the product contain harmful chemicals or VOC’s?
  The product should be free of materials that create off gassing.  Off gassing of products can last for many years, and is one of the major contributors to poor Indoor Air Quality.
  
  
• Does the product conserve energy?
  The product installed should help the building system use less electricity or gas.
  
  
• Does the product conserve water?
  The product installed should help the building system use less water.
  
  
• Will the product help the home system perform better?
  The building should be thought of as a system, and all of its components part of that system.
  
  
• Will the chosen product help make the system run better, or more efficiently?
  The product used, in combination with other products, should help the building perform at a higher level.