Eco friendly, energy efficient, environmentally safe, green design, low impact, minimal footprint, natural materials, recycled, renewable resource, and sustainable are some of the many terms you read or hear about that describe the global green movement. The intention of the green design movement is to tread carefully on our earth by our everyday lifestyle practices and in our building procedures. There are so many certifications, classifications, labels and terms describing the many products and standards of green practices, it is difficult to navigate your way through it all. Here is a short list and descriptions according to the organizations listed of some of the many classifications and terms you might see.
Eco Logo http://www.ecologo.org
Founded in 1988 by the Government of Canada but now recognized world-wide, EcoLogo is one of North America’s largest environmental standard and certification mark. EcoLogo provides an assurance that the products and services bearing the logo meet specific standards of environmental leadership and sustainable products.
Energy Star http://www.energystar.gov/
Energy Star is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices. You will typically see this rating on household products ranging from appliances, cooling and heating systems, home electronics, lighting and office equipment.
For the home, energy efficient choices can save families about a third on their energy bill with similar savings of greenhouse gas emissions, without sacrificing features, style or comfort. ENERGY STAR helps you make the energy efficient choice.
- When looking for new household products or a new home, look for ones that have earned the ENERGY STAR. They meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the EPA and US Department of Energy.
FSC http://www.fscus.org/
Forest Stewardship Council FSC is an independent, non-governmental, not for profit organization established to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests. Purchasing wood and wood products with this label gives the assurance that consideration of the environment and wildlife was given. The label can be seen on furniture, flooring materials, and wood building supplies.
Greenguard http://www.greenguard.org/
The mission of the Green guard Environmental Institute GEI is to improve public health through programs that improve indoor air quality. GEI was founded in June of 2001 to establish a true third-party product certification program based on proven emissions standards and to provide specifying and procurement professionals with a resource for low-emitting products.
LEED http://www.usgbc.org/
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), provides standards for environmentally sustainable construction.
LEED was created to accomplish the following:
- Define “green building” by establishing a common standard of measurement
- Promote integrated, whole-building design practices
- Recognize environmental leadership in the building industry
- Stimulate green competition
- Raise consumer awareness of green building benefits
- Transform the building market
Recycle
This symbol is recognized all over the world to designate recyclable materials. There are many versions of it but it is typically seen with three arrows moving around in an unending loop.
US Green Building Council http://www.usgbc.org
The U.S. Green Building Council is a 501(c) (3) non-profit community of leaders working to make green buildings available to everyone within a generation. Their mission is to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life.
VOC
Volatile organic compounds are organic chemical compounds that have high enough vapor pressures under normal conditions to significantly vaporize and enter the atmosphere. These compounds are found in cleaning products, paints, paint strippers and can seriously affect the indoor air quality. When purchasing these types of products, it is best to look for Zero-VOC or Low-VOC.
Water Sense http://www.epa.gov/watersense/
WaterSense is a partnership program sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a means to efficiently use water, save water, and protect the environment. The WaterSense label will be on water-efficient products such as faucets, sinks, urinals, toilets, showerheads, and landscape irrigation systems.
This article is written by Charisse Marie Colbert, an interior designer at CMC Design Studio www.cmcdesignstudio.com, practicing in Arizona.
