Green Guide

On top of all the other things to consider when designing or building a home, there's increasing interest in the environmental impact of the materials. But each material carries its own set of environmental burdens and benefits, and accurate information can be hard to find. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Environmental Resource Guide (ERG) is probably the most detailed reference available on the environmental impact of building systems and materials. The ERG is meant to help designers make environmentally informed choices when selecting building materials. The ERG analyzes materials on a generic basis and doesn't tell you which product or material to use. Instead, it presents information that lets you make your own informed decisions.

The publication is organized into project reports, application reports and material reports. Project reports show how designers have integrated environmental principles into their buildings. Application reports compare the different materials that can be used for a given application. For example, one report provides guidelines for choosing between wood and steel framing, and for reducing the amount of whatever material you do choose. Material reports consider the environmental effects of building products over their entire life cycle. The reports look at how a material is manufactured; how it's installed and used in a building; and how it's reused, recycled, or disposed of when the building is renovated or demolished.

The Environmental Resource Guide CD-ROM can be purchased online through the Oikos Bookstore