ecotecture.GIF (12664 bytes)
Department of   Design and Environmental Analysis,
Cornell University
  1. External Considerations

  2. Core & Envelope

  3. Indoor Ecology

  4. Material/Product Content

  5. Ecotecture Worksheets

  6. Additional  information.

  7. Case Studies

Use the table of contents to go directly to specific topics:

 

 

Material/Product Content

 When specifying the materials within a building, it is important to consider more than just their appearance and cost.  When correctly specified and installed, building products can be used to reduce energy consumption, resource depletion and toxicity of the indoor environment.  Truly sustainable materials and products must limit both the global environmental impact as well as any possible human health hazards throughout their life cycle.  Sustainable materials need to be evaluated according to the following four stages:

- Raw material acquisition and processing/manufacturing
- Packaging and distribution
- Installation and use
- Resource recovery

 

 

 

 

© Cornell University, December, 1998