| Finishes
Design Considerations:
Natural or Recycled- Use water-based finishes made from natural
sealants.
Raw Materials Acquisition- Recyclability and recycling of materials is
essential and provisions should be made for the reuse of all products by the
manufacturer.
Raw Materials Processing and Manufacturing- Avoid using finishes
that require high amount of embodied energy to build and create a potential environmental
desecration through the chemical production, and transportation of
them. Criteria for
materials should be set to conserve resources. Questions such as: Is it
needed? Is there a substitute with lower mass and/or lower embodied energy?
Product Distribution- Use finishes that have been manufactured
locally in an "sustaining" manner, to avoid environmental impacts of
transportation. It reduces the embodied energy use because materials do not need to
be transported over long distances; it helps support local economies; it ensures
climatically appropriate solutions for that region; and it expresses the culture of the
community.
No / Low Emissions- Look for products that do not pollute
the air inside the building, or at least produce less pollution than conventional
products. Toxicity of materials should be carefully reviewed to protect indoor air
quality and the employees from suffering from off-gassing effects. Ceilings and walls
should be painted with a high reflectance, non-toxic paint to maximize light
quality. Consult all MSDS sheets in order to determine presence of harmful chemicals
in products, paying particular attention to exposure limits and known medical hazards.
Disposal & Renewability- Attempts should be made to use recyclable
or biodegradable materials.
Use finishes that have been manufactured locally in an "sustaining" manner,
to avoid environmental impacts of transportation
Tools:
Case Studies to Research:
Further Information:
-The Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings
-Primer on Sustainable Building
Rocky Mountain Institute
-The Green Pages: The Contract Interior Designer's Guide to Environmentally
Responsible Products and Materials.
Kim Nadel, C.I.D. & Andrew Fuston, Co-Authors
399 4th St., Brooklyn, NY 11215
-Interior Concerns Resource Guide
Victoria Schomer
131 W. Blithedale, Mill Valley, CA 94941
-Sourcebook for Sustainable Design
Boston Society of Architects
52 Broad St., Boston, MA. 02109 |
