1. Purchasing Green What Does it Mean?
University of Nebraska Lincoln Extension
Lorene Bartos
Shirley Niemeyer
Carroll Welte
NOTE: This power point could be split into two shorter segments by using the first few slides and then starting at the slide with the logos # 15
Add your name to the presentation when you use it. For questions about the program, contact Shirley Niemeyer, , or Carroll Welte, UNL Extension in Burt County, Carroll S Welte/Northest/IANR/UNEBR; or Lorene Bartos, Lorene Bartos/Southest/IANR/UNEBR, UNL Extension in Lancaster County. Please use the evaluation sheet provided and return it to Kathleen Lodl as noted on the form. Thank you.
Permission was obtained to use the logos shown in this power point and HEF593. Wording in the document HEF593 was reviewed by the organization or group/government contact sponsoring the certification program.

2. Why Green and Sustainable?
U.S., with 5% of world’s population, uses about 26% of world’s energy
Buildings use about 1/3 of the energy
consumed in U.S. and 2/3rds of all electricity
Source: U.S. Department of Energy
Building design, construction, operation, & maintenance have a large impact on our environment & natural resources.

3. Why Green & Sustainable?
Homes account for. . .
About 21% of electrical energy consumption
About one-fifth of greenhouse gas missions from burning fossils fuels
21% of the carbon dioxide emissions

4. Why Green & Sustainable?
Growth in CO2 emissions from housing is about 32.7% of total
increase in U.S. energy-related CO2 emissions since 1990.
Improving energy efficiency of homes, practices, & products can
save money
conserve resources
avoid more greenhouse gas emissions (DOE; July 2005).

5. What Does “Green” & “Sustainable” Mean?
No standardized definition of “green” - it is not regulated.
Here “green” refers to . . .
Adopting environmental management practices & products to minimize damaging impact on the environment from resource depletion & pollution (Tzschentke, Kirk, & Lynch, 2008).
Green terms can be confusing. Think “environmentally preferable” products & services to reduce pollution, and that have less effect on human health and the environment

6. “Sustainability” includes….
Ensuring our actions & decisions today do not hinder the opportunities of future generations
Looking at how we get the resources we use
Using only what is needed in a way to get the most from them
Eliminating idea of waste

7. “Sustainability” includes….
Using natural resources very efficiently without destroying the ecological balance of an area, region, or world & depleting or wasting natural resources
Source:

8. Shades of Green
Almost everything we buy, use, or have in our homes has some environmental impact.
Few things we use are totally “green.”
Example
Bamboo Flooring
Is it greener?
It is up to you to protect yourself from being misled by false claims. Few things are totally green.
Is bamboo flooring green? Bamboo is said to be renewable and sustainable coming from quick growth plants that regrow rapidly. However, in some areas of the world, it is being over harvested, and habitats for animals are being destroyed. Shipping from other countries uses energy as it is harvested, transported, stored, and sent to manufacturers to process. More shipping and then to retailers and finally to your home. All of those processes use energy and contribute to green house gases. In addition, some bamboo flooring has been made with formaldehyde containing adhesives creating problems with indoor air quality in the home. Few things are totally green. If purchasing bamboo, ask for bamboo with less on no formaldehyde added into adhesives.

9. 5 Principles of Greener
Energy Efficiency – Reduce amount of energy required to operate home
Resource Efficiency - Reduce resources used in building, modifying, & maintaining the home
Water Conservation – Maximize efficient use of water in & around the home
Indoor Environmental Quality - Create a healthier indoor environment for occupants
Site & Community Impact - Consider the impact of the materials & the home on the land & immediate community, global community, & environment
Permission granted for use by Minnesota GreenStar®
These five principles of greener include energy efficiency, resource efficiency, water conservation, indoor environmental quality and site and community impact. When we talk about green – we can talk about being greener than another choice.

10. Greenwashing is...
Excessive claims for the process or product beyond what the environmental benefits really are.
These may include:
Misleading consumers about environmental practices of a company or environmental benefits of products or services. Vague wording & claims.
Implementing minimal actions & claiming strong environmental stewardship. Irrelevant claims.
Lacking information or proof of claims or third party independent certification.

11. Buying “Green” & Thinking Sustainability
Consider these questions in making decisions about products & materials.
Is item a need or a want?
Is item durable, repairable, & if maintained, will it last?
Are raw materials from local or regional resources?
How will its use or disposal impact the environment? Can it be reused or recycled?

12. What do Material Safety Data Sheets & labels
What do Material Safety Data Sheets & labels say about safety or hazards?
Are certification labels present? Who certifies & based on what criteria?
Will item perform without electricity? Consider mechanical hand–operated products.
Could item be purchased with a friend or neighbor for shared use?
Is item being used in an efficient
way & according to directions?

13. Your thoughts?
How can consumers have less impact on the environment & use fewer natural resources?
How can consumers
make greener choices?

14. Challenges to Selecting products & materials that are greener or have less environmental impact:
Finding businesses that offer products with less environmental impact
Time to research product or process
Having limited knowledge or resources to research a practice or item
Initial higher costs for some items
Although some products do have higher costs, they may last longer over time and/or cost of operation may be less thus saving operating dollars.

15. LOTS OF ECO-LABELS!
European Union
Eco-Label
Confused by the “green” marketing and labels? Explore purchasing “green” and taking “greener” actions to save energy and resources, and determining if products are indeed “green” or just part of the hype. The tools presented will help you evaluate the claims, and identify products and practices that may be more sustainable and less damaging to people and the environment. The focus is home energy, practices, and products. There are many Eco-labels on various types of products for the home. It is difficult to know what they mean and when they are actually backed by testing and evaluation. Some are third-party certified and are tested and evaluated to meet rigid standards. Others may be evaluated or tested within the company itself with no independent third-party testing.

16. Labels & Specification Sheets
Address these challenges by. . .
Reading labels
Looking for third party environmental certification
Asking for the product specification sheet or more information
There are many eco-labels that are provided by third-party institutions or by testing and evaluation. Most certification is voluntary and many manufacturers may not submit their product for evaluation. However, the certifications can provide the consumer with more information about the product or process of manufacturing to make more informed choices.

17. Household Products Database http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/faq.htm
One source of information about products is the Household Products Database by the National Institute of Health. Search by product type or manufacturer or brand name. Provides information on ingredients and health effects.

18. MSDS – Materials Safety Data Sheet http://hazard.com/msds/
Many products such as solvents, cleaners, maintenance products, etc. have MSDS sheets providing information on ingredients, use, potential hazards, storage, emergencies, etc.
Ask for the MSDS sheet when you buy a product
Search the web for on-line product MSDS sheets
One source for finding Material Safety Data Sheets to make more informed decisions about the ingredients and safety is this website. There are other sources. In some businesses, you may be able to ask for the material safety data sheet or ask them to obtain it for you. Searching the web for the product name and brand and the material safety data sheet may provide you with the MSMS sheet.

19. Government Certification Program Examples. EPA WaterSense
Government Certification Program Examples EPA WaterSense FTC EnergyGuide EPA/DOE ENERGY STAR®

20. Water Sense U.S. EPA voluntary certification program
High performing water–efficient products
independently tested & certified to meet
EPA standards.
Product or service is 20% more efficient
Low-flow devices
Duel flush toilet
Waterless urinal
The WaterSense logo indicates the product is about 20 % more efficient than its counterpart or another similar product that is not rated. Program is voluntary - some products may be as efficient but have not submitted to EPA to be labeled with the WaterSense logo.

21. EnergyGuide Labels Federal Trade Commission’s Appliance
Labeling Rule requires EnergyGuide labels, on clothes
washers, dishwashers, freezers, refrigerators, room air conditioners, water heaters, furnaces, boilers, central air conditioners, and heat pumps
Appliances must meet the US Department of Energy (DOE) Appliance Standards Program
Manufacturers must use standard testing procedures to prove the product’s energy use and efficiency
The EnergyGuide label is a required informational label on specific appliances and equipment. Use the efficiency comparison ratings and the cost of operating to compare similar size and features of appliances and equipment. Actual costs will vary according to rates and use.

22. EnergyGuide Labels Label provides a scale to compare
energy usage of similar models &
approximate annual operating costs
Shows the highest & lowest energy consumption or efficiency estimates of similar appliance models based on DOE test procedures & where the model falls on the scale
Use guide to compare energy use & cost of operating for similar sized models with similar functions

23. ENERGYSTAR® ENERGY STAR label means product meets
or exceeds the increased energy efficiency
guidelines set by U.S. EPA & U.S. DOE
for that product line.
Program includes more than 40 home product categories including . . .
Heating & cooling equipment
Windows
Roof products
Home electronics/appliances
Lighting/fixtures
Insulation and more.
The Energy Star label appears on many different types of home products. It is designed to identify more energy efficient products in the category line. The product line specifications for a product category or line must be a significant improvement over the national average for that product category or line. EPA and DOE continue to upgrade the standards as categories become more efficient and may increase the expectancy level of efficiency that must be met.

24. Organization Certification
Program Examples
NFRC for windows
Green Seal Carpet & Rug Institute Art & Creative Materials Institute Sustainable Forest Initiative Forest Stewardship Council GREENGAURD
These are some of the organizations that offer voluntary certification.

25. National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) label - Windows www. nfrc
National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) label - Windows Actual ratings at
Compare energy ratings
U-value: a lower U-value = window
insulates better
Solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC)
Visible light transmittance
ENERGY STAR windows must
be NFRC rated.
The NFRC label appears on some windows and can be used to compare the insulative value, solar heat gain, visible light that is transmitted and air leakage rating. The web site can be used to compare different types of windows from various manufacturers – double hung, casements etc. and to compare double or triple glazed and various gases for higher performing windows. You can find the actual ratings of various types and brands of windows at:

26. Windows NFRC label NFRC label - voluntary program
Lower U-value means better insulated. Select .32 or below if possible
Select air leakage rating of about 0.3 cubic ft/min. or less
Select low-e (low emissivity) & selective coatings for climate
Compare SHGC – Solar Heat Gain Coefficient for climate & orientation (.30 to .60)
The label will show the U-value, the air leakage rate per cubic foot per minute, and the solar heat gain coefficient. If you do not understand the label ask the sales person to explain it. If no label is shown, ask to see the specification sheet for the U-value, air leakage rate, etc.
Label example

27. Green Seal
Independent non-profit organization, issues environmental seals of approval for consumer products to identify those products that are less harmful to the environment than others in the same category.

28. Green Seal Product Environmental Impact Evaluation
done to identify product characteristic
& points in manufacturing process
that could cause significant
environmental harm
Standard addresses toxic chemical pollution, energy consumption, depletion & pollution of water resources, harm to wildlife and natural areas, natural resource waste, & global warming
Products only certified after testing & evaluation, including on-site plant visits.
Green Seal does a Product Impact Evaluation to identify product characteristic and points in the manufacturing process that could cause significant environmental harm.
The standards address such things as toxic chemical pollution, energy consumption, depletion and pollution of water, harm to wildlife and natural areas, and natural resource waste. Products only become Green Seal certified after testing and/or evaluation including onsite plant visits.

29. Carpet & Rug Institute Green Label & Green Label Plus
Carpet & Adhesive Testing
Green Label - 7 chemicals
Green Label Plus Carpet chemicals measured:
Acetaldehyde
Benzene
Caprolactam
2-Ethylhexanoic Acid
Formaldehyde
1-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidinone
Naphthalene Nonanal Octanal 4-Phenylcyclohexene Styrene Toluene Vinyl Acetate
The Green Label for carpets tests for seven chemicals. The Green Label Plus carpet program measures 13 different chemicals for levels. They also test for 15 chemicals in adhesives. The Green Label Plus program is an enhanced version of the Green Label program. The carpets under go an initial 24 hour test and a 14 - day test. The Green Label Plus helps consumers identify carpet with lower emissions of VOCs to help improve indoor air quality. It is an enhancement to the CRI Green Label Carpet Testing Program. By selecting Green Label Plus carpet or adhesive, the product is one of the lowest or lower emitting products on the market. Tests are performed by independent labs.
The CRI Seal of Approval program , identified by the round logo, identifies effective carpet cleaning solutions and equipment that clean carpet the first time and protect a facility’s carpet investment.

30. Art & Creative Materials Institute - ACMI
Non-profit association of art & craft manufacturers
All children's materials certified by ACMI are non-toxic & cannot bear health warning labels
Identifies art materials that are safe & certified in a toxicological evaluation by a medical expert to contain no materials in quantities to be toxic or injurious to humans, including children, or to cause acute or chronic health problems 
The Art and Creative Materials Institute, Inc. (ACMI), is a non-profit association of manufacturers of art, craft, and other creative materials. All children's materials certified by ACMI are non-toxic and cannot bear health warning labels.  The new AP (Approved Product) Seal, with or without Performance Certification, identifies art materials that are safe and certified in a toxicological evaluation by a medical expert to contain no materials in quantities to be toxic or injurious to humans, including children, or to cause acute or chronic health problems.  When buying art and craft products for children’s use, read the label and look for the AP logo.

31. Sustainable Forest Initiative - SFI
Independent org. focused on
supporting responsible forestry
Certification standard is based on principles
to promote sustainable forest mgt.
SFI certified content labels show some/all of
product’s fiber comes from certified forests
Certified fiber sourcing labels show product
contains fiber from responsible sources & was
obtained in accordance with SFI Standards
The Sustainable Forest Initiative is an independent organization focused on promoting sustainable forest management. The SFI “certified content” labels show that some or all of the product’s fiber content comes from forests that are certified . The certified fiber sourcing label shows that the product contains fibers from responsible sources and was obtained in accordance with the SFI Standard. . SFI's chain-of-custody certification helps to identify the percent certified and/or recycled content in a product. The forest certification standard is based on principles to promote sustainable forest management, including measures to protect water quality, biodiversity, wildlife habitat, and species at risk. Harvested areas must be reforested promptly. They offer third-party certified wood from well-managed forests. Only 10 % of the world’s forests are certified. Foresters, conservationists, scientists, and others developed their 34 performance measures and 102 indicators..

32. Forest Stewardship Council (FCS) www.fscus.org
FCS is an independent not-for-profit organization promoting environmentally responsible management of world’s forests
Voluntary label indicates item comes from FSC certified forests, recycled or other controlled materials
For certification, FSC defines 10 principles that describe how forests have to be managed
Independent certification bodies assess forest management and chain of custody operations against the Forest Stewardship Council standards.

33. GREENGUARD Environmental Institute
GREENGUARD 3rd Party Certification Standards for:
Low-chemical Emission Products
Indoor Air Quality
Schools
Building Construction Microbial Resistance Listing Program
Established performance based standards to define goods with low chemical & particle emissions for
use indoors
GreenGuard focuses on improving indoor air quality by certifying products for low chemical emissions. Certified products can be found at GreenGuard address indoor air quality, schools with children and also microbial (mold etc.) resistance in building construction.

34. GREENGUARD Focus on IAQ & building construction for preventing mold
Primarily 3rd Party Certification
System for low-emitting …
Interior building materials
Furniture, finishing systems
Personal care products
Interior furnishings
Cleaning & maintenance products
Electronic equipment
The product categories include paints, flooring, furniture, interior building materials and cleaners. Products are tested and verified to meet the indoor air quality standards they set. The US Green Building Council’s LEED program and others recognize and/or accept their certification.

35. Testing & Certification & Commercial Labeling Programs
Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool – EPEAT
Scientific Certification System – SCS
Indoor Air Quality Program
SCS Indoor Advantage Gold
SCS Certified Recycled
Resilient Flooring Institutes FloorScore Program
Other testing and certification programs are available. Examples of those include the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool or EPEAT. Scientific Certification Systems provides third party certification, auditing and testing services for organizations or manufacturers. The programs include Indoor Air Quality, the SCS Indoor Advantage Gold and the SCS Certified Recycled among others.

36. Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT)
- “search product registry”
Focuses on computers, monitors
Expanding to printers/copiers, TVs etc.
Product must meet 23 environmental performance criteria or attributes
Compared to traditional, EPEAT-registered products are to
Have reduced levels of lead, cadmium, & mercury
Be more energy efficient
Be easier to upgrade & recycle
EPEAT is managed by a nonprofit organization – the Green Electronics Council.

37. Scientific Certification System
SCS provides 3rd- party certification, auditing & testing services, & standards
Where standards require lab testing, SCS works with independent labs
SCS offers standards-based product certification for green building products

38. Scientific Certification System
Manufacturers can earn certification for one aspect of a product’s environmental impact such as recycled content, biodegradable products, no added formaldehyde, indoor air quality AND/OR for multiple environmental performance attributes
The certified product database is available at their website

39. SCS Indoor Air Quality Offers Indoor Advantage & Indoor Advantage Gold
Focuses on furniture, paints and coatings, sealants & adhesives, wall coverings, insulation, furnishings & other interior products
Certification for Gold includes documentation review, on-site audit of manufacturing plant, laboratory testing of product test samples, & compliance with indoor air quality emissions standards

40. SCS Certified Recycled
Material content certification
assessment services for products made from recycled or biodegradable materials.
Recycled content products are made from materials that would otherwise have been discarded.
Assessment consists of a desk audit, an on-site SCS audit & in some cases, lab testing.

41. Floorscore Resilient Floor Covering Institute’s
FloorScore® Testing & Certification
for compliance with IAQ emissions for
Hard surface & resilient flooring
Flooring adhesives
VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) are evaluated
FloorScore® certifies products that do not exceed one-half of the allowable concentration limits
Products bearing the label meet the indoor air emissions criteria of LEED Green Building Rating Systems. The FloorScore seal labeled products have been independently certified by SCS to comply with the VOC criteria nationwide.

42. LEED - Leadership in Energy & Environmental Designs
Green building rating system
Nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction & operation of high performance green buildings
Logo used in newly constructed homes or major rehab projects that are being designed & built to be certified as meeting the criteria
LEED & related logo is a trademark owned by the U.S. Green Building Council & is used by permission.
The LEED logo appears on buildings including homes that have been constructed to meet the design, construction and operation of higher performance green buildings. Major rehab products for existing homes may become certified if they meet the multiple criteria. For more information:

43. Take Home Message Developing a Greener Lifestyle is Essential
Sustainable Practices are (in)valuable
Environmental & Social Responsibility are increasingly important
Everyone can become greener
Start small & simple!
Being greener can also
save your green!

44. Purchasing Green What Does it Really Mean?