Interest in sustainable, green building practices is greater than ever. Whether concerned about allergies, energy costs, old-growth forests, or durability and long-term value, homeowners and builders are looking for ways to ensure that their homes are healthy, safe, beautiful, and efficient.

In these pages you'll find descriptions and manufacturer contact information for more than 1,400 environmentally preferable products and materials from ag-fiber panels to zero-VOC paints. All phases of residential construction, from sitework to flooring to renewable energy, are covered. Products are grouped by function, and each chapter begins with a discussion of key environmental considerations, and what to look for in a green product. Categories of products include:
Sitework and landscaping
Outdoor structures
Decking
Foundations, footers and slabs
Structural systems and components
Sheathing
Exterior finish and trim
Roofing
Doors and windows
Insulation
Flooring and floor coverings
Caulks and adhesives
Paints and coatings
Mechanical systems/HVAC
Plumbing, electrical and lighting
Appliances
Furniture and furnishings
Renewable energy
Distributors and retailers A miscellaneous section also lists products for hazardous materials testing and remediation, insect control, recycling, and wood products certification. An index of products and manufacturers makes for easy navigation. There is no more comprehensive resource for both the engaged homeowner, as well as all those who design and build homes.

Editor Alex Wilson has been researching and writing on energy-efficiency and sustainable design for over 25 years, and co-editor Mark Piepkorn has extensive experience with natural and traditional building methods. Alex is President of Building-Green, an authoritative source for information on environmentally responsible design and construction, which also publishes the GreenSpec Directory of green building products for architects and designers, and the leading sustainable building newsletter, Environmental Building News.