If you are confused when it comes to green building products and the claims that are being made by their manufacturers, you are not the only one. Navigating the complex world behind green products and the claims that they make is not always easy, but it has become necessary in this day and age.

While there is still a lot of work that needs to be done when it comes to establishing reliable standards for green products and the attributes that define them, there is good news: There are a large number of really dedicated people that are working hard on this particular problem, and there are already a large number of resources that are available to help people like you find the right comfort level when using third party verifications of these products and the green product claims that they make. When you understand the complexities behind the selection of green products, and you understand how these products are certified and labeled, then you can better choose the right products.

Ultimately, whether you are getting information about green products from your local supplier, from the manufacturer directly or through surfing on the internet, the most critical thing that you can do is to trust your source and to understand the criteria that stands behind the recommendations that are being made to you.

Greenwash Factor: Greenwashing is what you have when companies make false, exaggerated or misleading claims, whether intentionally or unintentionally. There are some ways to determine whether or not greenwashing is being perpetrated. Is the claim being made obviously false, or is it irrelevant or unrelated to the product at hand? Is the claim so generic that it doesn't make sense, or does it only address a single feature when other features are being ignored? If you cannot verify a claim online, then greenwashing is obviously being perpetrated.

Independence Levels: Who is backing up the green product claims that are being made? First party certifications are made by directly associated parties such as manufacturers, second party certifications are made by outside organizations with financial interests in the product, and third party independence levels are made by unbiased parties. Knowing where the certification is coming from should help you make a better decision, but not enough to make a concrete one.

So what is the best course of action here? There is no single solution to this problem, at least not yet. Trying to select a single green product is just the same as trying to select a non green product. Use the criteria that you have here to evaluate, but create your own criteria as well. If there is not yet a certification process in place for a product you seek, you will have to rely on your own personal greenwash radar in order to filter out improper and unrealistic claims that are thrown at you. The system of independently verified claims for green products will eventually sort itself out.

Photo Credits: sreenisreedharan

Originally posted 2009-07-20 14:16:58. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Related Posts

• Counting Down to Quality There are five common errors that builders make in the efficiency of energy, resources and health. There are far too many green builders out there that are completely missing the mark. There are five mistakes that are being perpetrated, but that you can avoid easily with the right know-how. #5:......
• Ten Tips Toward a More Eco Friendly Home Tip 1 - Turn the lights off any time that they are not needed, even if you are just moving from room to room in the course of your day. According to Energy Star, as much as 20 percent of a home's overall energy use comes from its lighting. Using......
• Insulated Vinyl Siding's Green Performance Documented in New Study Recent studies that have been sponsored on the behalf of NYSERDA, insulated vinyl siding has demonstrated that it contributes to energy consumption savings as well as savings in CO2 emissions and energy costs, which means that insulated vinyl siding is capable of outperforming fiber cement when these environmental measures and......
• Green Building Materials Green Construction is the practice of building in a way that increases efficiency of the use of materials like energy, water and other materials and resources while reducing the impact on human health and the environment during the process of building through more efficient design, site selection, construction, operation, maintenance......
• Quick and Easy Steps to Green Remodeling For a lot of home remodelers, the idea of going green can be absolutely overwhelming. Luckily, there is a wealth of information out there, and just because you are not already implementing these ideas, that does not mean you're too far behind to make some leeway. According to leading remodelers......

Related Websites

• Armani Code By Giorgio Armani For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 4.2 Oz. User Reviews Send this to a friend Armani Code By Giorgio Armani For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 4.2 Oz. Manufacturer: Customer Rating: List Price: Varies based on product options Sale Price: View Sale Price Availibility: View Product Availability Buy Now Product Description Product Details No details are available......
• Champ Scorpion Stinger Q-Lok Set of 18 Spikes User Reviews Send this to a friend Champ Scorpion Stinger Q-Lok Set of 18 Spikes Manufacturer: Customer Rating: List Price: Varies based on product options Sale Price: View Sale Price Availibility: View Product Availability Buy Now Product Description Product Details No details are available for this product Video Reviews......
• 22OZ CLEAN COTTON YANKEE CANDLE User Reviews Send this to a friend 22OZ CLEAN COTTON YANKEE CANDLE Manufacturer: Customer Rating: List Price: Varies based on product options Sale Price: View Sale Price Availibility: View Product Availability Buy Now Product Description Product Details No details are available for this product Video Reviews No video reviews......
• Golf Cart Cup Holder Mount for Sonocaddie GPS User Reviews Send this to a friend Golf Cart Cup Holder Mount for Sonocaddie GPS Manufacturer: Customer Rating: List Price: Varies based on product options Sale Price: View Sale Price Availibility: View Product Availability Buy Now Product Description Product Details No details are available for this product Video Reviews......
• The Baja Catch: A Fishing, Travel & Remote Camping Manual for Baja California (3rd Edition) User Reviews Send this to a friend The Baja Catch: A Fishing, Travel & Remote Camping Manual for Baja California (3rd Edition) Manufacturer: Customer Rating: List Price: Varies based on product options Sale Price: View Sale Price Availibility: View Product Availability Buy Now Product Description Product Details No details......

Online Stores

• Concrete Tools Hand Tools Tools & Light Equipment Green Construction Store
• Sanders Tools & Light Equipment Green Construction Store
• Patricia Wexler M.D. Anti-Aging Products Skin Care Store
• Christian Dior Anti-Aging Products Skin Care Store
• Insulation Building Materials & Supplies Green Construction Store

If you liked this article, vote for it on del.icio.us and stumbleupon.



Categories:

Going Green Tips, Green Construction

Tags:

attributes, certifications, complexities, green building products, greenwashing, misleading claims, product claims, surfing on the internet, third party, verifications