Hunting for a universal prod ucts database

In the recent past, a common criticism of green building rating systems organizations is that they also failed to provide relevant product information. The National Alliance of Home Builders is creating a database of products that its Research Center has evaluated and approved for use in its National Green Product Standard program. However, it is virtually useless at this stage, with a clunky interface and only a handful of products listed.

On the other hand, the GreenHomeGuide.com, founded in 2003 and acquired by the U.S. Green Building Council in 2008, is not a simple directory of products. The site is

. based on expert advice delivered as focused "Know How" pieces, or as answers to inquiries in the "Ask a Pro" sec- tion. This kind of contextual information about products u. and materials can be extremely valuable for gaining knowlf souNn LrKE my grandpa, but today's green merchandis- :9q:,,ubout the category' alternatives' performance' and installation issues that simple databases will not provide.

Back in my day-2005-there were few residential y-hle it offers no product directory' per se' it does link to green building prog.urn, or product standards to .onrurt. theGreenSpec directory' online lists and databases of verified products *... tp".t.- , , Jn"tt are other product lists and directories worth a ly populated and behind the marker. when I *;;i;J;" look-' too' Product certifying organizations such as develop a green merchandising program, it *"r " "tt"rr"ng"

Scientific certification Systems (www'scscertified'com) we met only by doing lots of extra work vetting p."a"J,r list -certified products on their websites' But the need for ourselves and assembling our own databas". fi;fi;;r flltte' transparent product information is huge and still methodology wourd be easy fbr non-experts t"l-piE-*1, litF,:]y unmet' New online directories have emerged to try rhe burden on a typical merchandising o"purtrn.nt;;;i;;; loit:l,th" gap' one of the best designed attempts to provide roo grear. D --r--------'- a LEED-oriented directory of products is EcoScoreThankfully, the last several years have seen tremendous card com' but it's still too young to be comprehensive' maturation in the green building sector. rir" i*iir tt"". Green building culture values transparency and thirdbeen blazed and today's merchandisernunug.rr-h;; u party verification' which has led to greater focus on life growingnumberofinfLrmationreSourceS"tth;ill;;";"i.?:f'"ii1y,:l.tl9'1]:l1"H:T: Bur rrails are trails, and until sustainability lr ;'f"llt 1"1'-ul product declarations (EPD) marure, mainstream superhighway (ironiJ ;h;;. ;i as a standard method for manufacmetaphor, I know), succLssful merchandise^ -rri r,irr lY-t:f t" communicate the sustaininveJt time in evaluating their green proou.r.troi..r. ability profile of their products' If There is still no universaigreen pioduct database. or ,h. y-t9:-ly adopted' such standardized other hand, there are a small number or uutuull" "rri". product data would make develop- ;:*::^;,: ment of a universal database fearesources that make the process of identifying "greenest in ",',:l'"' 4 u'rvurJ.r udrauarv ruaclass" producrs a lirtle eaiie.. "

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The GreenSpec database from BuildingGreen.com has lt:.d"d in order to create been one of the most trusted sources of greJn proJuct infor mf 11;tream scale at the mation for years. The editors evaluaG proau"ir uguinr, 1e131] eno o,l',1"-,ct""n ;i;;i;;;;#t'g1., i.il.i" and avoid u..uiutton, orTi;r;; building supplv chain' favoritism by not accepting advertising or listing fees. It's not a comprehensive list, but the products listed are often

Jay'Tompt

I best in class. BuildingGreen also offers news and analysis, william #:;Jt;Tri#1ffi: I making it a valuable resource that every dealer and distrib- (415) 321-0848 utor in the green building space should utilize regularly.

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lp6 Flowing Again from Brazil

Redwood Empire sister company Exmam (Exportadora de Madeiras Amaz6nica Ltda), Belem, Brazil, has resumed production, due to improving market conditions.

The operation, purchased by Pacific States Investment Group in 2001, allows Morgan Hill, Ca.-based Redwood Empire to remain in the forefront as the only U.S.-owned and operated ip6 producer and exporter in South America.

Empire, DeWalt Break Pact

DeWalt and Empire Level are discontinuing the DeWalt branded line of professional box levels designed and manufactured by Empire.

Although the products reportedly have sold well since their launch one year ago, an Empire competitorStanley Tools-acquired DeWalt during 2010.

Trinity River Fires Up Rebuilt Sawmill

Trinity River Lumber Co., Weaver- ter products in either green Douglas fir ville, Ca., starts up its rebuilt sawmill or a true white fir, in lengths 8' to 20'. this month, l7 months after a devastat- FSC will be available by request. ing fire.

Other products include 2x4 S4S

The new state-of-the-art facility green Douglas fir, 4x4 through 4x12 will specialize in wane-free home cen- timbers, and stud lengths.

Empire president Jenni Becker said, "We're disappointed that this agreement didn't work out as planned, but we certainly understand that a partner who becomes a direct competitor through acquisition is an untenable situation, and we're pleased that an amicable resolution has been reached."

Jerry's Converts to ESOP

Jerry's Home Improvement, with stores in Eugene and Springfield, Or., has become a federal Employee Stock Ownership Plan company.

"For our family, it was difficult to move in this direction, but we think it's the right thing to do and we feel really good about the benefits to our team members," said Dennis Orem, who will remain c.e.o. and answer to the same board of directors.

Employees of the 50-year-old company will eventually have to pay the Orems for the company, but the deal was arranged so payments will come from company profits, rather than costly bank loans.

"We think that's in the best interest of the business, rather than strapping it with some kind of a debt burden that may or may not be reasonable," Orem explained.

"If we were to sell out to some outof-town company," he continued, "we would no longer exist regardless of who bought us. We were really interested in continuing Jerry's as it has been, and employee ownership was the best way to do that."