10/6/2011

We will be taking the next couple of weeks to mention the green certifications, especially for products, that we find the most useful and accurate.  The fourth is Greenguard Certification.

Greenguard Environmental Institute (GEI) is a third-party organization that certifies products and materials for low chemical emissions and provides a resource for choosing healthier products and materials for indoor environments.  Greenguard certified products meet stringent chemical emissions standards based on established criteria from key public health agencies.  GREENGUARD Certification is broadly recognized and accepted by sustainable building programs including LEED.  GEI was founded in 2001 with the mission of improving human health and quality of life by enhancing indoor air quality and reducing people’s exposure to chemicals and other pollutants.

We find Greenguard to be a valuable tool for finding certified low-emitting materials and especially for furniture where there are fewer testing programs and certifications than common building materials.  The Greenguard website has a useful product search engine on their website to find a particular type or brand of material.