New Reports Offer Guidance for Selecting Sustainable, Low-Carbon Building Products

Perkins&Will, in collaboration with the Healthy Building Network, has released two reports aimed at transforming the way architects and designers select sustainable, low-carbon gypsum drywall, flooring and insulation.

Gypsum drywall and flooring, have a notable environmental footprint during production and transport and can also emit hazardous chemicals. Similarly, insulation can negatively impact the environment by releasing greenhouse gases throughout its lifecycle and can contain toxic chemicals that migrate into interior spaces.

The reports, titled “Embodied Carbon and Material Health in Gypsum Drywall and Flooring” and “Embodied Carbon and Material Health in Insulation,” provide guidance for designers and architects to choose the best materials that take these two concerns into consideration.

Key highlights from the reports include:

Optimized Products for Material Health and Embodied Carbon: The reports show that products which improve material health and embodied carbon are available across all the examined product categories: flooring, gypsum drywall and insulation.

Screening for Optimized Product Types: Professionals are advised to first screen for optimized product types before selecting specific products. The biggest improvements can be made by selecting different product types within a product category.

Navigating Potential Contradictions: Acknowledging that embodied carbon and material health considerations are sometimes contradictory, the reports emphasize the importance of reviewing the provided guidance to make informed decisions.

For more information, visit perkinswill.com.