Building Clean works to increase the use of building products that are more efficient, less toxic, union-made, and manufactured in the United States.
The Challenge
When buildings are designed, built, and maintained to protect the health of people and the environment—and if the manufacturing of building products and materials create good-paying union jobs in the United States—then the wellbeing of people and communities will improve, especially for people of color.
The Opportunity
Building Clean works to increase the use of building products that are more efficient, less toxic, union-made, and manufactured in the United States. We aim to improve the physical, environmental, and economic health of communities and promote a more equitable future for all.
- Increase Efficiency: Investments in energy and water efficiency in buildings help protect our environment and lower utility bills.
- Create Good Jobs: Purchasing building products made by U.S. manufacturers—particularly union manufacturers—supports the creation of high-quality jobs. Dedicating tax dollars towards the purchase of U.S.-made building products for building efficiency improvements helps maximize the economic benefits of these investments in communities.
- Improve Health and Equity: Using building products that are free from hazardous chemicals invests in the health of workers and residents. The selection of building products that won’t create or exacerbate health conditions for residents; can also support local economies through the creation of good-paying union jobs.
What is on BuildingClean.org?
Manufacturers of energy and water-efficient building products.
Our database contains thousands of manufacturing sites across the United States producing a wide range of building products in 10 market sectors: appliances and water heaters; building enclosure; heating, ventilation and air conditioning; insulation; joint sealants; lighting; plumbing; roofing; windows, doors and skylights; and water filtration.
These manufacturers are searchable by product type, CSI code, product material, state, and zip code, which makes it easy to locate those products made closest to your project location. With the advanced search you can identify which locations have union workers, are foreign or domestically owned, as well as their MWDBE (Minority, Women Disadvantaged Business Enterprise) status.
Building products with energy, water, and health certifications and ingredient disclosures—so you know what’s in them and any potential health hazards.
Through our partnership with Ecomedes, Building Clean provides access to information on thousands of efficient and healthier building products. Search options include Energy Star and WaterSense certified products, multiple products with ecolabels and certifications, and products that qualify for LEED, Living BuildingChallenge (LBC)—which both incentivize or require local sourcing in their criteria—WELL, and Green Globes building certifications.
Information and resources on hazardous chemicals in building products and how product choices can impact health and economic outcomes in communities of color.
Building Clean helps people make informed decisions about hazardous chemicals, the potential health consequences residents and workers face from exposure to these chemicals, and how to avoid exposure through informed installation and substituting hazardous products for healthier ones.
We also help foster a better understanding of the health inequities that exist among disadvantaged populations as a result of living in old, inefficient housing; why good union manufacturing jobs are a path to the middle-class; and how we can improve health and economic outcomes for communities as we invest in efficiency in affordable housing.
Key Facts
10 market sectors The manufacturer database found on BuildingClean.org includes searchable data for 10 different market sectors. (Source)
170,000 U.S. Manufacturing Jobs Increasing the rate of residential deep retrofits across the nation coupled with the implementation of Buy American procurement policies could create more than 170,000 U.S. manufacturing jobs. (Source)
33 States 33 states require or incentivize projects to include third-party green building certifications in their Qualified Allocation Plans (QAP), a majority of which prioritize the use of healthier building materials. (Source)