As designers and builders continue to embrace the practice of sustainable design, specified products continue to play a big role. Whether the design team is focused on long-term economic design that incorporates sustainable principals or if they are striving for third-party certification, sustainable products are being specified into more and more projects.

Green products can be in every category, to that end we included most products submitted without judging or evaluating their “greenness.” But, we did ask manufacturers if their products comply with the standards for the Living Building Challenge (LBC), have been specified on a USGBC LEED-certified project (LEED), or on a GBI Green Globes-rated project (GG) and have indicated this below.

In a response to an open invitation from Structural Engineer, a number of companies provided the following information about their products. Company web addresses are provided for immediate access to additional information. To participate in Structural Engineer Specifiers Guides, visit www.gostructural.com/specguide

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According to AEC Software (www.aecsoftware.com), with FastTrack Schedule 9, it’s easy to keep crews on schedule and projects on track. Get started quickly with QuickStart templates including LEED project templates, and live instructor-led e-Training classes just for engineers. LEED

Aegis Metal Framing (www.aegismetalframing.com) provides pre-fabricated cold-formed steel truss and panel systems, and services for commercial construction. Ultra-Span products can assist in achieving LEED credits. LBC, LEED

Ainsworth Group of Companies (www.ainsworthengineered.com) offers AinsworthEngineered Thermastrand Radiant Barrier Roof Sheathing for energy efficient projects and LEED credits. Panels feature an aluminum facing that blocks up to 97 percent of the radiant heat that hits a roof, keeping spaces up to 30 degrees cooler and saving up to 20 percent on cooling costs. LEED

According to the American Institute of Steel Construction (www.aisc.org), the perfect green construction material would be: made of recycled material, be highly recycled or reused at the end of its life in a way so as not to lose any of its physical properties, have a comparably small contribution to the carbon footprint of a project, and continually strive to become even greener. Structural steel is the premier green construction material. LEED, GG

The American Concrete Institute (ACI, www.concrete.org) has a number of green resources for its members and customers, including reports and guides on sustainable concrete. Topics include pervious concrete; the use of fly ash, slag, and silica fume in concrete; and recycled concrete. Find out more at www.green.concrete.org LEED

Autodesk’s (www.autodesk.com) Revit Structure software enables structural engineers to minimize waste and maximize the re-use of materials through BIM. LEED

Canam Steel Corporation (www.canam-steeljoists.ws) engineers and manufactures open-web steel SJI and special joists, trusses and other steel construction components, all eligible for LEED and other green building credits. Canam is committed to helping our customers achieve these credits by seeking local sources and providing the documentation needed. LEED

CMC Joist & Deck (www.cmcjd.com) manufactures products that offer recycled content values of more than 95 percent for our steel joists and 23 percent for our steel deck. We operate seven joist plants and three deck plants that serve all areas of the United States and offer products that typically qualify as regional materials for LEED. LEED

Smartbeam, the intelligent alternative for long-span floor construction and long-span roof applications, is produced by CMC Steel Products (www.cmcsteelproducts.com). Produced from recycled materials, and offered in both cellular and castellated forms, the Smartbeam improves the efficiency of standard steel shapes providing for innovative and sustainable design. LEED

Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute (CFSEI, www.cfsei.org) is the steel framing industry’s home for engineers interested in improving their knowledge and skills in cold-formed steel design. Steel is exceptionally functional as a sustainable building material and will meet multiple green building program objectives. LEED, GG

According to CTS Cement Manufacturing Corporation | Rapid Set (www.ctscement.com), Rapid Set Cement cuts carbon dioxide emissions by 30 percent compared to standard portland cement. Rapid Set is made at lower temperatures, which means that its processing requires less fossil fuel. It requires less limestone per ton, thereby reducing carbon dioxide emissions. LEED

According to Earl Composite Systems (www.metalcrete.com), Metal Stud Crete (MSC) is a structural composite wall panel system fabricated from thin wall concrete and galvanized steel studs, engineered for load bearing shear wall and curtain wall cladding. Lighter weight MSC panels may contribute toward achieving additional LEED points affecting a higher certification level. LEED

According to Fox Industries, Inc. (www.foxind.com), FX-70-9 Hydro Ester epoxy coating is a 100 percent solids, no odor, low VOC coating for vertical use on damp concrete. FX-70-9 has been used for 35 years as a primer and/or complete coating system. LBC

Hayward Baker Inc. (www.HaywardBaker.com), North America’s leading geotechnical construction contractor, has long incorporated recycled materials and locally sourced materials into foundation, ground improvement, and other geotechnical projects, whenever feasible. Vibro Piers (aggregate piers) may contain local stone or recycled concrete aggregate. LEED

Hilti (www.us.hilti.com) offers an extensive line of adhesive anchor systems that can help the project team earn LEED certification. Achieving credit 4.1 are Hilti’s HIT adhesive anchor systems, which includes both fast cure hybrid and slow cure epoxy systems such as RE 500-SD, HY 150 MAX, HY 20, HY 10, HFX, and HVU capsule anchors. LEED

Hoover Treated Wood Products, Inc. (www.frtw.com) has provided fire retardant lumber and plywood for interior and exterior applications. The superior performance of Exterior Fire-X and Pyro-Guard products often allows our treated wood to be used instead of more expensive construction materials. They are available in FSC certified wood from our nationwide network of stocking distributors. LEED

The ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES, www.icc-es.org/save) created the SAVE Program to verify manufacturers’ claims regarding the sustainable attributes of their products. Product evaluation under this program results in a Verification of Attributes Report, which provides technically accurate product information that can be helpful to those seeking to qualify for points under major green rating systems (LEED, Green Globes, or the proposed National Green Building Standard).

iLevel TimberStrand Laminated Strand Lumber (LSL) from iLevel by Weyerhaeuser (www.ilevel.com) is an environmentally responsible choice since it can be manufactured from a renewable natural resource, trees, which are not large or straight enough to be usable in conventional wood building products. LEED

As a structural material, Nycon’s reinforcing fibers from New Nycon, Inc. (www.newnycon.com) allow products to withstand the forces of nature for decades. In addition to superior three-dimensional fiber reinforcement, NyconG provides an environmentally sound choice for globally responsible, truly sustainable construction: They facilitate the process of obtaining LEED project certification, as well as provide tax credits to architects and owners.

Nitterhouse Concrete Products, Inc. (www.nitterhouse.com) produces a full-range of eco-Smart, sustainable precast/prestressed concrete products and complete building systems, including architectural and structural precast components, double tees, insulated wall panels, hollowcore plank, and residential ConCoreFloor. LEED

Nuconsteel (www.nuconsteel.com), a Nucor company, has the solution to building green projects beginning with the core. Our cold-formed steel trusses and wall panels provide the foundation to earn LEED credits such as Recycled Content and Regional Materials within the Materials and Resources section. Our steel is made from recycled materials, is 100 percent recyclable, and Nucor has strategically placed plant locations throughout the United States, reducing freight to the end user. LEED

Earn LEED credits with Nucor steel. According to Nucor Corp. (www.nucor.com), choosing Nucor steel products can help builders earn LEED credits, because they’re made from recycled steel from bars to wide-flange beams and joists. Nucor’s thin slab caster cut energy usage by 30 percent, helping the American iron and steel industry exceed the Kyoto Protocol’s target by more than 240 percent. Nucor is the largest recycler in North America, recycling the equivalent of one SUV every four seconds. LEED

The Ecospan composite floor system by Nucor-Vulcraft/Verco Group (ecospan-usa.com) is a lighter weight, economical structural floor system. Ecospan joist and decking materials are produced at all Nucor-Vulcraft facilities throughout the country, putting 90 percent of all American cities within 500 miles of jobsites, an additional LEED benefit that also reduces costly freight charges. LBC, LEED

Turbo-Seal is a polymer rubber gel waterproofing and injection repair/restoration membrane created by OCM, Inc. (www.ocm-inc.com) environmental and sustainable design. It has 25 percent post consumer recycle content, is VOC compliant, is non-toxic, and has a no hazardous chemical rating. LEED

The Portland Cement Association (www.cement.org) offers the Concrete Thinker website at www.concretethinker.com — a resource to help design professionals make sustainable design a reality through the durability, versatility and energy performance of concrete. Through application overviews, case studies and other resources and tools learn how forward-thinking architects rely on concrete to create healthy and vibrant places to work, live, and play.

With Posten Multistory’s proprietary Efficient Post-tensioned Concrete design features from Posten Engineering Systems (www.postensoft.com), the green building aspects that are designed can be instantly integrated and documented (such as the amount of steel saved) for use in LEED packages.

Manufactured by Powers Fasteners (www.powers.com), T308+ is a two component epoxy adhesive anchoring system that contains no VOCs, no solvents, no mercaptans, and has a low odor. T308+ has been tested in accordance with ICC-ES AC308 criteria and has been evaluated and qualified by an accredited independent testing laboratory for use in uncracked concrete. LEED

SidePlate Systems, Inc. (www.sideplate.com) offers an unprecedented steel connection technology for high seismic, blast, and progressive collapse load conditions — saving 1 to 4 psf in frame tonnage. Now, with SidePlate FRAME, there are no CJP welds, less weld and plate material, and man-hours are significantly reduced for shop fabrication and field erection. LEED

SmartSlope (www.smartslope.com) vegetated retaining wall uses nature to produce an aesthetic enhancement to your landscape while providing the structure necessary of a retaining wall system. Plants thrive in these modules — converting hardscapes to greenspace, reducing storm water runoff while creating an urban habitat.

Spancrete’s (www.spancrete.com) hollowcore insulated wall panels provide a strong, energy efficient framing and cladding system for buildings up to 40 feet tall. The panels provide a complete structural system that does not require additional material for beams, columns, or bracing along the wall. Continuous insulation up to 4 inches thick provides up to R-27 with no solid areas. LEED

Unadilla Laminated Products (Una-Lam), a division of Unadilla Silo Company, Inc. (www.unalam.com), supports well managed forests and is proud to be Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain-of-Custody certified for purchasing, manufacturing, and selling FSC pure and FSC mixed lumber for use in our custom glulam material. Una-Lam is also Chain-of-Custody certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). LEED

Manufactured by Universal Forest Products (www.ufpi.com) from high-quality, mature-growth trees of a fast-growing species from managed forestland, Open Joist is made from a renewable resource. Open Joist can help your build earn up to 4.5 points under the LEED for Homes certification system. LEED, GG

Manufactured by W. R. Meadows, Inc. (www.wrmeadows.com), Liqui-Hard Ultra concrete densifier and chemical hardener is a ready to use, colorless liquid, which hardens and dustproofs concrete. This environmentally safe, water-based product contains no VOCs and provides an attractive option in green building applications.