Architects, designers and consumers will choose sustainably smart products almost every time, not because it is mandated by some government agency, but because it's the right thing to do.

Transparency is one of the hot new topics in the green building industry, and it is a valuable concept.

A designer specifies FSC-certified, legally harvested, minimally textured Merbau wood flooring. A beautiful product arrives at the jobsite. It will secure several U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED credits, and it’s aesthetically pleasing.

Today’s installers have the benefit of many specialized grouts and mortars that make ceramic tile installation easier and better for the environment, while making the jobsite safer for both the installer and the homeowner.

The participating companies in this paid/sponsored guide offer products that can earn points under the USGBC LEED rating systems.

Shaw Industries Group has released its third annual corporate sustainability report at www.shawgreenedge.com.

This year’s HGTV Green Home, located in Stapleton (Denver), Colo., combined a LEED Platinum Certified rating from the U.S. Green Building Council with a Frank Lloyd Wright influenced prairie style design.

An array of DriTac products, including adhesives and a moisture barrier/crack suppressant, have been certified by the Carpet and Rug Institute’s (CRI) Green Label Plus Program for indoor air quality.

Cork flooring is in a growth mode thanks to efforts like the recently completed Décor(k) Tour, an event hosted by the Portuguese Cork Association (APCOR) featuring a mobile showroom, which visited 16 cities across the U.S.