Brattleboro, Vt. — BuildingGreen, the publisher of Environmental Building News, has released the third edition of Green Building Products, a product directory for homebuilders, remodelers and homeowners. The new edition includes nearly 1,600 product listings from the GreenSpec database of green building products, which BuildingGreen has maintained since 1998.

The third edition contains nearly 230 new listings, and many listings from the previous edition have been removed due to higher minimum environmental standards adopted by the editors.

“Each year we raise the bar with some of our product criteria to encourage change in the marketplace,” said coeditor Alex Wilson. “As a result, some products get dropped and better ones are introduced.”

Green Building Products, which includes a foreword by architect and author Sarah Susanka, covers everything from porous paving systems to photovoltaic roofing shingles and top-efficiency appliances. Products are organized according to building component, but can also be found in the index under manufacturer or product name.

Products are selected for GreenSpec using criteria that Environmental Building News editors have developed over more than 15 years. These criteria include recycled content, FSC-certified wood, avoidance of toxic constituents, reduction of construction impacts, energy or water savings and contributing to a safe, healthy indoor environment. The full list of criteria can be downloaded for free from the BuildingGreen Website.

Manufacturers do not pay to have products included in GreenSpec or in Green Building Products.

“We base selections on careful in-house review by our editorial staff,” Wilson said. “Keeping an arm's-length relationship from manufacturers allows us to be non-biased when we are evaluating company claims.”

Green Building Products sells for $37.95 (plus shipping) and is available from BuildingGreen and most booksellers. Additional information is available at www.BuildingGreen.com or at 800/861-0954.