How green are plastics?

Green building is a huge trend in the construction industry. It's a complicated issue, and deciding whether a product is "green" is a subjective exercise. But plastics apparently played a key role in one recent success story: BASF Corp.'s Near-Zero Energy Home in Paterson, N.J., earned a platinum score from the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED-H rating system. According to BASF, that makes the model home the first single-family residence on the East Coast and only the second in the United States to earn this prestigious certification. Jack Armstrong, manager of construction industry sector for BASF, cited BASF's expandable polystyrene, polyurethane foam sealants, and cool metal roof coatings as the BASF ingredients that optimize the home's performance. This year BASF plans to donate the home to St. Michael's Housing Authority, which will turn it over to a deserving family.