The American Chemistry Council launched a new website aiming to help building and construction professionals learn more about the science involved in producing everything from extruded polystyrene below foundation slabs to the polycarbonate skylights on the roof.
The Washington, D.C.-based group's website — www.BuildingWithChemistry.org — has tools and information about material selection, green building codes and standards, where plastic are used in buildings and lists of the chemicals that comprise the products, and links to videos and other resources.
Chemistry is the cornerstone of developing efficient, comfortable, sustainable buildings, according to Richard Skorpenske, chairman of the ACC's building and construction subcommittee and the director of advocacy and sustainability at Covestro.
“Many of the materials and products used to build the homes, schools and office buildings where we live and work every day rely on the safety, energy savings, durability and other sustainability and performance benefits that the products of chemistry provide,” Skorpenske said in a news release. “We created this new website to contribute to thoughtful, informed decisions about the materials in today's innovative, modern and sustainable building applications.”
The information is geared toward architects, material specifiers, interior designers and other industry professionals. In addition to pointing out the chemical ingredients of building materials and the purposes they serve, the website highlights the different approaches to green building and factors to consider when selecting materials and products for construction.