Third party certifications and reviews are typically the most reliable way to judge a product manufacturer's claim about the greenness of a product. Online resources like Building Green's GreenSpec directory offer unbiased reviews and case studies, and there are many third party certification organizations that substantiate manufacturer's claims regarding recycled content, harmful emissions, origin of raw materials, etc, through the application of rigorous testing or review criteria. Also, new software tools like BEES and Pharos are being developed as ‘lenses' through which one can gauge a product's greenness.

*Click here to download our guide to third-party product certifications (PDF)