Materials transparency is crucial in construction for several reasons, primarily related to sustainability, health, and safety. Building product manufacturers play a pivotal role in transforming the built environment into a healthier place by developing resources like HPDs. Transparency documents, such…
ELIXIR BLOG
Advancing Sustainability: LEED v5 and Health Product Declarations (HPDs)
As the world's focus on environmental sustainability intensifies, the construction industry plays a crucial role in driving positive change. Among the leading sustainability certifications for buildings, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) stands tall, promoting green practices, reducing environmental…
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The Impact of Building Product Chemicals on Human Health
Chemicals play a pivotal role in various aspects of our lives; from the products we use daily to the environment we inhabit. Chemicals in building products are evaluated in green building ratings systems like LEED and WELL. While many chemicals…
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Insider Secrets: Manufacturers Need HPDs For Specification
As the demand for LEED certified buildings continues to rise, manufacturers face a significant challenge: getting their products specified for these prestigious projects. HPDs have become a game-changer for manufacturers aiming to secure their position for green building projects. With…
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Specification Edge: How HPDs Help Product Manufacturers
Health Product Declarations (HPDs) can help building product manufacturers get their products specified. HPDs offer several benefits that can help influence design professionals to specify certain products that meet their sustainability goals. HPDs can help manufacturers with the following: Meeting…
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Stellar Design: Enhanced Indoor Air Quality Strategies
Understanding and controlling common pollutants indoors can help reduce the risk of indoor health concerns for building occupants. Indoor pollutants and particulates are brought indoors by occupants, through ventilation system intakes or building openings, and from activities conducted within the…
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The Difference Between Health Product Declarations (HPDs) and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs)
The choices we make when specifying building materials can have significant effects on the planet and human health. The world is facing cataclysmic issues such as climate destabilization, pollution, biodiversity loss, deforestation, and greenhouse gases. Construction produces vast volumes of…
4 Reasons Why Your Building Products Need WELL Documentation
WELL is one of the fastest growing green building ratings systems in the world. Building product manufacturers can expand their specification opportunities by meeting the mandatory requirements of the WELL ratings system. The good news is that there are cost-effective…
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How Plumbing Fixture Manufacturers Can Get Specified For LEED
The planet is facing an unprecedented crisis. Water is essential to life, yet over 770 million people in the world lack access to it. Access to safe water can protect and save lives which is why we need to conserve…
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New Opportunities For Product Manufacturers: HPD Open Standard Version 2.3 Released
Building product manufacturers have new opportunities with the release of HPD Open Standard Version 2.3. The new HPD Version 2.3 emphasizes advances in data quality and consistency, and automation of new data screening options. Building product manufacturers that want to…
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Be Bold: How Manufacturers Can Leverage LEED v4.1 Sourcing of Raw Materials Credit
Construction and demolition (C&D) materials constitute a significant waste stream in the United States. These various C&D materials can be diverted from disposal and managed into new productive uses. Data from the EPA report notes that 600 million tons of…
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How Manufacturers Benefit From LEED v4.1 Sourcing of Raw Materials Credit
The environment around us is an essential part of human survival. The problems we are facing are serious. When choosing building materials, it’s necessary to consider the lifespan of a material, from its origin to its disposal. Humanity is barreling…
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A Year In Review: Health Product Declarations (HPDs) In 2021
Despite a pandemic, supply chain issues, project delays, and a rocky economy, 2021 resulted in many successes for the AEC industry. Sustainable design projects including LEED and WELL certified buildings continue to expand across the country. According to the AIA’s…
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The State of HPDs in 2021 and the Future of Material Databases
Only a fool would predict the future with certainty, but we can surmise several possibilities based on the events in 2020. Last year was a difficult time for many AEC firms and building product manufacturers. The COVID-19 pandemic inflicted severe damage to the construction industry and entire economy. How will COVID-19 affect specifications, product transparency, and material databases in 2021? Let’s find out...
The Science of Pandemic Design Strategies: How Design Professionals Can Combat COVID-19
The COVID-19 Pandemic has significantly affected the construction industry. Construction starts have plummeted for projects, bidding has become more competitive, and industry professionals continue to navigate the complexities brought upon us by COVID-19. The pandemic has caused short-term and long-term…
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The Best Reasons to Develop A Health Product Declaration (HPD) During the Pandemic
Developing a Health Product Declaration (HPD) should be a priority during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Building product manufacturers that have not already developed HPDs for their major product lines should seriously consider investing into development during this crisis. There are multiple…
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The Health Product Declaration (HPD) Open Standard Overview: PART EIGHT
In part eight of our series, we examine 2.2 HPD Open Standard Format Section 2: Content in Descending Order of Quantity. We will focus primarily on 2.2.1 Material or Product. This section focuses on materials in a product (Material) and the substances of which each material is composed (Substance) in a Nested Materials Inventory or the substances of which the product is composed in a Basic Inventory.
The Health Product Declaration (HPD) Open Standard Overview: PART SEVEN
One of the most requested and sought-after materials transparency documents in the AEC industry is the Health Product Declaration (HPD). The HPD has become a critical specification tool for LEED v4.1 projects. The HPD consists of two primary components: a…
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The Health Product Declaration (HPD) Open Standard Overview: PART SIX
The Health Product Declaration (HPD) has become an important specification tool for LEED v4 and LEED v4.1 projects. The HPD offers two key items: a content inventory and a list of potential health hazards associated with product ingredients. However, navigating the HPD Open Standard can be difficult for building product manufacturers. In this continuing series, we will examine the HPD Open Standard and how it applies to building product manufacturers and suppliers.
The Health Product Declaration (HPD) Open Standard Overview: PART FIVE
The Health Product Declaration (HPD) has become a critical specification tool for LEED v4 and LEED v4.1 projects. The HPD provides two key things: a content inventory and a list of potential health hazards associated with product ingredients. However, navigating the HPD Open Standard can be daunting for building product manufacturers and suppliers. In this continuing series, we will breakdown the HPD Open Standard for building product manufacturers and suppliers.
The Health Product Declaration (HPD) Open Standard Overview: PART FOUR
Health Product Declarations (HPDs) have become critical specification tools for LEED v4 and LEED v4.1 projects. The HPD provides two key things: a content inventory and a list of potential health hazards associated with product ingredients. However, navigating the HPD Open Standard can be daunting for building product manufacturers and suppliers.
The Health Product Declaration (HPD) Open Standard Overview: PART THREE
Health Product Declarations (HPDs) are one of the primary specification tools for LEED v4 projects, WELL, and many other green building rating systems. The HPD is simple at its core in that it provides two things: a content inventory and…
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The Health Product Declaration (HPD) Open Standard Overview: PART TWO
HPDs have become a significant specification tool for sustainable design projects such as LEED v4, WELL, and CHPS. Since the launch of LEED v4, HPDs have become a common report requested by specifiers, architects, designers, contractors, and project teams.
The Health Product Declaration (HPD) Open Standard Overview: PART ONE
Health Product Declarations (HPDs) are one of the primary specification tools for AEC firms working on LEED v4 projects. The most influential design firms in the country request HPDs for projects and in some cases demand them for specification! Building product manufacturers who have complied with HPD requests find an increased opportunity for specification. Thousands of HPDs have now been published and are available on the HPDC Public Repository.
The Easy Way To Get Specified On LEED v4 Projects: How Health Product Declarations (HPDs) Increase Opportunities
What’s the easiest way to be considered for specification on a LEED v4 project? Develop a LEED v4 compliant Health Product Declaration (HPD). Developing a LEED v4 compliant HPD is not only the easiest way to be considered for specification but also one of the most cost-effective strategies. While not all building products are created the same, most products can obtain a LEED v4 compliant HPD or even the new Supplier HPD.
How HPDs Can Contribute To LEED v4.1
The USGBC and HPDC have announced new resources for increasing the practice of transparent material health in the construction industry. These new resources include education modules and information tools to make product transparency easier for project teams and manufacturers to earn LEED v4.1 material transparency and optimization credits.
Is Your Company Prepared For The Next Pandemic And Will It Recover?
COVID-19 has changed everything. That has been the general feeling for many companies over the past 18 months. Whether you are a building product manufacturer, AEC firm, or real estate company, the pandemic has changed the ways people work and…
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