Why do people make the effort to seek out green building supplies, when conventional materials are much easier to find? For the well-being of themselves, the builders, and the world at large. Eco-friendly building materials generally come with less chemicals which may harm the internal environment of the home, the people who are working with the materials, and the environment in which they are either taken from or manufactured in. Many chemicals, such as plasticizers and fluoropolymers, go unnoticed, and for the most part their long-term health effects are unknown.
Building materials are also considered eco-friendly if they are energy efficient and require little maintenance, even after several years. A product that is more sustainable is going to either save energy or money, or both, proving its worth within the first few years of having a new green home.
Also, those materials that did not have a huge negative impact on the environment are considered green building supplies. Even if they are not completely eco-friendly, as most products require some form of energy use, if only for transportation, factors such as efficiency or sustainability lead to a higher overall environmental benefit.
