How It Works
Our name actually stands for Materials & Resources, not mister – but please don’t tell him! mr.greenpoints has been hard at work assembling an incredible tool for your use in selecting products and materials that can contribute toward earning points for your next certified sustainable project. Don’t spend hours just finding products that can contribute to sustainable attribute credits, including regional materials. Let mr.greenpoints be your personal research assistant and do the legwork for you. He’s happy to do it! (even though he technically has no legs) Below is a quick video tutorial on how the search engine works:
It’s Very Simple! Just follow these easy steps:
Step 1. Select an Attribute.
This is the sustainable attribute you want the product to include (example: RECYCLED CONTENT – RC). You can select from the icons on the homepage or the right-hand sidebar “PRODUCT ATTRIBUTES” menu on any page. This will take you to the Search Results page and a sampling of the products that have your selected attribute will be displayed.
Step 2. Select a Product.
On the Search Results page, refine the search by selecting the product you’re looking for from the drop down menus – first pick a broad product Division and then a more specific product Section number/name (based on CSI MasterFormat 2004). You can also further refine the search by selecting multiple attributes, a mileage radius, and the project Zip Code. (both US & Canada)
Step 3. Click “Search” – that’s it!
The listings of your product category that contain your selected attributes will be automatically generated and displayed in order of mileage to your project site (within a mileage radius that you can determine – up to 1000 miles). OR ENTER NO ZIP CODE AND SEE ALL PRODUCTS IN THE SELECTED SECTION.
The product listings that are displayed will contain the following:
- Source – This is the manufacturer’s name. Clicking on the name will open a panel with the homepage of the company’s website. Alternatively, members should right-click on the link to open the page in a new browser tab or window for better navigation. Sources that have (D) displayed after the name are Distributors of sustainable products and materials only. Distributors will only be shown when a member is not using a regional zip code search.
- Products – If the company manufactures one or just a few products in the category they will be listed. If there are many products offered in the category, the field will be blank. Visit the manufacturers website for specific product info. If the product is manufactured in a location other than the main office, the plant or mill location will be listed in parenthese. As an example: widgets (NY plant).
- greenLink – This will appear as “gLink” in the Products column. Clicking on the “gLink” will open a panel with the page on the manufacturers’s website which gives an overview of what makes the products green. Alternatively, members should right-click on the link to open the page in a new browser tab or window for better navigation.
- Address – This is the contact information for the manufacturer’s main office.
- Distance – This field lists the mileage from the point of manufacture to your project site. You enter the zip code when you refine the search. You can also specify how large a radius you want to include (up to 1000 miles). 500 miles is typical, but check the requirements of your building program. This function works for US and Canadian locations. If the word “CALL” is listed the manufacturer may have many manufacturing locations and possibly one within 500 miles of your project. Call the manufacturer for more information. In some cases when the word “CALL” is displayed an online tool is available via the gLink for summarizing possible credits for your project. For products that are either manufactured abroad or consist solely of materials harvested or extracted abroad, such products will only be shown when a member is not using a regional zip code search. Sounds complicated, but it’s not – give it a try!
- Section – This is the product category that you select when you refine the search. The Section names and numbers are based on the CSI MasterFormat 2004 system.
- Attributes – Here all attributes offered by the manufacturer for the selected product category will be listed, including at least your selected attribute(s).
- Cert – All certifications that verify single sustainable attributes are listed here. For more information on Certifications, click here.
- ID Cert – All certifications that are multi-attribute or that automatically qualify a wide range of products for green building programs are listed here. For more information on ID Certifications, click here.
By selecting multiple attributes and finding products manufactured within a short distance to your project you can make sure your product selections maximize sustainability and help earn the most points possible. Why slog through tons of information on the web? With a refined search on mr.greenpoints you can find exactly what you need quickly and easily.
