According to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), for a material to qualify as “green”, it must:
- Meet or exceed performance requirements.
- Have sufficient, predictable strength, durability, or stability.
- Be resistant to moisture, decay, or biocontamination.
- Be nontoxic or nonhazardous to occupants and installers.
- Be comparable in cost (labor + materials + equipment + other) to traditional materials.
- Be able to be harvested sustainably and installed efficiently.
- Be rapidly renewable or abundant.
- Be a closed-loop material, which means it can be recycled again and again.
- Involve minimal direct/indirect use of nonrenewables.
- Be adaptable, reusable, or recyclable.
