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Software Provides Data on 230 Building Products
 The most recent edition of ToolBase E-News from the NAHB Research Center announces the availability of a new version of software for the selection of cost-effective, environmentally preferable building products.
Developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the BEES (Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability) software is based on consensus standards and designed to be practical, flexible and transparent.
Aimed at designers, builders and product manufactures, the new Version 4.0 of the Window-based support software includes actual environmental and economic performance data for 230 building products.
BEES measures the environmental performance of building products by using a lifecycle assessment approach, including raw material acquisition, manufacture, transportation, installation, use, and recycling and waste management.
The costs of initial investment, replacement, operation, maintenance and repair, and disposal are used to measure the economic performance of the products.
Biobased products are now also included in the performance data.
BEES has been supported in part by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmentally Preferable Purchasing program, which encourages executive governmental agencies to reduce the environmental burdens associated with the more than $230 billion in products and services they buy each year, including building products.
BEES 4.0 runs on Windows 95 and needs at least 60 MB of available disk space.
To download a free copy of BEES, click here.
Or order a free BEES 4.0 compact disc and printed manual from the EPA Pollution Prevention Information Clearinghouse by e-mailing ppic@epa.gov or by calling 202-566-0799.
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