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Green Building Products Initiative

Appalachian Sustainable Products Network

In late 2023, GBA launched the Appalachian Sustainable Products Network, a one-year planning initiative designed to equip Upper Appalachia to meet increasing residential and commercial sector demand for the products and materials used to construct, renovate, maintain and operate healthy, energy-efficient buildings and infrastructure. 

Conducted by Green Building Alliance in partnership with West Virginia University, including WVU Extension and Vantage Ventures; Pittsburgh-based Catalyst Connection; and the Youngstown Business Incubator and BRITE Energy Innovators in Ohio, the project seeks to prepare the region to lead in designing and deploying the products, technologies, and services that deliver improved energy and water efficiency, increase on-site renewable energy, reduce carbon emissions, and connect buildings to a cleaner grid.

By strengthening the reliability and growing the scope of the region’s manufacturing supply chain in green building products, the Appalachian Sustainable Products Network will contribute to the regeneration of Upper Appalachia as it transitions from the extractive industries that once fueled its economy.

Data Mapping and a Market Analysis of the regional product and supply chain ecosystem were completed in late 2024 to help quantify opportunity, demand and growth within the green building and sustainable development sector and for the region. 

The project also provides opportunities for producers and manufacturers to learn about and potentially pursue life cycle assessments (LCA), training and certifications for their materials and products. This will enable local manufacturers to develop products with less environmental impact, creating new jobs and enabling them to pursue business with builders, architects, designers and developers looking to deploy green building practices in their projects.

Learn more and access the Market Study at www.aspnbuilds.org.  

Additional information on green product certifications and Life Cycle Analysis can be found at Green Product Certifications and Labeling Systems. 

The Appalachian Sustainable Products Network is funded by a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) through ARC’s Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies (ARISE), which drives large-scale economic transformation through multi-state collaborative projects across Appalachia, together with match funding support from the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, a regional philanthropy serving West Virginia and Southwestern Pennsylvania.

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Green Building Products Initiative (GBPI)

GBA developed the Green Building Products Initiative (GBPI) in 2006 with Philadelphia University after recognizing the need for quality local green building products in Pennsylvania.

At that time, GBA was one of only a handful of organizations nationally that realized the expanding market opportunity that green buildings represented for product manufacturers. 

GBA incorporated GBPI into several aspects of work including educational programming, innovation, and technical assistance, as well as Life Cycle Analysis training for product manufacturers.

GBPI’s goals were to grow the Pennsylvania green building product economy and drive green building product innovation. GBA’s attainment of these objectives continues to be measured by the conceptualization and commercialization of new or improved products, and by increased sales of the region’s green building products, ultimately leading to job growth.

GBA used GBPI to directly assist PA manufacturers by:

Product Innovation Grant Program: Pioneers in Green Building Products

In an effort to create pioneering green building products that contribute to Western Pennsylvania’s many green buildings, GBA created its Product Innovation Grant program, which fostered innovation and economic development in Pennsylvania by supporting partnerships between industry and academia. Through five competitive rounds of funding from 2007 through 2011, GBA awarded over $1.2 million in Product Innovation Grants to 24 projects that sought to translate sustainable principles into Pennsylvania-manufactured building products and technologies.

GBA’s Product Innovation Grants built on Pennsylvania’s intellectual capital by providing the gap funding required to bring green products from the research and development phase to the building product market so regional specifiers could start using local products in local green building projects. The intent was to support the final commercialization steps for tangible building products or processes that contribute to the economic, environmental, and social benefits of green buildings.

Replicating this program in other locations could help create and provide wonderful support and networks for green building product innovation, regional capacity and competitiveness, and economic development opportunities. Convening people throughout the green building industry can lead to truly understanding which green building technologies and innovations are scientifically possible, can be supported by the economic marketplace, and will provide the social and environmental benefits green buildings demand. Organizations interested in using GBA’s Product Innovation Grant program as a model for regional product commercialization success should contact GBA.

From 2004 through 2011, GBA’s Product Innovation Grants were awarded to industry/university partnerships to assist in green building product innovation and commercialization. Grants were awarded at both the $100,000 Full grant and $20,000 Proof of Concept levels.

GBPI was generously funded by:

Press Releases

GBA Product Innovation Grants, Round #5 – May 2011 (PDF)
GBA Product Innovation Grants, Grant Round #4 – June 2009 (PDF)
GBA Product Innovation Grants, Grant Round #3 – January 2009 (PDF)
GBA Product Innovation Grants, Grant Round #2 – July 2008 (PDF)
GBA Product Innovation Grants, Grant Round #1 – December 2007 (PDF)

Full Product Innovation Grants
Proof of Concept Product Innovation Grants