The ABCs of EPDs
This course is no longer active. AEC Daily will not report completion information for this course.
The Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is not just an idea about how to “grade the greenness” of products; it is a well-developed, globally recognized way to make responsible comparisons and decisions regarding sustainable material design. This course discusses the concept of the EPD as applied to building materials and how to integrate EPDs into design and product selection decisions. Detailed information from different thermal insulation EPDs is used demonstrate how thermal insulation provides a unique and significant “pay-back” in terms of energy and environmental impacts.
Upon completion of this course, the Learner should be able to:
- Discuss the importance of EPDs to sustainable material selection and building design.
- Explain how EPDs are developed to assure scientific accuracy and functional comparability.
- Summarize how EPDs are being incorporated into key green building guidelines, standards and codes.
- Evaluate a number of recent EPDs covering different types of building insulation with a goal of determining how they can help in the design of sustainable buildings.
Approximately 1 hour, 30 minutes. Delivered online, at your own pace.
Presented by James L. Hoff on behalf of PIMA - Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association. View the Privacy Policy .
Presenter Information

Name: James L. Hoff
Title: President of TEGNOS Research, Inc., PIMA
Background: Jim Hoff is an experienced executive and researcher in the building materials industry, retiring as vice president of technology for Firestone Building Products in 2007 after 23 years of service. Dr. Hoff currently serves as President of TEGNOS Research, Inc. a consulting organization dedicated to expanding understanding of the building envelope. He has published numerous papers addressing a variety of technical and business topics germane to the building envelope industry and is a frequent speaker at building envelope, sustainability, and energy efficiency conferences. Since 2007, Dr. Hoff has provided a wide variety of strategic and technical consulting services to governmental, non-profit, and corporate organizations, specializing in sustainable building envelope technologies. Dr. Hoff currently serves on the board of directors of the Cool Roof Rating Council and the Roof Consultants Institute Foundation and is active in technology development, holding three U. S. Patents for new building envelope technologies and serving on ASTM Committees E-60, C-16, and D-08.