Sustainability in interior design involves specifying products that minimize negative impacts on human health and the environment. The NCIDQ IDFX Reference Manual and sustainability standards (e.g., from the U.S. Green Building Council [USGBC] and LEED) define key terms related to environmentally responsible products.

A. Carbon neutral products: Carbon neutral products are produced with no net increase in greenhouse gas emissions, either through emission-free production or offsets. While this reduces environmental impact in terms of climate change, it does not necessarily address broader impacts on human health (e.g., indoor air quality) or other environmental factors (e.g., resource depletion).

B. Rapidly renewable products: Rapidly renewable products are made from materials that regenerate quickly (e.g., bamboo, cork, with a growth cycle of 10 years or less). While they reduce environmental impact by minimizing resource depletion, they do not necessarily address human health impacts, such as emissions or toxicity.

C. Environmentally preferable products: Environmentally preferable products (EPPs) aredefined as products that have a reduced effect on human health and the environment compared to competing products serving the same purpose. This includes factors like low emissions (e.g., low VOCs for better indoor air quality), reduced toxicity, energy efficiency, and sustainable sourcing. EPPs encompass a broad range of criteria, making them the most comprehensive match for the question’s description.

The NCIDQ IDFX Reference Manual uses the term "environmentally preferable products" to describe products that are better for both human health and the environment, aligning with LEED credits (e.g., MR Credit: Environmentally Preferable Products) that prioritize holistic sustainability.

Verified Answer from Official Source:The correct answer is C, as verified by the NCIDQ IDFX Reference Manual.

Exact Extract:

From the NCIDQ IDFX Reference Manual (Chapter 9: Sustainable Design): "Environmentally preferable products are those that have a reduced effect on human health and the environment compared to competing products, considering factors like emissions, toxicity, and resource use."

Explanation from Official Source:

The NCIDQ IDFX Reference Manual explains that environmentally preferable products are defined by their reduced impact on both human health (e.g., through low emissions and non-toxic materials) and the environment (e.g., through sustainable sourcing and energy efficiency). This broad definition encompasses more specific terms like carbon neutral or rapidly renewable, making it the best fit for the question.

Objectives:

Understand key sustainability terms in interior design.

Identify products that minimize impacts on human health and the environment.