Local or regional materials
Building products manufactured and/or extracted within a defined radius of the building site. For example, the U.S. Green Building Council defines local materials as those that are manufactured, processed, and/or extracted within a 500-mile radius of the site. Use of regional materials is considered a sustainable building strategy because these materials require less transport, which reduces transportation-related environmental impacts. Additionally, regional materials support local economies, supporting the community goal of sustainable building.
Illustrated Dictionary of Architecture Copyright © 2012, 2002, 1998 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved