Green Builder Sustainable Brand Index 2024

When our readers think about green building, here’s what comes to mind first.

With all the financial and political chaos of the past year, surveying readers about their views on sustainable product manufacturers would seem like a challenge. People have their minds on other things. But respondents to our annual Brand Index heartedly delivered choices on everything from the best energy-saving appliances to the cars they like to drive on the job.

Results in three distinct categories—our traditional survey data, market visibility or “mentions,” and public sentiment—are averaged to create a Brand Index Score and derive a company’s final ranking among its peers. 

Unlike past years, most of the big-name players are back within the top 10 in their categories, although a few newcomers made the grade. Several lesser-known companies are on the way to becoming household names. Overall, our survey shows where a company is doing well, and which improvements could round out category excellence.

Notes: *If a sequential number is missing (or two brands get a “7” score, for instance), it's because two of the top 10 brands tied. ** In some categories, we collected data for more than 10 brands. Only the top 10 overall scores are listed for each product category.

Appliances

The good times continue at LG. Although it didn’t sweep the top spot in all three categories like it did in 2023, the appliance giant is still perceived by the public as the greenest company and lands at No. 1 again. Thanks to popular products such as its Smart Induction Cooktop, LG has placed in the top 3 for this category for 5 years in a row.

Building Wrap

After dropping to the middle of the pack for a couple years, Owens Corning gets the word out about PinkWrap and other popular products and returns to No. 1 for the first time since 2021. The company’s public image could use some polish—its sentiment score is in the bottom one-third of the survey group—but overall, it’s a bright day for the king of Pink.

Cabinets and Shelving

Chalk it up to the poor sustainability story offered by most U.S. cabinet makers. IKEA, which hits No. 1 for the second time in four years and seventh in the past 10. The retailer remains a favorite with shoppers and builders—it hasn’t ranked lower than fourth in any Brand Index categories since 2019—and recent “People and Planet” initiatives haven’t hurt its image, either.

Countertops

Make it three in a row for DuPont Surfaces, which has used sustainably made product lines such as Solid Surface, Quartz and Endura to stay on top.

But it’s not all good news for the countertop maker, which continues to languish in the bottom half of our sentiment ratings—a sign that the company really needs to showcase its sustainability efforts.

Decking

Make it 14-0 for Trex, the only company in the history of our survey to never finish less than No. 1. Like in 2023, the decking giant can do almost no wrong. However, it has lost a few points with the public even though Trex won several national sustainability awards from Newsweek, Lowe’s and Investor’s Business Daily.

Energy Storage

A new Brand Index category, Energy Storage is led by Tesla, which seems to capture the consumer imagination even when reviews are emotionally mixed. Other brands appear to be gaining traction, including Panasonic, with its Evervolt battery system.

Doors

For doormakers, this year is just like the old one, and that’s a good thing. All of 2023’s top companies are in the same position in 2024, with Therma-Tru leading the way for a sixth consecutive year. Results are also mixed as usual. For example, Therma-Tru has the industry’s pulse but lacks in public opinion, while TruStile has consumers’ hearts but remains comparatively unknown.

Flooring

The competition goes on. Armstrong Flooring, a brand of AHF Products, is No. 1 for a second straight year, while Mohawk is the runner up. Combined, these companies have been the top two since 2018. CALI joins the duo, thanks to a strong overall market presence. The industry continues to praise all three manufacturers’ sustainability efforts. Shaw and Crossville Tile hold steady to round out the top five.

Hot Water Systems

The comeback is complete for Bosch, which lands at the top of the hot water category just two years after sitting near the bottom.

That success stems from popular products such as the Bosch Tronic Point-of-Use Water Heater, which has been praised for its low price, portability and efficiency.

Meanwhile Rheem, gave a strong second-place showing.

Insulation

For a fourth straight year, Owens Corning ranks No. 1 among insulation makers. The company remains one of the most-trusted and publicly promoted entities, but is in the middle of the pack in terms of public sentiment. It’s the opposite for Greenfiber, which finished as runner up this year—a fourth consecutive Top 3 appearance—but it’s tough to challenge the long and trade-friendly narrative of Owens Corning.

HVAC

After a fourth-place finish last year, LG climbs to No. 1 in this ultra-competitive niche, while powerhouses Trane and Carrier each drop a notch. Mitsubishi Electric returns to the list for the first time since 2021. These companies’ placements in the upper half of the chart demonstrate that they are known to buyers, but the hierarchy of brands is not yet entrenched.

Lighting

Philips being knocked out of the Lighting category’s top spot a couple years ago might have been a fluke. Once again, the manufacturer has a sizable lead over its main competitor—whichever company that happens to be from year to year—without any major product changes. It’s a case of not messing with a winning formula, keeping builders and consumers happy.

Paint and Coating

Swap Valspar, ECOS and PPG around and you have a rerun of last year’s list. Sherwin-Williams remains the dominant leader—that’s six out of seven years for the “climate and carbon thinking” group of out Cleveland.

But higher product pricing, decreased consumer spending and a shaky housing market have dimmed the paint industry’s bright image and could make 2024 a challenging year for all.  

Plumbing

It’s status quo for Kohler, our usual No. 1 company in the plumbing category. The industry still respects it, and Kohler’s brand appears to be the one that comes to consumers’ minds first. But public sentiment doesn’t line up with builder perceptions. It might be time for some positive PR. Meanwhile, runner-ups Moen and American Standard remain in the top five, where they have held positions of honor since 2017.

Photovoltaic Systems

The sun still shines on Tesla Solar, which captured its eighth No. 1 in nine years by continuing to offer products that appeal to construction professionals and consumers, even when the solar panel and roofing industries are treading water in terms of market growth and profitability. Also, in general, companies known for solar leasing and installation seem to stand out for trades more than panel manufacturers.

The sun still shines on Tesla Solar, which captured its eighth No. 1 in nine years by continuing to offer products that appeal to construction professionals and consumers, even when the solar panel and roofing industries are treading water in terms of market growth and profitability. Also, in general, companies known for solar leasing and installation seem to stand out for trades more than panel manufacturers.

Roofing

Owens Corning, with its powerful name recognition, leads this category for the second year in a row. Close on the heels of the two asphalt (with cool roof tech) leaders are EcoStar’s recycled composite product and metal roofing from Atlas Roofing. Experts predict that residential U.S. roofing could increase by as much as 8 percent through 2025, to about $15 billion overall.

Siding

LP Building, Westlake Royal and James Hardie remain the industry’s most highly regarded siding manufacturers, and they’ve definitely made inroads into gaining the public’s trust after less-than-stellar marks in 2023. K2 Stone continues to grow in market share and may one day be one of the first businesses recommended by builders.

And, say hello to Delta Millworks, which debuts in the survey at No. 5.

Smart Panels

There’s nothing like starting at the top. Leviton, which cracked the top 10 for the first time among Smart Home Tech providers, goes a step further in our inaugural Smart Panels category, which includes switches. The industry likes the green energy management and wall controls system maker enough to place it at No. 1, even if consumers don’t quite know what to think yet.

Smart Home Technology

Amazon continues to lead this segment comfortably, while Google, Samsung and Apple are maintaining pursuit but making little headway. Google in particular is feeling a sting, with a lower sentiment score dropping the company outside the top 10 after several years of improvement. Overall, the lack of movement among most manufacturers—except for newcomer Leviton—could be the result of reduced discretionary spending by consumers.

Structural

The revolving door continues, with Weyerhaeuser taking over No. 1 after one-year stints by Premier Building (2020 and 2023), Weyerhaeuser (again, in 2022), and Boise Cascade (2019 and 2021), our last consecutive year winner. All three companies are well respected—17 Top 5 finishes out of 18 from 2019-24—but for some reason, staying on consumers’ good side has been difficult from year to year. 

Thermostats

Google continues a Thermostats stranglehold, with its Nest brand carrying the company to No. 1 for a third year. Thanks to ease of use, the industry and public still adore the product: Overall opinion scores are the highest and its Brand Index Score is third-largest among manufacturers in any of our 2024 surveys. Competitors continue to jockey for position and maintain public interest from year to year.

Ventilation

Since 2020, there’s been Panasonic, and then everyone else. While not always the least-criticized IAQ products maker within our Brand Indexes, the company’s award-winning, ENERGY STAR-certified lines help maintain its high profile. All four parts of Panasonic’s Healthy Indoor Living Solutions—energy recovery ventilators, Swidget smart controls, atmosphere and inline fan solutions, and ventilation and purification—remain first choice within the industry.

Window

Talk about bizarre: Placing No. 1 seven times in 10 years—including back-to-back for 2023 and 2024—and among the top three annually since 2015, makes Renewal by Andersen legendary within the industry.

But there’s a troubled view of the company’s final product and customer service by consumers. They’re not alone.

Marvin and Pella also face heavy criticism from the public. 

Work Vehicles

Toyota and Ford are still at it. Except for 2021, these two have been consumers’ choice for best work vehicles, swapping places nine times since 2015. Toyota, known for stylish, economical and long-lasting cars, had to endure a series of recalls in 2023. Ford, which heavily promoted electric vehicles over the past three years, is now moving into hybrids to attract clean energy- and fossil fuel-preferring car buyers.