Over　40%　society　energy　consumption　is　contributed　by　the　construction　industry,　where　the　building　materials　play　an　important　role　in　the　energy　saving　performance　of　a　building.　Research　reveals　that　the　energy　consuming　of　air　conditioning　and　heating　system　has　taken　70%　of　the　overall　building　energy　consumption　through　all　its　life　cycle,　mainly　due　to　the　thermal　transmission　of　building　envelope　structure.　Therefore,　this　paper　focuses　on　the　exterior　heat　insulators,　windows　and　wall　materials,　which　are　critical　to　building　heat-insulating　property,　to　study　their　resource　consuming　and　environment　impact　during　the　life　cycle　from　mining,　production,　transportation,　utility,　until　disposal.　In　the　end,　the　author　aims　to　provide　a　robust　rationale　and　database　to　optimize　environmental　friendly　material　selection　for　the　green　building.　©　2016,　The　Editorial　Board　of　Materials　China.　All　right　reserved.