GREEN LINKS
Green Product VendorsAndersen Windows and Doors (Andersen manufactures an extensive line of products that can help buildings achieve better energy efficiency and indoor comfort while adding attractive architectural details. They also have a line of proven products for coastal applications.) Georgia-Pacific Corp. (Georgia-Pacific manufactures and markets a wide array of wood and gypsum building products for residential and commercial construction. A brand leader, Georgia-Pacific is known for offering high-quality, reliable building materials and innovative products that provide important building solutions. ) Goodwin Heart Pine Co. (Longleaf heart pine and bald cypress trees once blanketed the entire Southeast. The logs were cut down in the nineteenth century, pulled to the nearest river, lashed together to form a raft, and floated downriver to the nearest mill. Some of the heavier logs never made it to the mills, sinking to the river bottom... waiting all this time to be reclaimed and put to work. ) Smart Vent- Advanced Code Compliant Flood Vents (The first and still the only fully automatic, bi-directional flood vent. All stainless steel construction, ICC approved. Expensive but, THEY WORK!) Solatube Tubular Skylights (Tubular skylight products for a variety of residential and commercial applications. Some products are Energy Star rated and Miami-Dade approved. Can contribute towards LEED credits.) Therma-Tru Fiberglass Entry Doors (Therma-Tru’s superior engineering results in high quality products with enduring beauty. Browse their full line of entry and patio door systems.) Trus-Joist Engineered Wood Products (iLevel helps builders streamline their building process, making their lives simpler, and helping them increase profitability.)
Magazine and PublicationsDwell (A colorful and informative magazine with a heavy bias towards modern architecture and furnishings. Each issue usually promotes current thinking on sustainability issues. Recommended!) Eco-Structure Environmental Design and Construction
Manufacturer CertificationsEPA's Energy Star Label Program (ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.) Forest Stewardship Council (FSC standards represent the world’s strongest system for guiding forest management toward sustainable outcomes. FSC certified lumber may not always be easily obtained but, it's currently the only way to get LEED points for certified wood.) Green Globes™ (Environmental assesments for buildings with a bias towards commercial structures.) Green Guard Environmental Institute (GEI was founded in June of 2001 to establish a true third-party product certification program based on proven emissions standards and to provide specifying and procurement professionals with a resource for low-emitting products.) Green Seal Inc. (Founded in 1989, Green Seal provides science-based environmental certification standards that are credible, transparent, and essential in an increasingly educated and competitive marketplace. Our industry knowledge and standards help manufacturers, purchasers, and end users alike make responsible choices that positively impact business behavior and improve quality of life.) Green Spec® Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) (To earn LEED certification, a project must satisfy all prerequisites and earn a minimum number of points outlined in the LEED Rating System under which it is registered. ) National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) (NFRC is a non-profit organization that administers the only uniform, independent rating and labeling system for the energy performance of windows, doors, skylights, and attachment products.) Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) (RESNET’s standards are officially recognized by the U.S. mortgage industry for capitalizing a building’s energy performance in the mortgage loan, certification of “White Tags” for private financial investors, and by the federal government for verification of building energy performance for such programs as federal tax incentives, the Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR program and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building America Program.) Scientific Certification Systems (SCS is committed to delivering professional services that encourage organizations in a variety of industry and service sectors to establish and maintain practices that support environmental, social and quality goals, and that can be continually improved upon.) Sustainable Forest Initiative® (SFI) (SFI Inc. is a fully independent, charitable organization dedicated to promoting sustainable forest management. They work with conservation groups, local communities, resource professionals, landowners, and countless other organizations and individuals who share our passion for responsible forest management.) The American Tree Farm System® (ATFS has established standards and guidelines for property owners to meet to become a Certified Tree Farm. Under these standards and guidelines, private forest owners must develop a management plan based on strict environmental standards and pass an inspection by an ATFS volunteer forester every five years.)
Organizations and Resources1000 Friends of Florida-Building Better Communities (1000 Friends of Florida promotes healthy urban and natural places by wise management of growth and change. We educate, advocate, negotiate and, when necessary, litigate to protect our high quality of life. We help citizens have the technical knowledge and access needed to ensure that public and private decisions lead to livable communities. Our planners, attorneys and community activists work to protect natural areas, fight urban sprawl, promote sensible development patterns, and provide affordable housing. Above all, we strive to give citizens the tools to keep Florida's communities livable. Founded in 1986, 1000 Friends of Florida is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization.) American Architectural Manufactures Association (AAMA) (AAMA is the source of performance standards, product certification and educational programs for the fenestration industry.) American Council for Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) (The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a means of promoting economic prosperity, energy security, and environmental protection. ) American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning (ASHRAE) (The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers advances technology to serve humanity and promote a sustainable world. Membership is open to any person associated with the field.) Athena™ Environmental Impact Estimator - Sustainable Materials Institute (Athena Institute International, the not-for-profit Athena organization undertakes and directs innovative research and development activities that allow architects, engineers and others to factor environmental considerations into the design process from the conceptual stage onward. ) BEES Life Cycle assessment-Nat. Inst. Of Standards & Tech (NIST) (The BEES (Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability) software brings to your fingertips a powerful technique for selecting cost-effective, environmentally-preferable building products. Developed by the NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) Building and Fire Research Laboratory the tool is based on consensus standards and designed to be practical, flexible, and transparent. Version 4.0 of the Windows-based decision support software, aimed at designers, builders, and product manufacturers, includes actual environmental and economic performance data for 230 building products. ) Building America (Building America forms research partnerships with all facets of the residential building industry to improve the quality and energy efficiency of homes.) Building Green (An independent website providing accurate and unbiased information about green design and products. Not everything on this site is free but you can access all the info on a fee based subscription system. BuildingGreen, LLC, is also the publisher of Environmental Building News (EBN) and the GreenSpec Directory.) Cool Roof Rating Council (An independent rating organization for heat reflective roofing materials.) Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE) (DSIRE is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and federal incentives that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency.) Earth Day Footprint Quiz (How much land area does it take to support your lifestyle? Take this quiz to find out your Ecological Footprint, discover your biggest areas of resource consumption, and learn what you can do to tread more lightly on the earth.) Efficient Windows Collaborative (EWC) (Efficient Windows Collaborative (EWC) members have made a commitment to manufacture and promote energy-efficient windows. This site provides unbiased information on the benefits of energy-efficient windows, descriptions of how they work, and recommendations for their selection and use. ) Energy & Environmental Building Association (EEBA) (Provides education and resources to transform the residential design, development and construction industries to profitably deliver energy efficient and environmentally responsible buildings and communities.) Environmental Building News Environmental Design And Construction - Magazine Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC) (The Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC) is a nonprofit Florida corporation dedicated to improving the built environment. Our mission is "to provide a statewide green building program that defines, promotes, and encourages sustainable efforts with environmental and economic benefits.) Florida House Learning Center - University of Florida Extension Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) Habitat for Humanity Environmental Initiative (Habitat for Humanity International’s Construction and Environmental Resources department helps international and U.S. Habitat affiliates build quality houses at the lowest possible cost.) Healthy Living Foundation (A group of concerned parents, friends, neighbors and professionals who are committed to educating the community about indoor air quality issues that affects you and your family. Many of the contributors have been personally affected by unhealthy indoor air quality.) Indoor Air Quality, Inc. (IAQA) (The Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA) is a nonprofit, multi-disciplined organization, dedicated to promoting the exchange of indoor environmental information, through education and research, for the safety and well being of the general public.
) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) National Association of Home Builders Research Center (NAHBRC) North American Insulation Manufactures Association (NAIMA) Oikos- Green Building Source (Oikos is the Greek word for house. It is also a website with an enormous databse of current green thinking.) Pattern Language-Creating Beautiful,Functional,Meaningful places Residential Energy Services Network (The Residential Energy Services Network's (RESNET®) mission is to ensure the success of the building energy performance certification industry, set the standards of quality, and increase the opportunity for ownership of high performance buildings. RESNET is a membership 501-C-3 non profit organization.) Rocky Mountain Institute (Rocky Mountain Institute ® (RMI), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, was established in 1982 by resource analysts L. Hunter Lovins and Amory B. Lovins. What began as a small group of colleagues focusing on energy policy has since grown into a broad-based institution with approximately eighty full-time staff, an annual budget of nearly $12 million (over half of it earned through programmatic enterprise), and a global reach.) Sourcebook for Green and Sustainable Building (The Austin (TX) Green Building Program's (GBP) Sourcebook is available here in electronic format) Southwest Florida Water Management District (Good site for Florida residents seeking information on Florida Friendly landscaping how-to's. Save our aquifers and save money!) Sustainable Building industry Council (SBIC) Sustainable Sarasota (Sarasota County government is committed to reflect the values of our citizens and the legacy they wish to leave. To achieve the balance necessary for a sustainable community, our programs and services must be economically viable, environmentally sound and socially equitable.) The American Solar Energy Society The Not So Big House (The Not So Big House books by Sarah Susanka, bring to light a new way of thinking about what makes a place feel like home—characteristics that many people desire of their homes and their lives, but haven't known how to verbalize.) The Pharos Project and Wiki (The Pharos Project will offer a Wiki and on line forums using the latest in available Open Source digital technology. Users are invited to participate and take advantage of the framework and tool provided to:
o compare declared environmental attributes of building materials against one another and against ideal impact scenarios;
o share experience and knowledge about materials and products with other users and experts;
o compare the meaning and values of various labels and rating systems; and,
o customize evaluation criteria to reflect the user’s own values, priorities and experiences. ) The Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) (The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization that certifies sustainable businesses, homes, hospitals, schools, and neighborhoods. USGBC is dedicated to expanding green building practices and education, and its LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System™.) The Whole Building Design Guide (This is the first site you should check out if you want to become more literate in the methods and terminology of green building. From whole building design approach to project management to operations and maintenance, it's all here. Oh, and there are loads of free CEU courses (if you're an AIA registered architect).) The Whole Building Design Guide (The goal of 'Whole Building' Design is to create a successful high-performance building. To achieve that goal, we must apply the integrated design approach and the integrated team approach to the project during the planning and programming phases.) World Changing (Worldchanging is a 501(c)3 media organization that comprises a global network of independent journalists, designers and thinkers covering the world's most intelligent solutions to today's problems. We inspire readers around the world with stories of the most important and innovative new tools, models and ideas for building a bright green future. Our readers are ready to change the world, and Worldchanging links them to the first steps.)
Recommended ReadingA Pattern Language (by Christopher Alexander, Sara Ishikawa, Murray Silverstein. This book looks at buildings, neighborhoods, and communities as a series of interconnected design patterns. This book will open your eyes to see the built environment around you in a totally new and satisfying way.) Biomimicry-Innovation Inspired by Nature (by Janine M. Benyus) Cradle to Cradle (by William McDonough and Michael Braungart) Green Spirit- Trees are the Answer (Patrick Moore was a co-founder of Green Peace back in the day. He parted ways with that organization based in a large part because of his views on forest sustainability. Coming from a family of third generation loggers he knows forests and he knows that cutting fewer trees and using less wood is not the way to save the forests. His take: plant more trees and use more wood to reduce our need for products that rely on non-renewable materials during manufacture. ) The Ecology of Commerce (by Paul Hawken) The Not So Big House (The first in a growing series of books focused on the premise that you can live in a smaller house and still live well or even better that one with a ton of square footage. This is the first book in the series and therefore, the best place to start. The author is an architect and the houses in the books were actually built and lived in.)
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