Green Building / Housing / Design Resources: (updated June 2005)
Green Building
Though some of these resources are based in the San Francisco Bay Area, the information on their websites will be useful to anyone interested in green bullding.
The City of San Francisco provides excellent
Green Building resources.
Click on the
Green Building
link listed under the
Innovative City Programs
heading.
There, you'll find a
Green Building Resource Guide,
links to lists of classes, regulations and discussions of
particular topics, such as PVC alternatives and arsenic-treated wood.The city's EcoCenter includes a list of green building materials and suppliers.
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
guidelines have been developed by the U.S.
Green Building Council (www.usgbc.org)
which is part of the
World Green Building Council.
Web Resources:
Green Builder: www.greenbuilder.com
Green Home Guide: www.greenhomeguide.com
Healthy Building Network: www.healthybuilding.net
Healthy House: www.healthhouse.org
Building Green.com: www.buildinggreen.com
Green Resource Center: www.greenresourcecenter.org
Green Affordable Housing Coalition: www.greenaffordablehousing.org
Forest Certification Resource Center: www.certifiedwood.org
Smart Wood (Rainforest Alliance): www.smartwood.org
Forest World: www.forestworld.com
The Green Guide (consumer products): www.greenguide.com
Whole Building Design Code: www.wbdg.org
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network: www.eere.energy.gov
Alameda County Waste Management: www.stopwaste.org
Ways to reduce construction waste and resources for alternative building materials.
Education
In collaboration with the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, Build It Green offers a Certified Green Building Professional certification class for California licensed building professionals. www.build-green.org
Pacific Energy Center (PG&E): Go to www.pge.com then select the Education and Training link; the center offers a wide range of energy efficiency classes.
Ecological Design, Planning and Construction (degree programs include "Distance Learning"), San Francisco Institute of Architecture: www.sfia.net
Building Education Center (Creating an Ecological House, Solar Electricity for Your Home, and other courses): www.bldgeductr.org
Affordable Housing Design
General resources.
Affordable Housing Design Advisor
A comprehensive site with a "workbook" approach. The AIA (American Institute of Architects) is a co-sponsor.
Design Matters: Best Practices in Affordable Housing
An excellent overview of successful projects of various types and sizes across the U.S. Well worth studying for good ideas. Complied by The City Design Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago. If you only look at one site, look at this one.
Other Links
NAHB Economic & Housing Data
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) compilation of all housing data. An excellent resource for regional numbers as well as cost data.
Greenaction Healthy Buildings Home Page
Resource for environmental issues in building materials. The current issue is on replacing PVC with a healthier alternative material.
Publications
Journal of Light Construction
Practical articles for both small contractors and serious do-it-yourselfers.
Fine Homebuilding Magazine's website
Taunton Press's online edition of "Fine Homebuilding" Magazine.
