Green Buildings
Provides information to help building-industry professionals and policy makers improve the environmental performance, and reduce the adverse impacts, of buildings
The Green Building Alliance is a nonprofit organization that integrates environmentally
responsible and high performance design, construction and operating practices into
the Greater Pittsburgh market. Their efforts are currently directed toward areas that
represent ongoing challenges, such as making the economic case for green building,
removing policy and code barriers to green building, and expanding beyond green building
design and construction to green operations.
Enables building industry professionals and consumers seeking a healthy, sustainable
lifestyle to choose building materials that preserve health, the environment, and
whose production and manufacture processes promote social equity and economic sustainability.
The Green Communities organization strives to make affordable, green housing available
nation-wide. The web site contains a variety of resources on the topic, including
links, articles, model projects, events, and much more.
The Green Globes system is a revolutionary building environmental design and management
tool. It delivers an online assessment protocol, rating system and guidance for green
building design, operation and management
"The Healthy Building Network (HBN) is a national network of green building professionals,
environmental and health activists, socially responsible investment advocates and
others who are interested in promoting healthier building materials as a means of
improving public health and preserving the global environment." The web site contains
alternatives for select building materials, an overview of life cycle analysis, and
information on the changes occurring in the building industry.
The American Society of Interior Designers Foundation and the U.S. Green Building
Council have partnered on the development of best practice guidelines and targeted
educational resources for sustainable residential improvement projects.
Web-based portal providing government and industry practitioners with one-stop access
to up-to-date information on a wide range of building-related guidance, criteria and
technology from a 'whole buildings' perspective.
Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, the LEED Green Building Rating System
is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance,
sustainable buildings. The certification has four levels (basic, silver, gold, and
platinum certifications) based upon the number of green components incorporated in
the building.
LEED has rating systems and certifications not just for new construction, but also
for existing buildings, commercial interiors, core and shell, homes, and neighborhood
development. Visit this site to find out more about green buildings and how LEED can
improve efficiency, aesthetics and reduce the environmental impact in nearly any constructed
space!