The Resources are divided following eight types of sources.  Listings are alphabetical. Sites are not repeated even though some could be relisted in more than one. Further suggestions and recommendations for other resource information are welcome! Please email us to suggest additional links, and to let us know if you find a link is not working.

1. Canadian Government programs


2. Provincial and City programs


3. United States programs


4. US City programs

• 7. Green Roofs
  
  
• 8. Performance Tools and Targets
  

CMHC - Canada Mortage and and Housing Corporation : http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/ Source for research and information on housing design and energy-efficiency, and northern home design. Comprehensive website with sections on house markets; purchasing a house; construction, renovation and maintenance; and mortgage insurance (a central function). Of particular interest to green house designers, builders and prospective owners are:

• Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation – Innovative Buildings http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/imquaf/himu/buin_009.cfm These case studies from CMHC illustrate some of the innovative approaches to sustainability and green buildings in Canada (and a few from Sweden, U.S., Netherlands, etc). They are all conveniently sorted in categories such as green buildings, acoustics, energy efficiency, earthquake resistance, retrofit, financial considerations, and planning design issues.
  

• Housing Innovations http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/burema/hoin/index.cfm Summaries of latest information on new house construction technique. The Water Conservation section is particularly good.
  

• Highrises & Multiples http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/burema/himu/index.cfm The Highrise & Multiples Innovation Group at CMHC examines and promotes research into issues surrounding highrise construction, operation, maintenance and repair. The link to their "Best Practice Guides" summarises the documents and CDs available (for a price); these typically include technical information as well as print and AutoCad details. The "Better Building Fact Sheets" are illustrated 4-page case studies aimed at building owners and managers, focussed on improvements to multi-unit housing buildings.
  

• CHIC - Canadian Housing Information Centre http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/Library/ Current and past issues of "Current Housing Research" are available for .pdf download. "Current Housing Research" is a journal produced three times a year by the Canadian Housing Information Centre, listing research undertaken and sponsored by the CMHC. Each edition contains information on completed research reports, new publications, videos and bibliographies, as well as planned and ongoing research projects. An alphabetical title index of items listed is included at the end for quick reference. This is the most comprehensive and accessible listing of Canadian housing research available - and an excellent (indispensable?) resource.
  

• Research Reports Listing This page lists CMHC research documents (free to Canadian citizens); topics range from acoustics to HVAC to water conservation. Download a .pdf page, check off the publications you'd like, and email it to the CHIC at chic@cmhc-schl.gc.ca. They mail you the paper documents.
  

• ACCESS-CMHC - Canadian Housing Information Centre Online Catalog http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/library/accmhc/ accmhc_001.cfm The CHIC is a resource on all aspects of housing. This covers their entire 75,000 volume collection; searching their catalog requires using Telnet, and a (free) username and password. This site offers a manual that shows how to use the catalog.
  

• Research Highlights http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/publications/en/rh-pr/ index.html Index of CMHCs Research Highlights: brief, semi-technical summaries of CMHC research papers.
  

Natural Resources Canada Office of Energy Efficiency http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/ The Office of Energy Efficiency has prime responsibility for policy and technology development for energy conservation in Canada, under Natural Resources Canada's wing. Their site is a good resource for Canadian statistics, and information on federal policy and programs aimed at energy conservation and greenhouse gas reduction. Their "Document Search" database lists NRCAN publications and case studies, available for free download: http://energy-publications.nrcan.gc.ca/.

NRCan/OEE Programs http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/english/programs/index.cfm is the OEEs index to Federal government energy-efficiency programs. These include:

CBIP - Commercial Buildings Incentive Program http://cbip.nrcan.gc.ca/cbip.htm Natural Resources Canada's Commercial Building Incentive Program (CBIP) offers financial incentives for incorporation of energy efficiency features in new commercial/institutional building designs. The site provides free download of EE4, the DOE 2.1e-based energy simulation software specifically designed for CBIP use.

R2000 - Energy-efficient Housing http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/english/newhouses_r2000.cfm The longstanding R-2000 Program encourages the building of healthy, environmentally-friendly, energy-efficient houses. House builders volunteer to build to the R-2000 standard, which still exceeds the efficiency level required by building codes and other regulations. This site has a variety of publications on the R2000 program - but little technical detail. For the numbers and details on energy-efficient housing, the CMHC is a better resource.

Energy Innovators Program http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/eii/english/home.cfm The Energy Innovators Initiative (EII) helps commercial businesses and public institutions explore energy efficiency options and strategies, offering a variety of of tools, services and financial incentives.

FBI - Federal Buildings Initiative http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/fbi/home_page.cfm The FBI's job is to promote private-public sector partnerships to plan and implement cost-effective facility upgrades and retrofits. This site has a short list of case studies, and a variety of FBI documents.

EnerGuide http://energuide.nrcan.gc.ca/ EnerGuide is the source of the energy-efficiency labels on much Canadian equipment. This site summarizes energy considerations for comparison-shopping for energy-efficient appliances, residential heating and cooling equipment, vehicles, housing products and housing in Canada - but not comprehensive comparisons of EnerGuide ratings.

CANMET CEDRL - Canadian Energy Diversification Research Laboratory http://cedrl.mets.nrcan.gc.ca/ The CANMET Energy Diversification Research Laboratory's (CEDRL) mission is to develop and promote innovative energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. It carries out applied R&D in heat management, renewable energy and hybrid systems. Its site has a variety of downloadable research and industry overview documents focussed on Canadian renewable energy applications (free); and download of RETSCREEN software suite, for feasibility screening and design of renewable energy applications http://cedrl.mets.nrcan.gc.ca/e/412/retscreen/index.html

CANMET CETC - Canadian Energy Technology Centre http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/es/etb/cetc/cetc01/htmldocs/ about_us_e.html The CANMET Energy Technology Centre (CETC) is one of Canada's primary research organizations into energy, science and technology. The key research arm of Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) the CETC works with private and other public sector partners to develop and deploy leading-edge energy products and processes for most sectors of the Canadian economy. Their website publications are oriented mostly toward industrial energy-efficiency, with a few offerings on buildings (mostly federal government program.

Better Buildings for Greater Vancouver http://betterbuildings.ca Initiated by the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) and its partners, this site is a resource to retrofitting buildings to perform at higher efficiency. It provides resources for municipal sector, institutional, commercial and industrial building types. Included are resources for financing, various initiatives, supports and case studies.

The BC Building Corporation's http://www.greenbuildingsbc.com/ green building initiative site, including information on their Green Buildings Program and on their Retrofit Program. Information includes pilot projects, performance targets, design processes, case studies, toolkits and company directories.

Build Smart: http://www.gvrd.bc.ca/buildsmart/
Greater Vancouver’s guide to sustainable building information. Has best practices, glossary, case studies and lots of other information. They have a Green Building Product Directory with over 600 products and reconfigured to provide specifiers with intelligent searching
capabilities and enhanced functionality. Designed to align with the LEEDR rating system.

Built Green Alberta: http://www.builtgreenalberta.com/
A voluntary certification program for Alberta homes. This site has information for everyone from home buyers to developers.

Office of the Fire Commissioner, Manitoba – Codes & Standards:
http://www.firecomm.gov.mb.ca/codes_standards_introduction.html

The BC Ministry of Finance and Corporate Relations: Policies and Guidelines http://www.fin.gov.bc.ca/cd/policies.htm The Ministry of Finance also has a "Ministry of Finances Green Building Checklist" and is available at: http://www.fin.gov.bc.ca/cd/documents/Green-Buildings-Checklist2001.pdf

Manitoba R-2000 Home program http://www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/r2000/welcome.html

Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency provide a number of sites:

Center for Excellence for Sustainable Development Listing of conferences, meetings, and funding opportunities. Provides information about land use and planning; transportation; green buildings; municipal energy; sustainable business; measuring progress; financing; and resource efficiency for air, water, and materials.

Department of Energy Solar Buildings Program An introduction to various solar technologies and zero energy homes.

Department of Energy's Buildings Program Building energy codes, partnership opportunities (including the Building America program), emerging green building technologies, building materials, building systems, and whole-building design.

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network Information on a comprehensive range of energy-related technologies, featured sites, and specialized resources.

Energy Information Administration Information on all forms of energy, including petroleum, natural gas, coal, nuclear, renewables, and alternative fuels. Also provides environmental, international, and forecast information about electricity.

Energy Star Program Participate in the Energy Star program, search for builders in the program and learn about Energy Star appliances. The website has solutions to common problems to consider when remodeling a home. Energy Star runs a certification program for new homes to approve their energy efficiency.

EPA Indoor Air Quality Covers general indoor air quality topics, including radon, asthma, and mold. Also highlights an extensive list of EPA publications.

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Includes research on all aspects of building energy efficiency.

Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) PATH aims to dramatically improve the quality, cost effectiveness, durability, safety, and disaster resistance of housing in the United States.

Pennsylvania Green Building Maintenance Manual A pdf manual designed as a tool for facility managers in Pennsylvania, this manual shouldprove helpful for anyone seeking guidance on the environmentally preferable operation and maintenance of government buildings and associated grounds. Chapters include: Green Landscaping, Snow Removal and De-Icing, Roofing Maintenance, Parking Garage Maintenance, HVAC Maintenance, Lighting Maintenance, Cleaning Procedures, Cleaning Product Selection. The guide was developed in partnership with Green Seal, a third-party certifier of environmentally preferable products.

Smart Communities Network The "Green Buildings" section includes descriptions of building principles, rating systems, and municipal codes and ordinances that promote sustainable building. Articles, publications and educational materials are available, as well as a collection of inspirational "success stories."

State Energy Alternatives State-by-state information about renewable energy. Also includes summaries of renewable-energy technologies and policy issues.

U.S. Department of Energy Building Technologies Program Brief introduction to many building-related topics. Includes links to Department of Energy programs as well as initiatives on energy efficiency and sustainability in buildings.

U.S. Department of Energy's Center of Excellence for Sustainable Development Sustainable Building Technical Manual, case studies, monthly newsletter, and sustainable development toolkit.

Whole Building Design Guide An effort by the U.S. government to consolidate design guidelines into one easily updateable reference. Web resources managed by the Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (SBIC) and the National Institute of Building Science (NIBS).

Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy A comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and selected federal incentives that promote renewable energy.

Florida Solar Energy Center View the work of some of the US's leading researchers on energy conservation and comfort in hot, humid climates.

Austin GreenBuilder Program http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/greenbuilder/ This is the website of the well respected and contains a wealth of pragmatic information on building green.

Sustainable Building Sourcebook http://www.greenbuilder.com/sourcebook/ The City of Austin (the first North American municipal Green Building program) publishes this online GB design guide, covering water, energy, and materials. While oriented to Texas conditions and suppliers, much of its advice is universally applicable.

Boston Green Building: http://www.bostongreenbuilding.org/
Good case studies and links about green building as well as information about steps the City of Boston is taking towards sustainable development.

City of Portland Office of Sustainable Development: http://www.sustainableportland.org/ Information, case studies, and resources promoting green building.

City of Santa Monica Green Buildings Design & Construction Guidelines http://greenbuildings.santa-monica.org/ 
 Covering Siting and Form, Landscape, Transportation, Envelope/Space Planning, Materials, Water, Electrical, HVAC and Control Systems, as well as Construction Management and Commissioning, each chapter has a discussion of its topic, an annotated information resource list, and Recommended Practices that succinctly illustrate and summarize most GB design approaches. While it's tailored to what works in the coastal Southern California climate, I'd say that most of the design advice is useful anywhere. Available for download as pdf files, the site also includes an annotated WWW resource list.

Seattle Sustainable Building: http://www.seattle.gov/sustainablebuilding/greenhome.htm#Kitchen Provides information about sustainable building and has several guides to green home remodeling with specific information about each room in the house.

Ekostaden: http://www.ekostaden.com/
Website about the transformation of Malmo, Sweden into a more sustainable city with a focus on two developing communities, Vastrahamnen and Augustenborg.

Air Quality Solutions: http://www.naturaire.com/index.html All natural indoor air cleaning through the use of biofiltration and plant systems.

Alberta Sustainable House: http://abridesign.com/lowimpact/housing/action.lasso?-Response=search05.lasso&ID=1348 Suburban home and office by architect Jorg and Helen Ostrowski that is in many ways automous. See Autonomous & Sustainable Housing Inc.

American Institute of Architects: http://www.aiatopten.org/hpb/ See the 2005 green project awards.

American Solar Energy Society Dedicated to advancing the use of solar energy for the benefit of U.S. citizens and the global environment. Publishes Solar Today Magazine.

American Wind Energy Association A national trade association that promotes wind energy as a clean source of electricity for consumers around the world.

Architects, Designers and Planners for Social Responsibility (ADPSR) A national nonprofit organization of architects, designers, planners and related professionals. ADPSR's efforts are directed towards arms reduction, protection of the natural and built environment, and socially responsible development.

Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers Provides energy-efficiency information for specific brands of major appliances. Also runs a certification program for certain types of appliances.

Ancient Iranian Architecture – Solar Cooling Chimneys. Explains how the Iranian desert town was built to maximize comfort and reduce the impact of the constant heat. http://www.cais-soas.com/CAIS/Architecture/wind.htm

Architects / Designers / Planners for Social Responsibility: http://www.adpsr.org/ ADPSR works for peace, environmental protection, ecological building, social justice, and the development of healthy communities.

The Association of Building Sustainability Assessors (ABSA): http://www.absa.net.au/
ABSA represents building and design professionals in Australia who offer specialist skills in assessing the ecological impact of our built environment. ABSA provides a range of services, including: training and support for sustainability assessors; advice and information for Councils, building professionals and consumers; seminars on sustainable development; accreditation and quality assurance schemes for assessors that provide certified assessments required by state and national building regulations.

Basix: http://203.110.153.11/information/index.jsp
The Building Sustainability Index, is an Australian web-based planning tool that measures the potential performance of new residential dwellings against sustainability indices. There are good water and energy saving tips on the site.

Bay Area Build It Green A program designed to provide San Francisco Bay Area homeowners, homebuyers, remodelers, and builders a trusted resource for information on Green Building and its various applications. A local effort with far reaching effects, this organization is dedicated to creating healthier, more durable and energy-efficient homes.

BIPER USA By directing attention to sustainable development and sustainable design, BIPERUSA focuses on such issues as: quality of life, vibrant inner cities, urban planning - TND's, TOD's, storm water pollution prevention, green building products, soft energy, distributed generation, micro-girds, heat stacks, indoor air quality, interoperability/BAC's and LEED, state and federal legislation, urban heat islands/green roofs, and probably the most complete international green building Upcoming Events listings anywhere online or print.

Building Alternatives Incorporated: http://www.buildalt.com/index.html
A Manitoba based company that does engineering consultation and runs workshops for alternative building construction such as strawbale and cordwood.

Building Codes Assistance Project: http://www.bcap-energy.org/home.php
The Building Codes Assistance Project is dedicated to assisting states in the adoption and implementation of statewide building energy codes.

BuildingEnvelopes.org A joint venture of MIT and Harvard, this site includes the latest research on sustainability and energy-related building practices.

Building Green An independent company committed to providing accurate, unbiased, and timely information designed to help building-industry professionals and policy makers improve the environmental performance, and reduce the adverse impacts, of buildings. Publishers of Environmental Building News and GreenSpec.

Building Science Corporation: http://www.buildingscience.com/default.htm
Provides design recommendations for various climates, including ‘very cold’. There are designs and plans for affordable housing in cold climates as well as a Green Building Treatise.

Building Technologies Program: http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/database/
A database of case studies of energy efficient buildings from the US Department of Energy. The database includes buildings of all types and sizes from homes to hotels. 

Builders Without Borders An international network of ecological builders who form partnerships with communities and organizations around the world to create affordable housing out of local materials. Its site includes free, downloadable educational materials about natural building, as well as descriptions of the organization's current projects and upcoming activities.

The Canadian Green Building Council (CaGBC) http://www.cagbc.org
The Canada Green Building Council was formed to accelerate the design and construction of Green Buildings across Canada. The Council is a broad-based inclusive coalition of representatives from different segments of the design and building industry. The Council will work to: change industry standards, develop best design practices and guidelines; advocate for green buildings, and develop educational tools to support its members in implementing sustainable design and construction practices.

Manitoba Chapter Canada Green Building Council: http://www.cagbc.ca/chapters/cagbc_chapters.php?id=5&press=1&draw_column=3:3:2
The Manitoba Chapter exists to promote green building in Manitoba and to connect the province to the activities of the Canada Green Building Council and other Chapters across the country.  We are comprised of a diverse collection of professionals representing a wide cross section of fields, who promote buildings that are environmentally and economically sustainable, and healthy places to live, work and play. Their vision is a culture of stewardship and prosperity, and our mission is to be a leader, showcase local innovation, and inspire our stakeholders to create life-enhancing built environments.  They carry out this mission by offering networking and education opportunities to our members, by promoting collaboration in the local industry, and advocating for green building in Manitoba. New website presents activities and projects.

The Canadian Eco-Lumber Co-op http://www.ecolumber.ca The Canadian Eco-Lumber Co-op offers sustainable solutions to building and construction needs. All products that are carried by the Eco-Lumber Co-op are independently eco-certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). FSC wood and products are also recognized by the Us Green Building Council and LEED. The Eco-Lumber Co-op carries a wide range of products including: lumber, timbers, plywood & sheet goods, flooring & decking, siding & paneling, doors, furniture & millwork and home packages.

Center for Resourceful Building Technology (CRBT) A project of the National Center for Appropriate Technology, CRBT promotes resource efficiency in building design, materials selection and construction practices. Includes a database of resource-efficient building products, demonstration sites, publications, and educational materials.

Clean Edge A market research and consulting firm that helps investors, industry, and society understand and profit from the emerging clean-tech revolution.

Composting toilets: http://homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/96/960106.html

Co-op America's Solar Catalyst Group Focused on building demand for solar and lowering the price of solar technologies.

Development Center for Appropriate Technology. DCAT Codes: http://www.dcat.net/about_dcat/current/codes.php# Information on how to get green building alternatives approved by code inspectors. Handy checklist for green building approval and a PDF “Breaking Down the Barriers” – a survey and report conducted by DCAT.

Dockside Green: http://www.docksidegreen.ca/ A new development in the Victoria B.C. harbour. to become a socially vibrant, ecologically restorative & economically sound community. The first phase is in construction.

Earth Advantage: http://www.earthadvantage.org/ A green building program and certification process for the State of Oregon. Has information on new homes and on remodeling.

Eco Buildings: http://www.ecobuildings.net/index.php

EcoCite on the Canal and ecolofts in downtown Ottawa: http://www.ecocite.com/

Ecological Building Network: http://www.ecobuildnetwork.org/ Information on building codes and many resources about green building. This site also has research reports about alternative building tests and performance achievements.

Energy and Environmental Building Association: http://www.eeba.org/ Provides education and resources for builders.

Ask an Energy Expert: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Clearinghouse (EREC) http://www.eere.energy.gov/informationcenter/ Provides free general and technical information to the public on a wide spectrum of topics and technologies pertaining to energy efficiency and renewable energy.

EcoDesign Resource Society Vancouver http://www.ecodesign.bc.ca A non-profit group promoting ecological design in B.C. Very good resources and links to architects, construction firms, landscape designers, and many other environmental building practitioners. Lists products, descriptions and contact information for retailers. Articles and books are available as well as recent sustainable construction news.list.

Ecological Design Institute Education in the form of public presentations, lectures, workshops promoting ecological design.

Energy and Environmental Building Association (EEBA) EEBA promotes the awareness, education and development of energy efficient, environmentally responsible buildings and communities. Diverse membership base includes architects, builders, developers, manufacturers, engineers, utilities, code officials, researchers, educators, and environmentalists.

Environmental Building News site http://www.buildinggreen.com/ is the and has a wealth of information in articles, editions of the Environmental Building News Newsletter. Many of the resources, books, and CD ROMs are available for purchase on this site.

Ecological Architecture, Design http://home.earthlink.net/~jluke313/ This is a site focused on and many other issues, cohosted with Amazon.com. It includes extensive information on: publications; research centres; programs; communities; firms; government initiatives; legislation; products; software and other links.

EBN: Environmental Building News http://www.buildinggreen.com/  A monthly newsletter is very useful independent information resource on all aspects of green building design in North America; their website is as well-considered and valuable. It provides access to articles from past issues of Environmental Building News; summaries of EBNs current issue feature articles; product reviews, and article-related links. They also publish GreenSpec, Green Building Advisor software, and co-sponsors excellent listservs on green homes and commercial buildings. Some very user-friendly documents on how to build green: http://www.buildinggreen.com/features/4-5/priorities.html http://www.buildinggreen.com/ebn/checklist.html http://www.buildinggreen.com/features/lc/low_cost.html

Environmental Design and Construction Magazine: http://www.edcmag.com/ More technical information for builders and designers but has some interesting articles for home owners as well.

Environmental Design Library: Green Design / Sustainable Architecture: Resources http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/GreenAll.html
This guide leads you to information on this topic, providing strategies for locating newer materials. Unless noted, all materials are in the Environmental Design Library, UC Berkeley. Related materials may be found in other Universities and departments - Engineering, Public Health and the Bioscience and Natural Resources Libraries.

Forest Certification Resource Center Offers clear, well-organized background materials on forest product certification. Its primary feature is a series of databases tied directly to the Forest Stewardship Council's official listing of certified organizations. Also features a toolkit that helps designers specify certified wood.

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) An independent, nonprofit organization that promotes responsible forest management by evaluating and accrediting certifiers, encouraging the development of national and regional forest management standards, and providing public education about independent, third-party certification.

Forest World Provides contact and certification information for manufacturers of forest products. Categorizes over 6,000 industry-related sites by description, company name, or category. Also includes information about more than 900 species of wood, including uses, distribution, physical properties, and environmental profiles.

Greener Buildings: http://www.greenerbuildings.com/ Information resource to help companies of all sizes and sectors understand and address building design, construction, and operation in a way that aligns environmental responsibility with business success. Architecture and design, building materials, energy use, interiors, land use, water use, etc. Provides links and case studies as well.  GreenerBuildings is a partnership between two nonprofit organizations: the U.S. Green Building Council, the United State’s foremost coalition of leaders from across the building industry working to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work; and Green Business Network, a program of The National Environmental Education & Training Foundation (NEETF), that also produces GreenBiz, ClimateBiz, and other sites.

Green Building Encyclopedia: http://www.whygreenbuildings.com/

Green Building Grant Program: http://www.realestatefoundation.com/greenbuilding.html Run by the Real Estate Foundation of British Columbia. For BC projects only.

The Green Building Initiative: http://www.thegbi.com/home/
Green building information for builders, consumers, and realtors.

GBIC - Green Building Information Council http://greenbuilding.ca/ With support from Natural Resources Canada's C2000 program, the GBIC are driving the Green Building Challenge conferences. The site is primarily an index for green and energy-efficient building resources, but also allows ordering of the GBC proceedings - one of the best sources on performance of green buildings globally. The GBIC also publishes the Advanced Buildings Newsletter bimonthly; the website has .pdf files of past issues available for free download. The GBIC site hosts - an resource on green building technologies and approaches, in its "Advanced Buildings Technologies and Practices" section; with case studies, technology summaries and contacts - home page for Natural Resources Canada's Buildings Group, which develops software tools to support energy-efficient building design.

Green Buildings B.C. http://www.greenbuildingsbc.com/ Covering both the BC Governments' New and Retrofit Programs, this site summarizes these initiatives, and provide a number of information resources created and used by them for free download. The Retrofit Program site includes a "How-To Guide" for the program and GB retrofits in general; links to other North American retrofit programs; and pre-qualified consultants and contractors. See "Resources " section for case studies, places to find money, guidelines and other info. URL link " Resources" in description: http://www.greenbuildingsbc.com/new_buildings/resources_guide/index.html

GBC - US Green Building Council http://www.usgbc.org/ The U.S. Green Building Council is a non-profit coalition of US building industry leaders, working to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable, and healthy places to live and work. Originators of the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) GB performance rating system, the US GBC is having a major effect on building design practice in North America. Their site hosts LEED documentation, a few case studies, and a brief list of high-quality GB standards and information resources. Members gain access to product database case studies and directories.

Green Building Resource Center Green design news and events. Also includes a searchable link library and Green Bookstore that contain hundreds of resources on sustainable topics.

Green Building Resources from the Energy and Environmental Building Association Links to builder programs around the country, including Austin Energy's Green Building Program and Built Green Colorado.

GreenClips A bi-monthly email newsletter with news about sustainable building design.

The Green Guide Consumer source for practical everyday actions benefiting environmental and personal health. The information is presented in a way that is brief and focused, with all facts rigorously researched and verified.

Global Energy Marketplace (GEM) A searchable renewable energy and energy efficiency web encyclopedia. Includes information on greenhouse gas mitigation.

Global Possibilities An environmental nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the use of solar and renewable energy in the United States. They hope to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels through consumer education and sustainable design curriculum development.

Green Builder Sourcebook   http://www.greenbuilder.com/sourcebook/ Large database of green building materials.

Green Home Building http://www.greenhomebuilding.com/  Info on all aspects of sustainable architecture.

Green Building Resource Guide: http://www.greenguide.com/about.html
The Green Building Resource Guide is a database of over 600 green building materials and products selected specifically for their usefulness to the design and building professions, rather than merely their green material content. A feature unique to this guide is the Price Index Number.

Green Home Building: http://www.greenhomebuilding.com/
This site provides a wide range of information about sustainable architecture and natural building. Discuses how to deal with building codes as well.

Green Home Resources: http://www.green-home-resources.com/ Provides green building resources and link to plans for green homes.

Green Matters http://www.greenmatters.com/  A busy person’s guide to living green.

The Healthiest Home: http://www.thehealthiesthome.com/
A store in Ottawa, Ontario that sells all kinds of green building and renovation products for the interior or exterior of your home. They deliver across North America.

Healthy Home: http://www.healthyhome.com/ShowPage.asp?page=default.asp Tips on building or renovating your home to be a healthy home. Offers the latest news and books about healthy homes as well.

The Healthy Home Store: http://www.ecoelements.ca/
A Winnipeg store that offers an array of green building and renovation products.

Health House A national U.S. education program created by the American Lung Association of Minnesota to raise the standards for better indoor environments. Includes indoor air quality home checklists and training programs.

Home Energy: http://homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/96/960310.html Popular journal on renewables and home improvements. Backissues available.

Home Power The hands-on journal of home made power  http://www.homepower.com/

Housing Zone Residential construction website that caters to builders, remodelers, architects, consumers, and manufacturers. Includes an online buyer's guide, store, classes, research, events, and many other helpful features.

Institute for Energy Information A nonprofit corporation providing energy management information, energy analysis programs, and solution applications to the public. Their online store sells a wide range of energy-efficient products hand-picked by energy experts as the best in their class.

International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) The primary source for information on light pollution worldwide. Their goal is to stop the adverse environmental impact on dark skies by building awareness of light pollution while educating people about the value and effectiveness of quality nighttime lighting.

Lighting Research Center Technical information relating to the design and specification of energy-efficient lighting.

The Last Straw Journal: http://www.strawhomes.com/
An international journal about straw bale and natural building.

Low Impact Housing: http://abridesign.com/lowimpact/index.htm
Examples and details of recent green home designs across Canada and around the world.

National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Massive collection of documents on case studies, indoor air quality, land development, and more. Experts can answer green building questions through the ToolBase Service.

Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) The Cities and Green Living section of NRDC's site has information and resources for green building, including descriptions and photographs of the organization's environmentally-friendly offices in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.

National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy – Energy Use: http://www.nrtee-trnee.ca/Publications/HTML/Complete-Documents/SOD_Urban_E/Chapter3_e.htm

New Buildings Institute Promotes energy efficiency through policy development, research, guidelines, and codes. Includes links to guidelines, reports, and tools for energy-efficient lighting, architecture, and mechanical systems.

The Noise Pollution Clearinghouse Extensive resource for myriad information on noise and its control. Includes a technical reference on noise impacts and frequently updated resources section for current publications and articles.

NSF International A nonprofit public health and safety company. Focuses on food, water, indoor air, and the environment. NSF develops national standards, provides learning opportunities through its Center for Public Health Education, and provides third-party conformity assessment services.

OIKOS Green Building Source http://www.oikos.com/ OIKOS is allied with Environmental Building News, and publishes the Energy Source Builder newsletters, which have long been respected independent reviewers of green building products and equipment. The site offers a searchable archive or ESB articles, and a database of GB products and EE/RE equipment; as well as a pretty good online library and Project Showcase.

One Planet Living: http://www.wwf.org.uk/sustainablehomes/index.asp
An initiative by the World Wildlife Fund. Through their One Million Sustainable Homes campaign WWF is working with government, industry and consumers to bring sustainable homes from the fringes of the housing sector to the mainstream.

The Power Scorecard A rating mechanism that assesses the environmental impact of different types of electricity generation. Gives users comprehensive environmental information on green power providers.

PBS TV series on "Building Green":
A program on how to build green premiered at the Santa Barbara Film Festival in early 2006, has earned coverage on National Public Radio and other local and national media. The show will be aired on PBS in summer 2006. Check the “Building Green” website http://www.buildinggreentv.com/ for air dates in specific regions. After running on PBS, the show will be released on DVD.

Public Technology Focuses on improving the quality and availability of new technologies while reducing their costs.

Radiant Heating: www.radiantpanelassociation.org
All the information you need to know about radiant heating.

Radiant heating - CMHC: http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/burema/gesein/abhose/ce04.cfm

Resource Efficient Homes Across America: http://www.homes-across-america.org/
A search engine for homes across the US that use green technology. Discussion of climate specific design and a glossary of green building terms are also very useful.

Real Goods: A long established California supplier of Renewable energy products, tools and wisdom  http://www.realgoods.com/

Remodeling Talk Information about remodeling, including articles, resources, and news.

REPP-CREST Aims to accelerate the use of renewable energy by providing credible information, insightful policy analysis, and innovative strategies amid changing energy markets and mounting environmental needs.

Rocky Mountain Institute: The respected nonprofit research + educational organization whose goal is to foster the efficient and sustainable use of resources as a path to global security  http://www.rmi.org/

Rocky Mountain Institute's site Home Resource Efficiency http://www.rmi.org/sitepages/pid167.asp  includes basic information on home resource efficiency and more detailed publications in the following areas: Energy efficiency; appliances and lighting; home cooling; household greenhouse-gas reduction; water efficiency; resource-efficient new home construction; environmentally friendly building materials; renewable energy: solar, wind, micro-hydro; ndoor air quality; recycling.

Rocky Mountain Institute's Green Development http://www.rmi.org/sitepages/pid261.asp  list of links on green development. Includes energy links (rating systems, energy efficiency, renewable energy) and links to centers, listserves, etc. on green building.

Rocky Mountain Institute Data and resources on green energy, green development, case studies, and consulting services. Also includes a bookstore.

SBIC - Sustainable Buildings Information Council http://www.sbicouncil.org/home/index.html The Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (SBIC) is an independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance the design, affordability, energy performance, and environmental soundness of America’s buildings. SBIC serves as a national resource clearinghouse for whole building design, product information, professional training, consumer education, and analytic tools. Their books and software can be ordered online; but little available for free.

Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) Provides independent, third-party certification of environmental and food safety achievements.

Smart Growth Network A coalition of developers, planners, government officials, lending institutions, and others involved in the development process of US cities and states. They encourage development that serves the economy, community, and environment.

Smart Growth BC: http://www.smartgrowth.bc.ca/index.cfm
Explains what smart growth is. Discusses alternative development standards and provides examples of communities building in tune with smart growth principles.

SmartWood SmartWood, a program of the Rainforest Alliance, works to reduce the negative impact of commercial forestry by rewarding its seal of approval to responsible forest managers.

Society of Building Science Educators An association of university educators in architecture who support excellence in the teaching of environmental science and building technologies.

Solar Energy Industries Association SEIA is the national trade association of solar energy manufacturers, dealers, distributors, contractors, installers, architects, consultants, and marketers, concerned with expanding the use of solar technologies in the global marketplace.

Solar Living Institute A nonprofit that offers hands-on workshops on renewable energy, ecological design, sustainable living practices, and alternative construction techniques.

Sunlight Homes http://www.sunlighthomes.com/index.html a U.S. residential development company specializing in design and building the so-called sunlight homes. Sunlight homes maximize the use of natural sunlight providing energy efficient, and comfortable living space. Site provides useful sections describing custom home design.

Sun pipes: http://www.sunpipe.com/ Provides light pipe systems for daylighting rooms.

Sustainable Architecture, Building and Culture http://www.sustainableabc.com/  Provides resources under listings of air and water quality, appropriate technology, architects and architecture, bioregional planning, eco building materials, embodied energy and LCA, environmental education, environmental illness, natural building technology, natural habitat, periodicals and guides, permaculture, principles of sustainability, recycled building materials, renewable energy, straw bale construction, transportation. A list of books are described.

Sustainable Building Support Centre: http://www.sustainablebuilding.info/
Includes interesting links and downloads.

Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (SBIC) A nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance the design, affordability, energy performance, and environmental soundness of residential, institutional, and commercial buildings in the US.

Sustainable Community Design Website http://www.umanitoba.ca/academic/faculties/architecture/la/sustainable/index.htm
Faculty of Architecture University of Manitoba site providing solid description and cases of more sustainable community planning and design.

Sustainable Living Design Specializes in permaculture and ecological design as well as ecobuilding consultation.

Sustainable Sources Sustainable building Sourcebook, events calendar, and email discussion groups.

Sustainable Urban Landscapes: http://www.sustainable-communities.agsci.ubc.ca/projects/ADS.htmlAlternative Development Standards (ADS) for sustainable communities.

Toronto Healthy House – CMHC http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/popup/hhtoronto/ A demonstration duplex house in Toronto, resulting from CMHC Healthy House design competition.

Union of Concerned Scientists A nonprofit alliance of concerned citizens and scientists across the country, connecting scientific insights with environmental and social advocacy.

WasteSpec Model specifications for construction, waste reduction, reuse, and recycling. Available free online.

WaterWiser The American Water Works Association's water efficiency clearinghouse website. Offers reliable information on water conservation strategies.

Whats working: Is a U.S. consultancy on greenbuilding. http://www.whatsworking.com/resources.html

Whole Building Design Guide http://www.wbdg.org The Whole Building Design Guide provides government and industry practitioners with a one-step, up-to-date portal to information relating to building guidance. It provides design guidance and suggestions to various building functions, design objectives, and products. It also provides guidance to project management involved with planning, development, delivery and control. Sustainability is one of the design guidance principles and is found in its own section.

Winnipeg and Region GreenMap http://www.arch.umanitoba.ca/greenmap/gm.html
Contains a number of illustrated case descriptions of green building in Manitoba.

Your Home Planet – Environmental Building Design and Construction Portal: http://www.yourhomeplanet.com/

Zero Energy Home in Chicago – Zoka Zola: http://www.zokazola.com/prj_adams_zeroenergy.html

Zerofootprint : http://www.zerofootprint.net/
News and information on green products, trends, initiatives and event. Link to the ZeroFootPrint magazine, published in Toronto, for stories of sustainability.

Green Roofs for Healthy Cities Includes information about green roofs, public & private benefits, installation, and additional resources.

Introductory Manual Public Works and Government Services of Canada manual (pdf file) includes advantages and benefits; barriers; design and construction; and more.

Green Roof Tech This site is hosted by a private company promoting green roof technologies but contains good information on the technology and on various examples where it has been used, including some good photos of examples.

ATHENA Environmental Impact Estimator A modeling tool designed to make life-cycle analysis more accessible to building designers.

Basic Guidelines - Environmental Building Design and Construction http://www.nrg-builder.com/greenhome-basics.htm The Environmental Building Design and Construction guidelines were developed by the US consulting firm known as BEST (Building Environmental Science and Technology). The list suggests ways to build buildings that are more comfortable, durable, healthy to live in, and less costly to operate in the long run.

BEES (Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability) Free software that gives environmental and economic performance data for 65 building products.

BREEAM and EcoHomes: http://www.bre.co.uk/service.jsp?id=51
BREEAM (BRE Environmental Assessment Method) is the world's most widely used means of reviewing and improving the environmental performance of buildings. This UK site also features The Green Guide to Housing Specification, and has links to other relevant websites.

Green Buildings BC: Performance Targets for Pilot Projects
http://www.greenbuildingsbc.com/new_buildings/performance_targets.html
BCBC and the Province are using these performance targets on some green building pilot projects.

Building Energy Tools Directory A collection of 210 software tools with pro/con descriptions. Searchable by function or computer platform.

DOE Building Energy Software Tools EnergyPlus, a building-energy simulation program, and other DOE-sponsored software.

EcoAdvisor Graphical and animated tools that illustrate the workings of various energy systems in buildings.

Energy-10 Software from the Sustainable Buildings Industry Council Simulates the design of your project and calculates whole-building performance, including thermal, HVAC, and daylighting components.

EPA Emissions Tools Allows user to convert energy generation into emissions, and differentiates between power generation from different sources, such as coal, natural gas, nuclear, hydro, solar, and wind.

EPA Global Warming Under "Tools," you can estimate greenhouse gas emissions for various activities. Additionally, you can measure and analyze energy consumption and emission reduction opportunities.

Green Building Advisor Identifies green design strategies in building projects.

GreenerBuilding.org Materials Spec Database with discussion and supplier info. Throughout the site, you'll find building products, local dealers, and helpful programs near you. But Greenerbuilding.org really begins with you — it's a place for you to share your personal expertise about products with the sustainable building community.

Greenguard A registry for products that have been tested and found to meet applicable government and NGO standards for emissions to ensure healthy indoor air quality.

GreenSpec Contains detailed listings for more than 1,700 green building products with environmental data, manufacturer information, and links to additional resources.

Office of Federal Energy Management Program Includes analytical software for life cycle costing and other methods of economic analysis. The tools help project designers choose conservation measures that are the most cost-effective and environmentally-friendly.

Safe Climate Information and resources to stop climate change, including an online tool to calculate your carbon footprint.

Scorecard Scorecard's searchable database includes information about pollution in your neighborhood, various chemicals' health effects, current toxic chemical regulatory controls, and more.

Target Finder An extension of the Environmental Protection Agency's Portfolio Manager (provides rough calculations of energy performance for existing buildings), this simple online calculator helps architects estimate energy targets for new buildings.