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.

Bay Area Build It Green
A program designed to provide 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.

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.

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
This site includes the valuable information on mold, with proposed vapor barrier code changes, designs that work and information on seminars and workshops.

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.

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.

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

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

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

EcoDesign
Based in Canada, the EcoDesign site contains 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.

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.

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

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.

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 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.

Green Seal
An independent non-profit organization that provides an evaluation of products for "certification" as green. Green Seal promotes the manufacture, purpose and use of environmentally friendly products.

Health House
A national 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.

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.

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.

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
A site devoted to serving professionals whose work promotes sustainable design and construction. Includes an extensive green products directory, recent news stories, a bookstore, green project articles, and marketing information.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

United States Green Building Council (USGBC)
Promotes understanding, development, and implementation of green building policies, technologies, and design practices. Extensive information about the LEED Green Building Rating System. Members gain access to product database case studies and directories.

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

Back to Top

Tools