Related Links
The following are some potentially useful links to some favorite websites for information and design guidance. Click on the name to see a brief summary of the organization and a link to their website.
Green Building Links
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. USGBC works toward its mission of market transformation through its LEED green building certification program, robust educational offerings, a nationwide network of chapters and affiliates, the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, and advocacy in support of public policy that encourages and enables green buildings and communities.
LEED for Homes (homepage)
www.usgbc.org/leedforhomes
A LEED-certified home is designed and constructed in accordance with the rigorous guidelines of the LEED for Homes green building certification program. LEED for Homes is a consensus-developed, third party-verified, voluntary rating system which promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes.
The Green Home Guide is USGBC's consumer-focused site that provides homeowners with resources and information for learning how to “go green” in home building and renovation projects.
Building-Green, LLC is 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.
INVERDE Design is a member subscriber to BuildingGreen Suite providing access to some of the best information on green design, featuring comprehensive, practical information on a wide range of topics related to sustainable building.
This is the green building site for the National Association of Home Builders, whose major members include developers and production homebuilders. NAHB administers its own version of green home program providing builders, remodelers, developers, and other home building professionals a variety of services to learn, incorporate, and market green building.
This site highlights information brought to light via the popular ‘Not So Big House’ series of books by architect Sarah Susanka. INVERDE Design subscribes to many of these same design strategies and concepts that provide renewed ways 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.
Another favorite of INVERDE’s member sites, GreenBuildingAdvisor is an online service of Taunton Press—the publisher of Fine Homebuilding Magazine. The site provides very useful, accurate, and complete information about designing, building, and remodeling energy-efficient, sustainable, and healthy homes.
www.dsireusa.org
DSIRE is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility and federal incentives and policies that promote renewable energy efficiency that is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. Click on any state in the map to see current incentive programs in place to encourage you to use renewable energy systems and/or energy improvements.
Indiana Office of Energy Development (OED)www.in.gov/oed/
The Indiana Office of Energy Development often has programs to help offset the cost of energy-saving products or improvements, as well as investments in renewable energy systems. This link takes you directly to the 'Tax Credits & Incentives' page within the OED portion of the State site.
Local (Indiana) Links
As the local affiliate of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the Indiana Chapter is a non-profit organization working to advance buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work here in Indiana. They offer green building programs, tours, and educational events throughout the state and the website provides information about these activities as well as other Indiana-based green building resources.
InREA, the Indiana Chapter affiliate of the American Solar Energy Society (ASES), was recently established in 2009 to promote the use of renewable energy (RE) technologies and to advocate for environmentally sustainable economic development in the State of Indiana. If you are looking for local businesses that provide renewable energy systems or a good place to join in the local RE debate, this is a good site to check out.
Sustainability Links
Architecture 2030, a non-profit, non-partisan and independent organization, was established in response to the global-warming crisis to rapidly transform the US and global Building Sector from being the major contributor of greenhouse gas emissions to a central part of the solution. This interesting and informative site provides insight to how this goal can be accomplished. INVERDE Design is a committed ‘adopter’ of the 2030 mission, aiming to change the way buildings and developments are planned, designed and constructed.
Want to know the REAL facts about global warming and climate change? I think the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has a great site here.
My favorite environmental writer, Bill McKibben, is the voice of this organization that calls attention to the critical number 350--as in parts per million CO2. If we can't get below that, most scientists say, the damage we're already seeing from global warming will continue and accelerate. 350.org is an international campaign that's building a movement to unite the world around solutions to the climate crisis--the solutions that science and justice demand.
RMI, headed by Amory Lovins, is one of the most important ‘think tank’ organizations in the world. Their website is chocked full of information on the latest ideas and innovations leading toward the efficient and restorative use of our energy resources. RMI works with both governments and corporations to bring new ideas rapidly to scale, to map and drive market transition from polluting fossil fuels to ultra-efficient energy use and renewables.
ASES is the nation's leading association of solar professionals and renewable energy advocates. The organization’s mission is to inspire an era of energy innovation and speed the transition to a sustainable energy economy through education, research and policy advocacy. They have a lot of good educational info on basic renewable technologies (solar, wind, bio, etc.) within their site as well.
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