The Architectural Record provides information on design ideas and trends, building science, business and professional strategies, and exploration of key issues, news, products and other topics.  The publication features a green resources section with information about green building.

BuildingGreen helps building industry professionals broaden their expertise, improve environmental performance, and streamline project management with authoritative, independent information on environmentally responsible design and construction. Their online and print resources include:

LEEDuser helps members certify building projects with tips, action checklists, sample documentation, forums, and templates for the key commercial and institutional LEED rating systems: LEED-NC, LEED-CS LEED-CI, LEED-Schools and LEED-EBOM. LEEDuser also helps save time and money with frank advice on how to accomplish each credit requirement.

Environmental Building News™ is a print and searchable online resource covering the essential topics related to sustainable building – from renewable energy and recycled-content products, to land-use planning and indoor air quality.  Includes free access to LEED- and AIA HSW-approved continuing education courses.

GreenSpec® online database provides fast, in-depth searches of the greenest 10 percent of building products by keyword, CSI MasterFormat category, certifications and green attributes.  Members save time and avoid manufacturer greenwashing with guidance on material selection and hazard assessments, in-depth analysis to substantiate sourcing decisions, independent expert opinion, and first-hand peer experiences.

BuildingGreen Suite™ is a comprehensive online resource offering instant access to thousands of articles, in-depth features, product reviews, news and opinions. This information is searchable and cross-references by CSI MasterFormat division, LEED™ credit, and green topic, and includes a database of over 275 high-performance building case studies.  Includes unlimited access to Environmental Building News and GreenSpec®

The California Sustainability Alliance (the Alliance) is designed to help meet the state’s aggressive energy, climate and other resource and environmental goals by increasing and accelerating energy efficiency in combination with complementary green measures and strategies.

Green Leases Toolkit
The Alliance assembled an expert group of professionals with substantial experience in commercial real estate to develop and test strategies to overcome the significant barriers to greening the 90% of California’s commercial office space that is leased. This effort focused on “green leasing” (i.e., integrating sustainability practices into the entire commercial leasing process.) This includes service provider selection; marketing of buildings, development of green specifications; request of proposal and letter of intent drafting; site selection and due diligence; and the negotiation and drafting of realistic and enforceable lease language. 

Con Edison’s energy efficiency programs for homes and businesses can help lower energy usage.  Offerings include free equipment upgrades, rebates, recycling programs, and home and business energy surveys.

Small Business Direct Installation
Con Edison’s Small Business Direct Installation Program sends out energy professionals to evaluate the lighting, ballasts, fixtures, HVAC system, and more at businesses. They make custom recommendations for improving energy efficiency that fit the needs and budget of the business.

Energy Efficiency Programs for Commercial & Industrial Customers
With Con Edison’s multifamily energy survey, Green Team Energy professional will come and evaluate building lighting, heating and cooling equipment, and appliances, and offer energy-acing recommendations.  Once a building is enrolled, residents can receive free CFLs, water saving devices, and smart strips.  Building owners are offered incentives and rebates for certain upgrades, including lighting fixtures, LED exit signs, chillers, HVAC systems, and more. In some cases, new ENERGY STAR® refrigerators will be provided at no cost!

Demand Response
Con Edison’s new demand response programs for business and residential customers provide financial incentives for participation and help lower the demand for electricity during peak periods when energy use is at its highest.  Programs range from emergency based to forecast based peak load shaving programs.

Free Programmable Thermostats for Central AC Systems
Con Edison is offering a free programmable thermostat that allows for control of the temperature in your business, even when you’re not there.  You will be able to adjust the temperature manually or remotely via the Internet or your mobile phone, while providing an efficient use of energy when programming features are used.

Commercial Energy Calculator
This site includes calculators that estimate savings resulting from energy and lighting upgrades.

The Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute is a non-profit organization created to bring about a large-scale transformation in the way we make the things we make.  Rather than focusing on how industry can become “less bad,” the Institute is set up to be a resource for those who inspire to do “more good.”  They promote an innovation-oriented model for eliminating toxic chemicals and other negative environmental impacts.

Product Certification
Cradle to Cradle CertifiedCM Products Program is a 5-criteria protocol that evaluates how safe and healthy a product is for humans and the environment.  This site has information on the steps toward certification and a registry of certified products.

DSIRE is a comprehensive source on state, local, utility, and federal incentives that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency.  The searchable database allows searches by sector, incentive type, state, or technology.  It also offers a financial incentives summary list with key contacts and web links.

California’s Department of resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) brings together the state’s recycling and waste management programs and continues a tradition of environmental stewardship.  CalRecycle’s mission is to inspire and challenge Californians to achieve the highest waste reduction, recycling and reuse goals in the nation.  Their web site includes a number of resources to help business, homeowners, and other reduce waste.

In 2004, Enterprise set out to prove that it was possible to bring the health, economic and environmental benefits of green building to low-income communities nationwide.  In just five years, the Enterprise Green Communities initiative invested $700 million to build and preserve nearly 16,000 green affordable homes – while transforming local, state, and national policies.  Enterprise is continuing to lead and build on this important momentum with the net generation of Enterprise Green Communities, committing $4billion over the next five years.  Green Communities provides funds and expertise to enable developers to build and rehabilitate homes that are healthier, more energy efficient and better for the environment – without compromising affordability.  Funding options available include planning in construction and charette grants, predevelopment and contraction loans as well as low-income housing tax credit equity for building projects that adhere to their “Green Criteria.”

The Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) is the voice of Canada’s wood, pulp, and paper products nationally and internationally in government, trade, and environmental affairs.  Canada’s forest products industry is a $57.1 billion a year industry that represents 2% of Canada’s GDP. FPAC members strive to operate in a manner which is environmentally responsible, socially desirable, and economically viable.

Where to Buy Responsible Products
FPAC Member Companies must be certified to one of three internationally recognized certification standards – Canadian Standards Association (CSA), Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) – as a condition of FPAC membership.  This site includes links to product listings from those three certification programs.

The FSC is an independent, nonprofit organization that promotes the responsible management of the word’s working forests through the development of standards, a certification system, and trademark recognition.

FSC Step-by-Step Guide
This is a guide to help managers and owners of small-scale and low intensity forest operations maintain or improve the management of biodiversity High Conservation Values (HCVs) within their forests. This guide is not meant to replace management plants - but to strengthen them.

The Green Lease Library is the result of collaboration among several stakeholders in the green leasing community and is maintained by the Institute for Market Transformation.  It consolidates green leasing resources to provide a one-stop shop for all audience types – from building owners and tenants to lawyers and building raters.  The library is organized by resource type and resources are tagged by relevance to audience and building types. 

The business Council on Climate Change’s Green Tenant Toolkit is designed for use by tenants, occupiers, and owners of all classes and sizes of commercial buildings and may be used at all points within the life cycle of the lease.  The toolkit was developed by a diverse group of real estate and environmental professionals representing brokers, property management, large tenant groups, attorneys, electrical utilities and design and construction experts convened by the Business Council on Climate Change and SF Environment.  The toolkit was designed for San Francisco buildings, but may be adapted for use by any location.

GreenBiz offers resources on how to align environmental responsibility within business success by providing valuable news and resources to large and small businesses through a combination of websites, workshops, daily news feeds, electronic newsletters, and briefing papers. Topics include green procurement, facility management, energy efficiency, waste reduction, renewable energy, green cleaning and many others.  Resources are free to all users.

GreenerBuildings
Produced by GreenBiz.com, this free, content-rich site offers hundred of resources on green buildings.

Increasing the energy efficiency of the city’s existing buildings is a central PlaNYC focus. To address the critical area of energy use in existing buildings, NYC has enacted a set of efficiency requirements for existing private and public sector buildings. In December 2009 Mayor Bloomberg signed the four legislative components of the Greener, Greater Buildings Plan, the most comprehensive set of efficiency laws in the nation: Benchmarking – Local Law 84; New York City Energy Code – LocalLaw 85; Energy Audits and Retro-commissioning – LocalLaw 87; Lighting Upgrades and Sub-metering –Local Law 88.

Energy Aligned Lease
The split incentive problem has long hampered energy efficiency investments. It occurs when one party pays for upgrades, but another party reaps the financial benefits of the energy savings. Working with the real estate industry, the NYC Mayor’s Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability has developed model lease language that solves the split incentive problem in commercial gross modified leases.

PlaNYC Green Buildings and Energy Efficiency

The Green Globes system, administered in the U.S. by the Green Building Initiative (GBI), is a building environmental design and management tool. It delivers an online assessment protocol, rating system and guidance for green building design, operation and management. It awards points across seven credit categories including: energy, indoor environment, site, water, resources, emissions, and project/environmental management.   The Green Globes suite of tools is used to integrate sustainability goals into new consecution, renovations, and entire building portfolios.

The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI) was founded in 2001 with the mission of improving human health and quality of life by enhancing indoor air quality and reducing people’s exposure to chemicals and other pollutants.  In keeping with that mission, GEI certifies products and materials for low chemical emissions and provides a free resource for choosing healthier products and materials for indoor environments.

The Green Home Guide is a community-based resource that offers a combination of tips, case studies, expert Q&A, articles and regional product directories.

GREEN | REAL ESTATE | NYC is a guide to all of the great green apartments and houses in New York City.  Aside from the fact that green buildings have a smaller impact on the environment, green apartments and houses are also better for the health and happiness of the people living in them.  The factors that contribute to a lower environmental footprint (better indoor air quality, more natural light, and more natural furnishings and building materials) can all contribute in a substantial and positive way to the health and happiness of the families occupying such buildings.

Green Seal develops life cycle-based sustainability standards for products, services and companies and offer third-party certification for those that meet the criteria in the standard. Green Seal specialized in more than thirty product and service categories, including: household products; construction materials & equipment; paints & coatings; printing & writing paper; paper towels, napkins, & tissue paper; food packing; institutional cleaning products; hands, soaps & cleaners; commercial cleaning services; hotels & lodging propertie

The Health Product Declaration (HDP) Forum is the home of the HPD Open Standard Working Group, a voluntary association of expert participants from the community of building designers, specifiers, owners and users. The HPD Open Standard Working Group was convened in July 2011 by the Materials research Collaborative, a joint initiative of Healthy Building Network and BuildingGreen, Inc.

The HPD Open Standard is a format for the reporting of product content and associated health information for individual building products and materials. An initial version of the form has been drafted and is available for viewing here. It was used in a Pilot test program by 30 manufacturers and reviewed by 50 users. It is now undergoing revision based on feedback from the Pilot. Version 1.0 for public use is planned for release in November 201.

The 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.

Healthy Building News
This biweekly email update includes insights and analysis on building materials and environmental health.

This partnership between the U.S. Green Building Council and Home Depot will launch a line of USBGC-approved green buildings products on Home Depot’s site.  Although Home Depot already sells a bevy of green products, the new categorization will make it quick and easy for customers to find the sustainable products they need online.

Horizon Engineering Associates, LLP (HEA) specializes in providing clients with solutions that make buildings function correctly while being energy efficient. Services include building commissioning, sustainable consulting and energy analysis services. They often post tips, low cost/no cost solutions and case studies regarding energy efficiency in the built environment.

The Kresge Foundation is committee to supporting significant improvements in energy efficiency and the widespread deployment of renewable energy technologies which can reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions. Funded projects in the Environment, Energy Efficiency, and Renewable Energy category focus on three strategies: promoting policy reform, bringing energy-efficiency retrofits to scale, and supporting next-generation approaches.

The NAHB Research Center promotes innovation in housing technology to improve the quality, durability, affordability. and environmental performance of homes and home building products. Created over 40 years ago, the NAHB Research Center has established itself as the source for reliable, objective information and research on housing

construction and development issues. The tools available online include:

The National Housing Quality (NHQ) Program 
Realizing the importance of quality assurance systems within the home building industry, the NAHB Research Center developed the National Housing Quality (NHQ) Program. from training, to product and quality assurance system certification, to national recognition through awards programs, the NHQ Program is leading the charge in quality matters.

NHQ Certified Builder Program
National Housing Quality (NHQ) Certification represents a company's ongoing commitment to continual process improvement and customer satisfaction in home building.

NHQ Certified Trade Contractor Program
NHQ Certification represents a trade contractor's ongoing commitment to continual process improvement and customer satisfaction.

NAHB Education
The NAHB Research Center offers educational seminars, training courses and materials for home building professionals

Bookstore
The NAHB Research Center has authored hundreds of valuable resources for building professionals - books, design and construction guides, research reports, videos, product directories, and more.

The NRDC Building Green website offers developers, facilities managers and other building professionals practical, tactical advice about green building. The site includes downloadable tools, case studies, fact sheets and LEED Certification information.

Build Your Business Case
This section will help you understand the business rewards of sustainable construction, and give you the tools you need to make the case for building green: to your CEO, your investors, or your prospective tenants.

Adopt a Whole-Building Approach
In this section, you'll find out how to adopt a "whole-building approach" at the planning stage of your project. Taking steps to enhance communication and cooperation among team members will go a long way toward helping you meet your environmental and certification goals on budget.

Apply Sustainable Building Strategies
In this section, you'll find brief descriptions of a wide range of strategies, grouped according to the five areas of sustainability: site, water, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality.

Case Studies
This resource includes case studies for several green building projects and also provides links to other green building data sources.

The DDC established this site to disseminate information on sustainable design and provide resources for its managers, consultants, and client agencies. The resources include detailed descriptions and illustrations for a sampling of DDC sustainable projects, including LEED projects, and links to relevant documents, publications and forms.

Projects
This database of DDC projects shares strategies for energy conservation, commissioning, sustainable siteJ1andscape practices, construction waste management and careful materials selection.

Emphasis has been placed on urban environmental issues such as energy capacity limitations, urban heat island issues, storm water management, increasing difficulty of waste disposal, and city occupants who spend significant time indoors.

Reports and Manuals
This collection of guidelines and manuals explores subjects in depth, providing both an overview and useful, practical information. Topics include high performance building. high performance infrastructure, construction and demolition waste management, energy efficiency, cool and green roofing, and urban site design.

Training
This section includes Power Point presentations from DDC's training program, focusing on topics such as energy efficiency, lighting, daylighting, commissioning, material selection, construction waste management, and others related to New York City buildings specifically.

Local Law 86
In October of 2005, NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed local law 86, which will require many DDC projects to achieve a LEED rating of Certified or Silver and use energy and water more efficiently. The resources on this page have been developed to assist the agency and its consultants in achieving these goals.

Specifications
This section includes recommended specification language on topics such as environmentally preferable materials and construction and demolition waste management. They are easy to download and incorporate into a project specification.

Forms and Examples
This section offers downloadable materials useful for those pursuing sustainable design strategies. The site focuses specifically on NYC's local laws 77 and 86, but includes many materials that would be useful for waste management, energy analysis, thermal comfort, and other sustainable strategies.

NYSERDA uses innovation and technology to solve some of New York's most difficult energy and environmental problems in ways that improve the State's economy. It does so by providing a variety of energy efficiency programs to commercial, industrial, business, institutional and residential customers. NYSERDA has many research and development programs and has produced consumer-oriented campaigns to educate the public about energy efficiency and its effect on the environment.

FlexTech Program
NYSERDA's FlexTech Program provides eligible facilities with objective and customized information on a cost-shared basis to help customers make informed energy decisions.

FlexTech's goal is to increase productivity and economic competitiveness of participating facilities by identifying and encouraging the implementation of cost-effective energy efficiency, carbon reduction measures, peak-load curtailment, and combined heat & power (CHP) and renewable generation projects.

Eligible applicants include: NYS industrial, commercial, and institutional facilities, state and local governments, not-for-profit and private institutions, public and private K-12 schools, colleges and universities, and health care facilities. Facilities must pay into the System Benefits Charge as electricity distribution customers of one of the following utilities: Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation, Consolidated Edison, New York State Electric & Gas Corporation, National Grid, Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc., and Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation.

Current Funding Opportunities
This site lists available funding and incentives available under NYSERDA programs for energy efficiency projects in homes, multifamily residential buildings, commercial buildings. and many others.

NESEA is the Northeast's leading organization of professionals and concerned citizens working in sustainable energy and whole systems thinking. NESEA facilitates the widespread adoption and use of sustainable energy by providing support to industry professionals and by educating and motivating consumers to learn about, ask for, and adopt sustainable energy and green building practices. NESEA accomplishes this through its BuildingEnergy Conference, an advocacy network, high-profile public events such as the Green Building Open House, and its Professional Member Directory - The Green Pages.

SmartWood, a program of the Rainforest Alliance, was the world's first independent forestry certifier. Today, the Rainforest Alliance is the world's leading non-profit forestry certifier completing independent auditing, certification and the promotion of certified forest products in all forest types and forest operations. The Rainforest Alliance is accredited by the FSC. Their web site features tools to find certified products including food, beverages, groceries, building materials, energy, home and office, and kitchenware.

The Retail Industry Leaders Association includes nine of the top 10 U.S. retailers as members. As the retail industry's advocate in Washington, RILA is a trusted source dedicated to telling the retail industry's story. On the retail operations side, RILA provides a forum where members can conduct discussions aimed at understanding common operational practices, areas of concern, and pragma~c solutions to problems. RILA focuses on five core areas: Supply Chain; Asset Protection; Finance; Human Resources; and Enterprise Issues (including Sustainability).

Retail Sustainability Initiative (RSI)
RILA has made a commitment to driving leadership in environmental sustainability. The central force is the Retail Sustainability Initiative (RSI), which is dedicated to sustainability in business. RILA has also created a first-of-its-kind annual event for the retail industry devoted to environmental education and best practices, the Retail Sustainability Conference. The website contains a number of resources including news, webinars and reports.

RILA 2012 Retail Sustainability Report
This report highlights sustainability trends in the retail industry, shedding light on retail 's evolving business practices and the challenges the industry still faces. The broader objective is to provide the retail industry and those it serves with a way to act on and engage in sustainability, through framing the critical issues, anticipating future trends, recognizing challenges, and sharing examples of how retailers are responding.

The BET works to transform the built environment into a sustainable and regenerative global ecology. They serve as both consultants and a conceptual think-tank to enhance collaboration between all aspects of the built environment and facilitate implementation of sustainable high performance solutions. Their site includes helpful resources and case studies on green building projects.

The Smart Communities Network offers a listing of various green building programs around the nation. Among the listings are programs sponsored by state and local governments, home building industry association, and other non-profit groups.

The TIAP, sponsored by a coalition of public interest non-profit groups, government agencies, and other organizations in the energy efficiency field, is designed to give consumers and businesses information they need to make use of the federal income tax incentives for energy efficient products and technologies passed by Congress as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The site includes informational updates for tax incentives that have expired, incentives that are extended or that remain ongoing. IRS rulings on deductions and links to IRS forms are also easily accessible.

DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy works to strengthen America's energy security, environmental quality, and economic vitality through public-private partnerships that enhance energy efficiency and productivity; bring clean, reliable and affordable energy technologies to the marketplace; and make a difference in the everyday lives of Americans.

Energy Savers
Useful energy saving tips on appliances and electronics, designing and remodeling, electricity, heating and cooling, insulation and air sealing, landscaping, lighting and daylighting, water heating, and windows, doors and skylights.

Better Buildings Initiative
The buildings in which we work and live used roughly 40% of the energy in the U.S. economy at a cost of over $400 billion. Through a variety of efficiency improvements (e.g. new lighting, greater insulation, more efficient heating and cooling) and proven approaches (clear information, access to financing, energy efficiency investment criteria), we can make these buildings more energy efficient and better places to live and work while creating jobs and building a stronger economy. The goal of the Better Buildings Initiative is to make commercial, industrial and residential buildings 20% more energy efficient by 2020 and accelerate private sector investment in energy efficiency.

Better Buildings Challenge

Better Buildings Neighborhood Program

Building America
Building America is an industry-driven research program working with national laboratories and building science research teams to accelerate the development and adoption of advanced building energy technologies and practices in new and existing homes. Learn about near- and long-term research goals, research teams and national laboratories, and access useful publications and analysis tools to improve energy performance of homes.

Commercial Buildings Energy Alliances
Through the Commercial Building Energy Alliances (CBEAs), DOE is working to transform the way commercial buildings use energy. DOE invites building owners, managers, and operators to collaborate with DOE and each other to identify and implement best practices, key decision-making tools, and advanced technologies for significant energy savings in their portfolios.

Building Energy Data Book
The Data Book includes statistics on residential and commercial building energy consumption. Data tables contain statistics related to construction. building technologies, energy consumption, and building characteristics. This resource provides a current and accurate set of comprehensive buildings- and energy-related data. The Data Book is an evolving document and is updated periodically.

EnergyPlus Energy Simulation Software
EnergyPlus is DOE’s building energy simulation program for modeling building heating, cooling, lighting, ventilating, and other energy flows. It goes far beyond the previous generation of simulation tools. A number of state-of-the-art interfaces are available including OpenStudio, an open-source, cross-platform middleware, and Concept 3D's Simuwatt, a mobile application.

179D DOE Calculator
The 179D DOE Calculator is a DOE-approved tool that provides calculations to determine eligibility for the 179D federal tax deduction as a substitute for other modeling software. The 179D DOE Calculator provides pre-simulated results to determine qualification for both the partial and interim compliance pathways.

The U.S. EPA's mission is to protect human health and the environment. In addition to performing environmental research, the EPA offers financial assistance and works to develop and enforce regulations that implement environmental laws enacted by Congress. The EPA is the umbrella organization for numerous programs including ENERGY STAR® and Smart Growth.

EPA's Green Building Site
The U.S. EPA Green Building site includes information on green building issues, as well as resources, funding opportunities, and links to the EPA's partner programs.

ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S., Department of Energy helping homes and businesses save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.

Portfolio Manager
Portfolio Manager is an interactive energy management tool that allows you to track and assess energy and water consumption across your entire portfolio of buildings in a secure online environment. Whether you own, manage, or hold properties for investment, Portfolio Manager can help you set investment priorities, identify under-performing buildings, verify efficiency improvements, and receive EPA recognition for superior energy performance.

Guidelines for Energy Management
The EPA offers a proven strategy for superior energy management with tools and resources to help each step of the way. Based on the successful practices of ENERGY STAR partners, these guidelines for energy management can assist your organization in improving its energy and financial performance while distinguishing your organization as an environmental leader.

Commercial Building Design
This site provides information about commercial buildings to help architects and building owners make informed decisions about energy efficiency during the design process.

Tools and Resources Library
ENERGY STAR provides a broad range of tools in the following categories: Energy Management Guidance; Assess Building & Plant Energy Efficiency; Assess Commercial; Building Designs; Improve Building Performance; Financial Evaluation; Awards & Recognition; and ENERGY STAR Progress Reports.

Expert Help
This Site provides directories to help find ENERGY STAR service and product providers, professionals such as architects and engineers, energy efficiency programs, and financial resources.

Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Program (EPP)
Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) helps the federal government "buy green," and in doing so, uses the federal government’s enormous buying power to stimulate market demand for green products and services. This site contains many resources including a guide to finding and evaluating green products and services that can help green vendors, businesses large and small and consumers.

Federal Green Construction Guide for Specifiers
This Guide is developed by the EPA and its partners, the Office of the Federal Environmental Executive and the multiagency-sponsored Whole Building Design Guide, to help agencies meet various mandates as established by statutes and Executive Orders, as well as EPA and DOE program recommendations. It includes resources on design and building products helpful to all building owners.

Sustainability Program
EPA efforts in the area of sustainability practices and approaches include labeling green products and promoting green chemistry and engineering, managing materials rather than creating waste, using green infrastructure to manage storm water runoff, and supporting the sustainable design of urban communities.

Smart Growth Program
EPA has joined the Partnership for Sustainable Communities with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U. S. Department of Transportation to help improve access to affordable housing, more transportation options, and lower transportation costs while protecting the environment in communities nationwide. This site includes reports on the benefits of development strategies and sources for grants and funding.

Urban Water Pollution Prevention Program
This site provides information on how to reduce the runoff of pollutants from urban environments into our waters, including low-impact development strategies.

Brownfields Program
This program helps public, private and non-profit partners to sustainably reuse sites whose redevelopment may be complicated by the real or perceived presence of contaminants. The site includes Information about U.S. EPA's Brownfields Program including the Brownfields Law, Brownfields Grants, Land Revitalization Information, and more.

Heat Island Reduction Initiative
This program provides guidance and resources to communities and other partners to help reduce the heat island effect caused by urban patterns of development. The site includes strategies for urban heat island mitigation.

Wastes - Resource Conservation, Construction and Demolition (C&D) Materials
Reducing and recycling C&D materials conserves landfill space, reduces the environmental Impact of producing new materials, creates jobs, and can reduce overall building project expenses through avoided purchase/disposal costs. This section provides information on EPA's efforts and other opportunities to reduce C&D materials.

GreenScapes Program
This program provides cost-efficient and environmentally friendly solutions for large-scale landscaping that are designed to help preserve natural resources and prevent waste and pollution.

WaterSense Program
WaterSense, a partnership program by the EPA, seeks to protect the future of our nation's water supply by offering people a simple way to use less water With water-efficient products. Products and services that have earned the WaterSense labels have been certified to be at least 20% more efficient without sacrificing performance. The site includes a database of approved fixtures searchable by category, brand, model name, and/or model number.

The GSA leads federal agencies in the economical and efficient management of federal assets by spearheading effective policy development and by the exemplary management of the buildings and other resources of the federal government. The GSA has shown strong leadership in sustainable building design and operations. Their website provides many valuable green building resources, including:

Sustainable Facilities Tool
This interface, created by the GSA, helps building owners to plan for and implement sustainable design principles at all stages of a building project. The site includes tools to help identify and prioritize cost-effective green building strategies, learn how to select sustainable materials, incorporate daylighting strategies, educate your occupants, save on water, conserve energy and reference relevant regulations, and compare materials and systems, access design guidance, ask questions and even share your knowledge to help

Sustainability Matters
The GSA presents this resource as an aid to improve practices and to encourage continuing innovations in sustainable building. The content is illustrated by case studies of GSA facilities that emphasize the knowledge and strategies presented.

The USGBC is the nation's foremost coalition of leaders from across the building industry who have developed the LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System. The USGBC website has links to the LEED website, green building resources, industry news, events and membership information.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System TM
The LEED Green Building Rating System is a voluntary, consensus based national standard for developing high performance, sustainable buildings and communities. The LEED website is extensive and includes links to information about the various rating systems, LEED training workshops, LEED publications, a certified building project directory, and other resources:

LEED Rating Systems
These include: New Construction (NC); Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance (EB: O&M); Commercial Interiors (CI); Core & Shell (CS); Schools (SCH); Retail; Healthcare (HC); Homes; and Neighborhood Development (ND)

Certification Process
This section includes resources useful to those working to attain LEED certification for their project. The site features a LEED Project Directory, Regional Priority Credit Viewer, Credit Templates and Forms, Addenda and Errata for LEED Reference Guides, LEED Interpretations, and LEED Online, the primary resource for managing the LEED documentation process.

Green Building Certification Institute
The Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) is a third-party organization that provides independent oversight of professional credentialing and project certification programs related to the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED® Green Building Rating Systems™

The Whole Building Design Guide (WBDG) is a web-based portal providing government and industry practitioners with access to up-to-date information on a wide range of building-related guidance, criteria and technology from a "whole buildings" perspective. The WBDG is organized into three major categories: Design Guidance, Project Management and Operations & Maintenance.

Design Guidance: Architects, engineers, and project managers can improve the performance and quality of their buildings by following the guidance and recommendations provided within the following categories:

Design Objectives: The following design objectives are described in this section: accessibility, aesthetics, cost efficacy, functionality, historic preservation, productivity, security, and sustainability.

Building Types: For each general Building Type there is a discussion of the attributes and requirements of the type as well as links to information on more specific uses. Each of the specific building types is then linked to a series of Resource Pages explaining standards, technologies and emerging issues relevant to that specific use topic.

Space Types: For each Space Types page there is a discussion of the general attributes and requirements of the space as well as example configurations and layouts. Space Types pages are also linked to related Building Types pages and Resource Pages that explain strategies, technologies and emerging issues relevant to that specific Space Type.

Design Principles: This Branch of the WBDG has been developed to assist participants in planning, design, and construction programs understand how building design disciplines are organized and practice. This Branch also offers insight into creating opportunities for successful project delivery through a coordinated, integrated design, construction, and management process. Each Design Discipline page provides information and guidance from a 'whole building' perspective.

Products & Systems: A concise listing of products and systems is offered and in the near future, the website will provide access to information on specific products and systems based on CSI MasterFormat™ Division or ASTM UNIFORMAT II Major Group Element.

Project Management: The Project Management section offers guidance for the entire team to successfully and effectively carry out a high performance building project.

Strategic Project Planning and Development: How to plan, manage and deliver a project from the beginning of the planning state through occupancy.

Project Delivery Teams: How to assemble and effectively manage the project team.

Building Commissioning: Provides an overview of commissioning drivers, benefits, goals, and principles for improving building quality.

Project Delivery and Controls: Procedures and practices used to manage project scope, budget, and schedule.

Operations & Maintenance: The Facilities O&M section offers guidance in the following areas:

Real Property Inventory (RPI): Provides an overview on the type of system needed to maintain an inventory of an organization's assets and manage those assets.

Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS): Contains descriptions of procedures and practices used to track the maintenance of an organization's assets and associated costs.

Computer Aided Facilities Management: is an approaching Facilities Management that includes creation and utilization of Information Technology (IT)-based systems in FM practice.