Green Building Resources
A “Whole-Systems” Approach
What Is Green Building?
Green building is a “Whole-Systems” approach for designing and constructing buildings that conserve energy, water, and material resources and are healthier, safer, and more comfortable.
In practical terms, green building includes:
- Using sun & wind to the building’s advantage for natural heating, cooling, & day-lighting
- Landscaping with native plants & using water efficiently
- Building quality, durable structures
- Insulating well & ventilating appropriately
- Incorporating salvaged, recycled, & sustainably harvested materials
- Maintaining healthy indoor air quality with appropriate building techniques & materials
- Using energy-efficient & water-saving appliances & fixtures
- Reducing & recycling construction waste
Learn More about Green Building
- Continuing education & networking for public agencies, non-profits, & building professionals
- Listing of certified green architects & building contractors
- Materials Database: extensive listing of green products, materials, & technologies available in the Bay Area.
- Green Home Tours, workshops, & presentations
- Green building resources for the general public, design & building professionals, & public agencies
- Green Building Guidelines for renovations & new construction that have been adopted by or serve as the basis for many green building programs in the San Francisco Bay Area
United States Green Building Council (USGBC)
- Extensive collection of green building resources: market research, publications, presentations, & links to additional resources
- LEED® Rating System info: case studies, training, certification, workshops
DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Building Technologies 
Program
- Support for R&D activities to improve the energy efficiency of buildings
- Tools, guidelines, training, & access to technical & financial resources
- Extensive info & resources on how to use water more efficiently
- Applicable to all water users from homeowners to governments EPA Indoor Air Quality
- Extensive info & resources on indoor air quality
- IAQ INFO: hotline to help locate the appropriate info, 800-438-4318
- For Consumers: info on IAQ concerns & tip sheets to help identify & reduce pollutants in the home
- For Builders: guidelines & Registered House Builder training for building homes with better IAQ
GreenSeal, product certification and recommendations
Toolbase, a service of NAHB Research Center
California EPA’s Air Resources Board fact sheets
Oikos sustainable building info and online bookstore